Announcing the departure of Courtney Thomas

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Announcing the departure of Courtney Thomas as the President & CEO of Central Exchange

It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors announces Courtney Thomas’s departure as the President and CEO of the Central Exchange, effective December 13, 2019. Since February 2017, Courtney has played a critical role in the development and success of the organization, and while we will miss her and her inspiring leadership, we wish her the best of luck in her new endeavor as the CEO of Newhouse in Kansas City. We want to thank her for her dedicated service which involved many significant accomplishments, including:

Refreshing the Central Exchange brand
Positively shifting the financial position and trajectory of the organization
Growing membership
Expanding the CX brand and marketing footprint
Rolling out virtual programming
Organizing our largest Leadership Lyceum in the organization’s history
Creating new and successful alliances for more focused and engaging programming

We are actively working to put an interim CEO in place. We have identified a number of exceptional candidates to lead our organization as interim CEO. Courtney has provided the board with a 30-day notice, so we anticipate having the interim role filled by the time she leaves on December 13. We will share the interim announcement soon and ask for your help in making this a successful transition.

Again, we cannot thank Courtney enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm and motivation she has given Central Exchange over the last nearly three years. She will be greatly missed by the staff, Board, members, and corporate partners alike. We look forward to following the success of her career and are hopeful and excited for the next chapter of Central Exchange as we continue to empower and connect women. If you have any questions or concerns during this transition process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at hschaefer22@gmail.com .

Sincerely,

Holly Streeter-Schaefer , Board Chair, Board of Directors, Central Exchange

It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the President and CEO of Central Exchange for nearly three years. My time with all of you at Central Exchange will be some of the most treasured experiences of my career. Last week, I informed the board that I have accepted a new position as the CEO of Newhouse. Newhouse is one of the domestic violence shelters in the metro that ensures women, children and men have the resources they need to live the life they deserve – a life free of domestic abuse.

Thank you for all the ways you have made me feel welcome and valued at Central Exchange. The way I feel when I’m amongst members at programs, working with the CX team, speaking to groups in the community as a representative of Central Exchange, and creatively and innovating planning for our next big steps will absolutely be the elements I will miss most in this role. You can always depend on me to be an advocate for Central Exchange and to be your partner in the continued acceleration of your professional and personal growth. And, you can expect to see me as a paying and participating member going forward. Thank you for inviting me along on this journey with you!

Wishing you all the best in the future, and I look forward to staying in touch. My personal email is courtneyleathomas@outlook.com .

With fondness and gratitude,

Courtney Thomas , President & CEO, Central Exchange

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