I retired from Blind Children's Learning Center in June of 2017. Having served as President and Executive Director since January of 2012, I hope that my leadership has championed the Center’s mission and fostered an environment of teamwork and excellence within the organization. I feel confident that with my management team and board of directors, we've increased visibility and awareness, built collaborative relationships with critical stakeholders and brought long lasting, positive results. It has been rewarding to facilitate the strategic planning process to ensure alignment with the Center’s mission and create, implement and evaluate annual operating plans to manage strategic growth and ensure organizational sustainability.Revenue generation and sustainability is always challenging, but we have successfully increased our fundraising and stabilized and diversified our revenue streams to support compelling programs which employ more than 60 teachers, therapists and educators and serve more than 350 family members. We've maintained an annual budget of more than $2.7 million and healthy reserves of more than $1.2 million.. Strong working relationships with our supporters and vendors (school districts and regional centers) has been rewarding. Establishing a new social enterprise and working with our collaborative partners in the community has helped to ensure program quality and sustainability.Our Board of Directors have implemented policies and contributed to the agency's financial stability. My staff have exceeded expectations, enduring many changes and coming together as a team to receive several awards for meeting and exceeding industry standards. I hope that my successor will continue to maintain a practice of clear communication and will strive to be strategic in looking at the future of Blind Children's Learning Center, so that this wonderful agency will thrive well beyond its current 55 years of service.