At the time we engaged our interim ED, the board was frustrated, anxious and concerned with the direction we were heading. He immediately calmed the board, listened closely to the staff, reassured them during this sensitive time, and helped us plan to stabilize the organization. This included community contacts and relationships that were essential to our organization. It was an excellent choice to bring on a professional with nonprofit expertise and such communication and management skills.

Our interim executive director came on at Enlightened Theatrics at a time when we needed organizational structure in our budget, policy, staffing and vision. In the course of a year he reorganized our staff, wrote functional budgets and policies, helped to create a new strategic plan, managed the process of hiring our new Managing Director, and in general got our organization on track to being a sustainable professional theatre. He also brought a calm demeanor, confidence, and good humor to his role. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of a competent Interim Director for a non-profit organization.

Our interim ED provided needed leadership during a critical time of transition—leadership that the board and senior staff were unable to provide. The scope and deliverables were established in advance so real work was getting done. During this transition we adopted a strategic plan, met our budget goals in a tough economy, met program goals, and guided the organization through the transition to the new Executive Director. Having this skilled leadership enabled us to bring staff, Board, and stakeholders together during a time of transition to lay the foundation for us to continue our services to the community.

Our interim Executive Director brought expertise and breadth of knowledge in nonprofit management. I knew I could count on this leader for day to day management of the organization and to bring attention to hot issues. This gave the board a ‘reality check’ to where the organization is and where we needed to go. By hiring an interim executive director, I was able to focus my energies on the work of the board and the eventual search for the next ED. And having this skilled leadership as a model, we learned what to look for in the next leader of our organization.

Our interim director focused on specific ways that supported the board in doing its key work during this time of transition of leadership. This was happening at a time in which financially we were at an impasse regards to a key partnership. The interim quickly cut through the chaff to the heart of the problem and with full appreciation of the personalities involved, helped lead our organization to the realization of key options to resolve the dilemma, and led us through serious deliberations that had been lacking until we had this guidance and clarity of goals.