Dave Hickman, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Lenawee Community Foundation (LCF), announces a change in its leadership effective August 1, 2020. Sue Hammersmith will retire as President & CEO and be succeeded by Joseph R. Williams.
Hickman stated, LCF started as a community foundation in 1996, and Sue has been our only full time Executive Director/CEO. During that span she has helped us grow from a fledging organization with zero assets to $30 million at year end 2019, mostly endowment funds whose investment returns are granted to Lenawee County non-profit agencies. Today LCF is the largest non-government provider to charitable organizations in the county with grants averaging $2.5 million annually.
To honor Sue’s accomplishments our Board of Directors will recognize her as President/CEO Emeritus. She will also serve as a consultant to the Board through 2021. On her own, Sue plans to do consulting work for other non-profits.
Joe Williams will assume the role of President & CEO on August 1st. Williams has served on our Board of Directors, Lenawee Cares Advisory Board, and was the recipient of our 2013 Lenawee Leadership Award. He is a well known and respected life-time Lenawee resident who has been a very active community volunteer and leader.
Most recently, Williams was the Lenawee Market Leader for Old National Bank, and previously President & CEO of United Bank & Trust.
Hickman noted that our Board feels very fortunate for the opportunity to have Joe as our CEO for the next decade. His challenge will be to continue as an active community leader, enhance the understanding of the role LCF plays in our communities, further grow our endowment funds and attract unrestricted funds so we can meet community needs as they develop. Those of you who know Joe Williams know that “he will hit the ground running”.
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Written by Dave Hickman, President, Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Board
