From our Members—Past and Present
Lecester Johnson
CEO,
Academy of Hope
I have been a part of Executive Sanctuary for many years now, and it has been the best investment I have made in my personal leadership development in years. The group is confidential and the peer support and facilitated discussions are amazing.
Marla Dean
Executive Director,
Bright Beginnings
Executive Sanctuary is a sacred space. The demands on nonprofit leaders are infinite. Without a place to learn, laugh and listen, it would be impossible to lead. I am eternally grateful to Heather and the care and compassion she has demonstrated toward me and my colleagues. We all have benefited immeasurably.
Sue Hollar
Executive Director and CEO,
Barker Adoption Foundation
I have thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and thought partnership that I have found through Executive Circle, especially during this time of COVID. It is refreshing to be with passionate, skilled leaders who face many of the same challenges as I do as a leader and are equally committed to our missions. Plus, we have a lot of fun together.
Maquita Alexander
Executive Director,
Washington Yu Ying PCS
The Executive Sanctuary has been instrumental to my growth and development as a leader. Being an ED in a nonprofit organization is really lonely and the time spent with others in my Circle cohort helps me remember that I am not alone. The Executive Sanctuary prioritizes my self care, when I can't do it for myself. My other colleagues are more than cohort members, they became critical friends who supported me when I am emotionally resourced.
Shannon Steene
Executive Director,
Carpenter’s Shelter
Some of my strongest relationships and my most reliable and candid support has come from participating in the Executive Sanctuary. It’s structure is built on fostering and deepening strong relationships that move me forward personally and professionally. The Executive Sanctuary is my first priority when it comes to my professional development throughout the year.
Laura Meyers
CEO,
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington
Executive Sanctuary is a unique opportunity for CEOs and Executive Directors to share in a trusting and intimate setting and get support—so very crucial as we confront the multiple stressors that are ubiquitous to our positions. One of the things I have really enjoyed is getting to know EDs from other sectors and to learn about how they confront challenges in those sectors. It is so refreshing to step outside my bubble.
Tad Czyzewski
Executive Director,
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
In Executive Sanctuary, I’m part of a group that can have honest and open discussions about topics and issues which we might not be able to have with our staff or leadership team. With Heather’s expertise guiding us, we share ideas and learnings across business types, benefiting from diverse perspectives and thoughtful questions we ask of each other.
Kelly Sweeney McShane
President and CEO,
Community of Hope
I have thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and thought partnership that I have found through Executive Circle, especially during this time of COVID. It is refreshing to be with passionate, skilled leaders who face many of the same challenges as I do as a leader and are equally committed to our missions. Plus, we have a lot of fun together.
Schroeder Stribling
President and CEO, Mental Health America
I joined Executive Sanctuary in 2013. In the company of this diverse and energetic group of leaders, I found a breeding ground for new thinking and fresh ideas, and a mutual enthusiasm for challenging ourselves and our sector to embrace change and growth in the service of advancing our critical missions.
Cari Guthrie Cho
President and CEO,
Cornerstone Montgomery
My time with Heather Kaye and Invision has been an amazing experience. You should expect to develop close connections with your colleagues, to gain key insights into the leadership challenges we face, and to feel support and collaboration to make positive changes. It is an opportunity to join, learn, and grow personally and professionally.
Tammy Mann
President and CEO,
The Campagna Center
My experience in Executive Sanctuary has contributed in important ways to my personal and professional development as a seasoned leader. Work done in the center of benefitting the public good is often complex given the multitude of stakeholders that executives must engage to move their organizations forward. Grateful that I have had an opportunity to meet and learn from many equally talented leaders across our region.
Debbie Shore
Executive Director and Founder,
Sasha Bruce Network, Inc.
Being a part of the Executive Sanctuary has provided some of the best learning and support that I have received in my decades of being an Executive Director. The benefits derive from the excellent facilitation and guidance provided as well as the creation of space for learning and sharing with other remarkable nonprofit leaders. It has deepened my capacity to provide effective leadership in my organization and recommend it highly.
Keith Sellers
President and CEO,
Washington Economic Partnership
Over the past several years Executive Sanctuary has supported my growth as a leader. Our meetings provide a space for conversations which challenge and stretch my thinking. Our two-day retreats are restorative and the issues we discuss reflect challenges I face as a leader. Heather and Terri have a clear grasp of the needs of nonprofit leaders.
Jenny Bilfield
President and CEO,
Washington Performing Arts
The Executive Sanctuary is an essential part of my professional and personal life. Through it, I have met wise, warm people from a wide array of nonprofit organizations, and we’ve forged true bonds. Our conversations are meaningful and memorable: we share experiences that enable each other to consider challenges and opportunities from varied perspectives; we discuss topics that seem only possible to share with other organizational leaders.
Lisa LaFontaine, President and CEO, Washington Humane Society
Through the years I’ve been a part of multiple peer learning groups, but Executive Sanctuary stands out as significantly more meaningful. My Circle is a secure and wise place for me to test ideas and share how I am feeling with kind and intelligent kindred spirits. I recommend Executive Sanctuary most strongly to any leader who seeks community; is prioritizing equity and access; who is reinventing themselves or their organization; or who is striving to create meaningful work that both serves the community and creates satisfaction and joy for its employees. Each time I connect with my group I find that my mind clears and my soul is nourished.
Monica Jeffries Hazangeles
President and CEO,
Strathmore
The shared wisdom and bonded cohort experience provided by Executive Sanctuary is especially compelling. Coaches Heather Kaye and Terrie Lupberger offer skilled, thoughtful facilitation of the meaty topics facing today’s nonprofit leaders. The program is one of my most valued leadership resources!
Michelle Palmer
Executive Director,
Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
Executive Sanctuary is my refuge. It is where I spend time with my brilliant colleagues; problem-solving, dreaming, communing, and laughing. Look, I LOVE being an Executive Director and the reality is that being an Executive Director is the most difficult and loneliest job I’ve ever had. My time in my Executive Sanctuary is like a salve, a shot in the arm. It reinvigorates me, energizes me, and soothes my angst-ridden brain.
Nikki Highsmith Vernick
President and CEO,
Horizon Foundation
Executive Sanctuary is a space for reflection. To better understand oneself as a leader and to think about how to adapt and evolve in an increasingly complex and ever changing field. The deep relationships and connections made with other EDs/CEOs means that you have an instant kitchen cabinet of trusted advisors and friends. And finally, Executive Sanctuary is purposeful and intentional about addressing major challenges in the field, like diversity, equity and inclusion, because of the time and talent that Heather and Terri give to designing our time together and nurturing each of us as non-profit leaders.
Shane Rock
Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Council for the Aging
Last week's sanctuary was outstanding. I appreciate all that Terry and you do to make the experience meaningful and impactful for all of us.