Greetings,
As we drift into a new season, we hope this message finds you well.
In recent months, there has been a major push to develop a process for recruiting an incoming executive director. Mary Pat Hanlin (our current CEO), was remarkably effective at developing and deploying methods to strengthen, grow and vitalize the organization over the last decade. We are grateful for all she has done and are aware that it will be exceedingly difficult to fill her shoes.
The Executive Transition Task Force has been energetically engaged in the process of reviewing candidates, conducting initial phone screenings, assembling panels to meet with candidates, conducting interviews, and discussing rankings. At this point, four very strong candidates have been selected to move forward to the next stage of the selection process. All are scheduled for second interviews and visits to ISSTD headquarters in Arlington, where they will meet with staff and tour the facilities. A final recommendation to the Board will be submitted in advance of their October 18 meeting.
Also noteworthy, the IDEA (inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility) working group (co-chaired by Jennifer Gomez and D. Michael Coy) conducted a survey of Board members. Results were shared, and the discussion that followed was engaging and productive, with members expressing desire and intent to find ways of making the group increasingly encouraging of marginalized individuals. Ideas were generated for both drawing in existing members who might feel less than welcome and recruiting new leaders with different experiences and perspectives.
Thank you all very much for your membership and ongoing support of ISSTD. Please be encouraged to keep in touch; we are always excited to receive feedback and suggestions.
With appreciation,
ISSTD Board of Directors