Dear Members, Funders, Partners and Community,
I am writing, with a heart filled with mixed emotions, to share that I will be stepping down as Executive Director of the N.E.W. Mental Health Connection at the end of this year. Let me start by saying thank you for the most incredible 10 years and for the amazing opportunity to make a difference in our community through the magic of collective action.
Thank you for all the trust you’ve placed in me over the years to guide our coalition vision and strategy, for coming to the table without (or in spite of) your organizational hats, for championing mental health and always putting the people of our community first. It’s been an absolute honor to walk beside you in this deeply meaningful work.
It’s never easy to move on from something you love, but I’m so pleased to be walking away having secured the coalition’s standing as a thought leader, our reputation for producing impact and the financial strength and sustainability upon which the organization can flourish into its next iteration.
I’m excited to share that I’ve accepted the position of Vice President of Community Impact with United Way Fox Cities. Living, working, engaging and serving in the community I love, with all of its gifts and challenges, is what is most important to me. I relish the opportunity to continue to be in partnership with you as I take on this new role. I’m energized and honored by the opportunity to bring my experience in systems change, collective impact, community-driven health improvement and social innovation to an organization that cares so deeply about building a stronger, more caring community for everyone.
The Board of Directors and I are working on the transition plan to ensure that The Connection maintains its position of strength and stability during this time of change. The position of Executive Director will be posted shortly and I encourage anyone who wants to dedicate themselves to community-driven, collective impact to apply.
I’m so excited for the future of our coalition and the next leader’s vision for championing the mental health of our community. Thank you for the privilege of serving in this role for 10 amazing years!
Beth Clay, Executive Director
The Connection
All,
I am blessed beyond measure to have worked alongside Beth for the last six years in my role as Co-Chair of the N.E.W. Mental Health Connection. Beth breathes energy, wisdom, and passion into everything she does, and I will carry with me what she has taught me for years to come. While I am sad she won’t be our Executive Director come 2025, I am thrilled that she will be taking her spunk and smarts to the United Way Fox Cities who is an essential partner in the work we do.
As the Co-Chair of the N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, I want to provide assurance to all of you from the Board that we are fully committed to the ongoing success of The Connection. We will be posting the Executive Director position as soon as possible and will share the posting with this network as soon as we are able. We are committed to finding the right Executive Director to lead us through the next chapter of our amazing coalition.
I hope you will all join me in expressing our gratitude for Beth, the chapter she has authored for The Connection, and the immeasurable (and measurable!) impact she has made on our community and those in our community who need us most.
Sincerely,
Julie Meyer, MPS, FACHE
Co-Chair, NEW Mental Health Connection
Director, Behavioral Health, ThedaCare
