After 52 years in association management, 47 of those years as CEO, on Aug. 31, I gave ‎up my CEO position with the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and its two ‎related entities, the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health and International Board for ‎Certification of Group Psychotherapists. Succession planning has been on my mind for a ‎number of years and I have been preparing internally for it with strengthening membership and ‎executive leadership, organization of historical records, digitizing office files, documenting ‎policies and procedure and more. I have also been preparing for it internally personally, both ‎financially and mentally. A year ago, I informed the AGPA officers and two of our most senior ‎staff of my plan to retire by the end of 2021. This timing allowed the organization to consider ‎how it wanted to move forward and staff to consider their interest. Our two senior staff are ‎long-term employees, one being with the organization now 39 years and the other over 30 ‎years. We all came in young and grew up together in the organization. ‎

So, how does a CEO consider leaving their position when they still have gas in their tank, as one ‎of my officers so kindly put it? I recognized the competence of my Executive Committee, which ‎at this time had two members who were in high level managerial positions with a lot of hiring ‎experience; another was an organizational consultant, and several members had served multiple ‎terms on the Executive Committee and were very familiar with the needs of the ‎organizations. Our staff were also at the top of their game, the most senior already mentioned ‎had been there 39 and 30 years, but remaining staff had been with me over 20 years, 10 years, ‎four years and eight months. We are a staff of just seven. Most importantly, I was ‎in the position where retirement was possible. With so much aligned, the question became what ‎am I waiting for? 

Those of you who have heard me talk about AGPA know my relationship with the ‎organizations is a love story. My members are extraordinary mental health professional ‎citizens; they contribute every day to the betterment of their clients and their communities, ‎responding to trauma and those in need. AGPA received the NYSAE Social Responsibility ‎Award a number of years ago for its Camp Galaxy Summer Camp Program for military kids ‎whose parents are deployed, which is just one example of the pro bono work AGPA members ‎do. I have done my best to fiercely protect the members and organizations in the context of the ‎association’s activities and business and I can say wholeheartedly that they reciprocated and ‎appreciated, protected and recognized my efforts. ‎

After interviews with several executive search firms and management companies, the ‎association made the choice of contracting with a professional management company that would ‎maintain all of the association staff, another indicator of the value placed on human capital, and ‎values personal relationships. That management company is Kellen. The ‎organization also realized another of its goals with recognizing the contributions of its most ‎senior staff member who has been with us for 39 years, Angela Moore Stephens, now CEO ‎effective Sept. 1. They haven’t missed a beat. The transition has been challenging but ‎for the members seamless. ‎

So how is this retired CEO transitioning to her new status, now named CEO Emeritus? I ‎am reprioritizing every day myself and family (it takes practice) and still working part time ‎behind the scenes on the transition and as an advisor. I haven’t looked back even one day this ‎year thinking the decision to retire was a mistake. They are managing quite well ‎without me and I am filled with gratitude that staff and members feel prepared for the ‎future. As I have stated repeatedly, I have left the position and not the relationships, which ‎there is now more time to engage and enjoy. There is also now more time for NYSAE ‎and giving back to the profession I have so benefited from and felt fulfilled by. ‎

Marsha S. Block, CAE, CFRE
NYSAE Secretary
Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
American Group Psychotherapy Association, Inc.

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