December 20, 2015; Buffalo Business First
NPQ published a number of stories during the recession that it seemed that few long-term nonprofit executives were leaving their posts. We speculated that seasoned execs were digging in to see nonprofits through a turbulent period and that the resignations and retirements might come later, once the environment stabilized a bit.
Now, Western N.Y. is the second region where the local press has discussed a rash of resignations or retirements among mid-sized to large nonprofits. In June, we reported that Charleston, S.C. had lost 10 arts executives within a short period and, indeed, in this new report from Western New York, two of the four executives that are leaving local high-profile nonprofits work for arts and culture organizations. As readers remember, those organizations, as a field, were hit hardest by the recession but many of them have since bounced back.
Sign up for our free newsletters
Subscribe to NPQ's newsletters to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.
The resignations in Western New York include:
- Anthony Conte will retire from Shea’s Performing Arts Center (annual budget $18 million) in mid-2016 after 15 years. Conte is credited with leading the organization out of debt and not just to stability but renown.
- Barbara Carr (age 67) will retire after 23 years with the SPCA in Erie County (annual budget $7.2 million). She is leaving after helping the organization grow steadily during her tenure and just as a new building will be readied for occupancy.
- Mark Mortenson left the Buffalo Museum of Science ($6.2 million) at the end of September for a post at the Grand Canyon Resort Corp.
- Diane Rowe will retire after 18 years at the end of January from the $4.2 million Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo.
Though we have no indication that any of these departures occurred in a crisis, it is another reminder that planning well in advance for these kinds of transitions is important. Highly competent long-term executives often hold many of the key relationships in nonprofits. Is your staff leadership sufficiently redundant to allow a smooth transition even if little or no notice is given? — Ruth McCambridge
