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CFWNC President Pat Smith Announces Plans to Retire
Board of Directors Initiates Search Process for New President

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina's President Pat Smith has announced that she is planning to retire from the Foundation effective August 2009, which will mark the end of a 25-year career with the Foundation, the last 19 having been spent leading the organization. The Foundation's board of directors also announced they have taken the first steps in the search process for a successor.

"I have had the extraordinary privilege of being part of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina's wonderful 30-year history," said Smith. "After twenty-five years, I will leave knowing that the Foundation is strong in every way and poised for the next era of leadership and service to our mountain region. I will forever be a champion of the Foundation because I believe deeply in its mission and enormous value to Western North Carolina. I am confident that under the board of directors' responsible leadership and effective stewardship, the Foundation will continue its rich tradition of philanthropy for generations to come."

Eleanor Owen, former chair of the Foundation's board of directors and head of the search committee for the new president, said, "Pat has been an incredible asset and leader for The Community Foundation, Western North Carolina, and the community foundation field, both state-wide and nationally. The Foundation has benefited from tremendous growth and advancement under Pat's leadership."

"I am looking forward to continuing in my role as president for the next year as we focus on the important mission of the Foundation -- to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for all citizens of Western North Carolina," Smith said.

The search committee has retained Kittleman & Associates, LLC of Chicago as the executive recruitment firm for the search. Established in 1963, Kittleman is the nation's first executive recruitment firm exclusively serving nonprofit organizations. Kittleman has conducted searches for community foundations in Kalamazoo, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Louisville.

Go to the following link for more information about applying for the position.