Executive transitions are pivotal moments that can either stall momentum or unlock new opportunity. When organizations partner with experienced interim leaders, they gain more than stability—they gain clarity, confidence, and forward progress. The voices below, shared by board chairs and board members, reflect how interim executive leadership helped their organizations navigate uncertainty, strengthen governance, and position themselves for long-term success. Together, these stories underscore the power of trusted partnership and purposeful leadership during times of change.

Joe Mazzola, Board Chair, Fifth Street Ministries

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What was the greatest benefit of engaging an interim executive director during the time of your executive transition?

"Having an interim executive director who had considerable experience in not only managing a similar type of nonprofit organization but also in helping other organizations successfully navigate through difficult transition periods was invaluable. It allowed the Board of Directors to mitigate a turbulent situation while enabling us to focus on the steps we needed to do to restore operations and diligently search for the right leader to move the organization forward."

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‍Tommy Lawing, Former Board Chair, Givens Aldersgate

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What benefit of engaging an interim executive did you not anticipate?

“Early on, some felt that CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Community) were so specialized—and Aldersgate so large—that we should only consider interim CEOs with direct CCRC experience.

Our Interim CEO had none which, in hindsight, proved to be an advantage.

Without preconceived notions or industry bias, he approached challenges with fresh eyes and asked fundamental questions others might have overlooked. We learned that the core skill set of an effective interim executive—assessment, decisiveness, communication, and change leadership—is not industry-specific.”

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‍Dan Miglin, Board Member, Fifth Street Ministries

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What was the greatest benefit of having an interim executive director during the time of your executive transition?

"Having an interim executive allows for sufficient time to appropriately recruit the best person for the role while maintaining operational efficiency. And, having an interim executive allowed for a fresh set of eyes on the organization with transparent communication as that individual was not subject to trying to balance their role and develop lasting relationships. Essentially our organization was able to have an external audit."

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‍Jonathan Kotch, Board Chair, Family Connects International

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What adjective would you use to describe your board before? "Worried."

What adjective would you use to describe your board 2 months into your partnership with your interim leader? "Confident."

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