Thank you for walking down memory lane with us this month as we've recounted how far we've come since we first piloted the idea that is now Homes & Havens. And we have a big new chapter ahead of us that we can't wait to tell you about!
Last week we shared about how the organization navigated the pandemic and how we've grown our programs to include a new type of healing space: nonprofit leader retreats. So in addition to our residential design projects, our nonprofit design jobs, and offering our studio space to therapists in need of trauma-informed rooms, our team needed to grow as well.
Our founder, Kaysie Strickland, expressed to our Board of Directors a desire to return to a more creative role that is closer to the design process and to continue developing our nonprofit leader care program. A transition plan was created and Kaysie named her recommendation for the new CEO position as she prepared to transition into Chief Creative Officer.
We are so delighted to introduce you to Meggie Nance, Homes & Havens' new CEO!
Here's a note from our founder, Kaysie:
When I first met Meggie Nance in early March 2022, she and her husband, Kolby, came to tour our studio space and get better acquainted with Homes & Havens. The way she listened to the story of this organization and responded to seeing the spaces we created told me that we were kindred spirits. We met up a few times after that and let me tell you: her kindness and integrity are profound. Not only is she a licensed trauma-informed therapist, but she owned and built a thriving practice in FL before moving to Chattanooga in 2021. I was delighted when she was able to come on as my assistant director in the fall of 2022 as we piloted the nonprofit leader care retreat program together. When I decided to explore stepping into a more creative role, she was the only person I could confidently recommend to step into leadership with me and lead Homes & Havens into its next chapter. After interviews with our Board of Directors, they confidently gave approval to name Meggie Nance as our new CEO and I stepped into the CCO (Chief Creative Officer) position. I am so delighted and so expectant to see what the future holds for Homes & Havens. What a big moment that I couldn't wait to share with you!
Meggie Nance assumed the position of CEO this month and Kaysie will now be our CCO. Kaysie is also preparing for a much anticipated sabbatical near the end of the year to rest and renew her imagination and vision for the days ahead.
And since we are introducing the team – we couldn't miss the opportunity to introduce (or re-introduce, since many of you know her) our Project Manager, To'Nesha Allison, who coordinates all the details of our design projects and keeps all of us on track! She came on staff in December 2021 and is now full-time with us.
As a team, we are so honored to do this work and receive such support from this community. Thank you for joining us on this journey!