CSSV narrows search for director
Published 3:18 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
Having selected six names from a list of candidates for the position
of executive director, Children’s Services of Sno-Valley (CSSV) is ready to
take the next step.
The candidates will begin interviews on Saturday, Nov. 20, to be
followed by three rounds of activities that will give the search team a chance
to view their various skills. The search team anticipates having a final
candidate to present to the board of directors for confirmation at their Nov.
29 board meeting.
The agency started a regional search for a new director
following Joan Sharp’s August 1999 departure to United Way of King County.
Nancy Whitaker, program director at CSSV, has been serving as interim director.
The search process was one of several items discussed by the board
during their annual strategic planning retreat on Oct. 22 and 23. Other
subjects included a review of the organization’s progress over the last year and
discussion of Children’s Services recent audit.
According to president Rob McFarland, the audit showed
the agency’s position has “never been stronger.” The independent
auditor delivered a “clean” rating for
Sno-Valley’s operations from 1998 through June 30, 1999.
“We are happy with the results of the audit, which reflect our
conscientiousness in being responsible with the dollars the community gives us to
administrate our programs,” noted Whitaker. “It gives us confidence
to go forward with the expansion of services that families are asking for.”
The board members agreed that once the new executive director
is hired, CSSV will turn to identifying and prioritizing agency
expansion. The board is also committed to improving agency technology and
diversifying its funding base.
At the moment, the agency is also looking for new members for
the board of directors; for example, three-year director Art Skolnik recently
departed. He said in a conversation with the Valley Record that he just felt
“it was a good time to bow out.
“The organization is very important to us, but after three years I
decided it was time to `retire,'” he commented. “It was convenient
because my energies were diverted elsewhere.”
Skolnik noted that during his time on the board Children’s Services
had expanded into the Lower Valley with an office in Duvall. He expressed
hope the board would gain more representation from that area.
According to Whitaker, there is no set number for the agency’s board
of directors _ it can range from 15 to 30 _ but they are always looking for
new members.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” she stated. “We do have four new board
members, and at the November meeting the board will elect a new
executive panel.”
Whitaker advises that anyone who is interested in serving on the
board should call her at (425) 888-2777. Members of the board of directors
are recruited based on areas of expertise pertinent to the agency.
In addition, anyone interested in obtaining information about the
audit or a copy of the agency’s financial statement should call the same
number.
