Executive Director Succession Planning

Succession planning for the Executive Director's position is key to the sustainability of an organization and its mission.  Leadership transition is a critical phase in an organization's life; it is a moment of great vulnerability as well as great opportunity for transformative change.

An organization that is intentional and prepared for leadership transition is also focused on ensuring continued relevance and effectiveness of the agency.  Succession planning is not only about determining your organization's next leader, and is about evaluating organizational needs and future direction.

It's never too soon to start preparing.  Join us for a discussion with three organizations that have proactively developed Executive Director succession plans.  Two of the agencies managed a successful transition and the other has processes and systems in place that will allow for a thoughtful and well managed transition process.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the key elements of creating a succession plan
• Identify the roles and responsibilities in succession planning
• Understand the benefits and how to avoid the pitfalls of succession planning

Level

Introductory/Intermediate

Audience

Board Members, Executive Directors, Human Resource Managers and anyone involved in the management and oversight of a nonprofit organization.

Presenters

Melody Wattenbarger, President and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank, has been involved in foodbanking at the local, state, and national levels for more than 27 years.  She was the founding director of High Plains Food Bank in Amarillo, Tx from 1983-1991.  She worked for Feeding America, the national food bank network, for one year monitoring food banks around the country.  She then worked for United Way of Central New Mexico until she returned to foodbanking in her current position in late 1995.  While in Texas, she served as the first president of the Texas Association of Second Harvest Food Banks (1986-1990).  Ms. Wattenbarger served as founding President of the board for the New Mexico Association of Food Banks from 1999 to 2004.   She continues to serve on the board of the New Mexico Association of Food Banks. 

Phil Prevender is the owner of Prevender Financial Services, LLC.  He is immediate past Board Chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico.  Phil is also the First Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation and serves on CNM's Finance and Investment Committee.

Judith Parsons, SPHR, is the Director of Human Resources and Training for ARCA.  She began her career working as a direct support professional and held several management positions at ARCA before accepting her current position in Human Resources 28 years ago. Judith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.  She received lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) in 1993.  She has served on the Board of Directors for the Human Resource Management Association of New Mexico (HRMA) and taught HR certification classes at the University of New Mexico.  Judith has also served as a member of the Board of Examiners for the New Mexico Quality Awards.