As I am preparing to retire as Executive Director, I find myself reflecting on an extraordinary ten years with this organization. When I joined in 2016, I could not have imagined the experiences, challenges, friendships, and memories that would become such an important part of my life.

Looking back, one word comes to mind: resilience.

I learned very quickly that this organization is resilient because of its people—the staff, members, board members, and supporters, who believe deeply in our mission and in the people we serve.

Only five months after I was hired, our building caught fire.

It was a difficult and uncertain time. We had to rebuild, but at the same time, we had a responsibility to continue serving our members and our community. Somehow, we managed to do both. We rebuilt our building without canceling our programming, and watching the organization emerge from that experience stronger than before was one of the first great lessons of my tenure: when people are committed to a mission, obstacles do not have to stop the work.

Then came another challenge that none of us could have anticipated—the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic tested every organization, and ours was no exception. We had to make difficult decisions quickly while keeping our staff employed and continuing to provide meaningful services to our members.

One of our biggest challenges was deciding how to navigate our large in-person conference, the Bench Bar. Rather than cancel it, we transformed it into a fully online event at a time when Zoom was still a relatively new way for many people to meet and conduct business. It was no small task, but once again, the resilience and determination of our members and staff allowed us to provide our members and sponsors with the conference and services they had come to expect.

But perhaps the memories that mean the most to me are not those of financial success or organizational achievement. They are the moments when our organization responded to people in need.

During the pandemic, we donated more than a ton of food to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, along with a significant monetary contribution, to help people in our community. Then we did it again when Hurricane Ian hit our fellow Floridians. Our President at the time, Scott Smith, personally drove a rental truck filled with donations from our members to Lee County.

In a moment when so many people were struggling, our organization stepped forward.

Those experiences reminded me that an organization is measured not only by what it accomplishes, but also by how it responds when people need help the most.

Over the years, I have also been especially proud of the growth of our attorney referral program. We have taken an increasing number of calls from members of the public who need help finding an attorney, and we have grown the revenue generated by that program as well. But beyond the numbers, what matters is that we have been able to connect people with the legal assistance they need. That is the kind of impact that makes the work worthwhile.

Ten years is a long time, and there have been countless other moments—some challenging, some exciting, and many simply memorable—that have shaped my experience here. I will carry those memories with me as I begin this next chapter.

No executive accomplishes anything alone. Every success or challenge I have described was made possible by people who showed up, worked hard, adapted to change, and cared about the mission, to include my staff both past and present: Nicole Nelson, Derek Loiseau, Kathy Clark, Jessica Gonzalez, Jeanne Brander, Michelle Gale, Lynn Poirier, and Jen Iacobucci.

I want to thank the members of the Board of Directors who hired me in 2016: John Whittles, Sia Baker-Barnes, Gregory Huber, Jessica Callow, Dean Xenick, Julia Wyda, Scott Smith, Grasford Smith, Grier Pressly III, Lee McElroy, Ned Reagan, Ashley Wilson and Rosemarie Guerini.

Thank you for your confidence in me and for giving me the opportunity to serve this organization. I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me.

As I leave, I do so with tremendous pride in what we have accomplished together and great optimism for what lies ahead. I am confident that our current Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Jack Rice, will rise to meet the challenges of today, identify the right leader for the future, and continue to serve our members and the community in the manner they expect and deserve.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Executive Director for the past ten years. I leave knowing that this organization is in good hands and that the spirit of resilience that has carried us through the past decade will continue to guide its future.

With sincere gratitude,

Carla Tharp-Brown