Dear Friends:

Elizabeth Brazas

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina's Board of Directors met late this afternoon to ratify the transition team's unanimous recommendation of Elizabeth Brazas to succeed Pat Smith as the Foundation's President. We want you to be one of the first to know about this change of leadership. Elizabeth will join the Foundation staff on November 1, 2009.

In August 2008, Pat announced her intention to retire after a 25-year career with CFWNC. Working with Kittleman & Associates of Chicago, a transition team of current and former board members went to work creating a job description and helping to identify potential candidates from across the nation. We sought a strong leader with experience, insight and a passion for community service. The ideal candidate would demonstrate exemplary business and communication skills as well as a history of building and maintaining relationships and collaborations.

More than 420 candidates submitted their credentials for consideration; nine were personally interviewed with four brought back for a second round. With the transition team's unanimous selection of Elizabeth Brazas, we have found a proven leader of extraordinary experience and insight to help us address the challenges and opportunities facing the Foundation and our region.

Elizabeth has worked in the private sector at Wachovia Bank and the Threshold Group, combining philanthropic, legal and wealth management experience. Her passion for philanthropy is apparent in both her professional path and her personal involvement with a variety of nonprofit organizations.

Elizabeth's early career as an estate attorney and trust officer developed well-honed skills in compliance, budgeting, strategic planning, marketing, work plan development, implementation and measurement. While at Wachovia, Elizabeth played a significant role in broadening existing relationships and creating new alliances within and outside the corporation. In the communities in which she has lived and worked, she has been instrumental in forging valued alliances with community leaders and long-lasting relationships with co-workers and clients.

A graduate of Davidson College who also holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina, Elizabeth is relocating to the Asheville area with her husband, Stephen, and five-year-old son Colin. In a statement to the transition team, Brazas said "I feel a strong connection to North Carolina and look forward to working with The Community Foundation's board, staff, donors and partners to continue the organization's positive and lasting impact in the region. I am inspired by what the Foundation accomplished under the leadership of Pat Smith. She leaves the Foundation operating from a place of strength, and her legacy is a valuable permanent resource that will benefit generations of Western North Carolinians. It is an honor to carry on that important work."

We are confident that Elizabeth's passion for this organization and her belief in our mission make her the right leader for The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. We look forward to introducing Elizabeth to you and to a bright future for The Community Foundation under her able leadership.

Sincerely,

Paul (Bubba) Crutchfield
Chairman of the Board
www.cfwnc.org

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