This post was written by Stephanie Wooten, GleanKY’s Executive Director.
It’s hard to believe that today marks my one year anniversary as a GleanKY staff member. Some days it feels like I’ve been here forever; it’s been a truly natural fit and the people I work with have quickly become like family. Other days, I feel like I’m just getting started; I see the endless potential of this organization and I can hardly wait to take the next step towards our next big goal.
As a first-time Executive Director, there’s a lot that I’ve learned in the past year about my role. While I sat on the GleanKY Board of Directors for over a year before moving to a staff position, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to serve as an Executive Director until I was wearing the title myself.
Here’s what being an Executive Director is about to me:
- Helicopter Views: No, I don’t get to fly around in a helicopter. Those things are scary. But, as the Executive Director, I do get the opportunity to soak in the “helicopter views” of GleanKY at work. I get the privilege of observing (and directing) every piece of the organization, but I also get to step back and see all the pieces work together.
- Helicopter Crashes: Did I mention helicopters are scary? The metaphorical ones can be too. Just as you are soaring high, watching all the organization’s moving parts work in perfect harmony, a glitch will bring you crashing back to earth. While I might not appreciate the fall, what I realize while on earth makes my next trip up in the helicopter that much more beautiful.
- Impossible Boredom: It’s nearly impossible to be a bored Executive Director. Every day brings something different and because I direct a diverse group of passionate people, there’s always something new to dream about. If I’m bored, I’m forgetting something.
- Other Duties as Assigned: There is no truer statement on a non-profit job description. As an Executive Director, I have to be prepared to tackle any of the tasks that makes my organization run. Hiring people who love and appreciate the chance to work on “other duties” when assigned is critical as well. Did you know that if one florescent light bulb goes bad, you have to replace them all?
- Direct Service: There exists no mound of paperwork high enough, no excel spreadsheet long enough, no email strange enough to keep me from carrying out direct service of our mission. When I need to clear my head, I head to an orchard, farm, or grocery and glean fresh fruits and vegetables for one of our many partner agencies. Making fresh produce accessible to my community, reminds me that we are always on the right track when we’re helping others.
Here’s to many more years, and many more lessons learned!