Christina: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Taking the Lead podcast where we empower people to be unstoppable. I'm Christina Hepner with my co-host Leslie Hoskins, and unfortunately we're missing our other co-host, Timothy Kunow. He's actually in flight during this recording on his way to a speaking event on behalf of leader. He just does so many amazing things.
Leslie: When is he not busy doing something for leaders. I know. So thank you, Timothy. When you do listen to this, we are so appreciative of everything that you do, and we certainly miss you here today with us. With that said, we are gonna jump right into it. We're so excited to be catching up with our guest today after Ben in her new role for a year now.
Christina: Yes, Melissa Weiss is an industry respected nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience in fundraising and senior management, leading staff and services that support people who are blind or low vision. Prior to her role as President and CEO, she served as the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Leader Dog.[00:01:00]
During that time, she grew philanthropic revenue at Leader Dog by 121% and estates by 164%. She also led the largest capital campaign in Leader Dog's History. Raising $14.5 million for the renovation of the Canine Development Center. Melissa holds the highest accreditation for professional fundraisers and is one of just over a hundred people to be an advanced certified fundraising executive.
She sits on the board for the American Foundation for the Blind and is celebrating her one year. Here as President and CEO at Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Melissa: Thank you, Christina. I'm very happy to be here. Hello, Leslie. Hello. Congratulations Melissa. Thank you. Thank you both. I'm elated to be here one year from the time we last spoke to have a really good conversation.
Leslie: Absolutely. We're delighted to have you back and celebrate one year. Yes, you. So we have to know how is it going? .
Melissa: It has [00:02:00] been such an exciting year here at Leader. There's been so much happening. I'm really looking forward to talking about it during our conversation. A lot of momentum and a lot of extraordinary people, the clients we work with, the experts in our field, uh, the community that supports us, whether that be lions, uh, are extraordinary volunteers, over 800 strong, and of course,
this is our 85th anniversary. Mm-hmm . So it's been quite the year celebrating this tremendous organization and its history and place in the blindness and low vision community. Yes.
Leslie: It seems very impactful that you're bringing us into this 85th year, which with such energy and excitement. So what are some of the key accomplishments that the team has achieved over this last two year that you are so proud
Melissa: of?
Thank you, Leslie, for that question. I've been very reflective as I. You know, I contemplate one year in the role, but also as we move into our new strategic planning [00:03:00] period, which we are, uh, within the next month. So as I reflect on the past year, there have been key things that are drivers for the future for the organization.
Uh, one of those pieces, as you all know, is offering our services in Spanish to our clients. And we had traditionally done that for clients that came from Spain, but now making that more holistically available to all clients. Is an extraordinary, uh, new development for our team. I think we'd all have to say the addition of a psychosocial support position has been a historic first for this organization, and I know many of our clients are listening now.
Uh, that role is, is pivotal in creating a holistic experience for you as a client in your engagement with, with leaders. So having that role pivotal. Another key role that, uh, we are tremendously excited about. Is the addition of a theologist? Yes. Really interesting. [00:04:00] Many of us didn't even know that word, right,
No. I'm still not confident that I do , so we were very fortunate to welcome Dr. Gail McCree, a specialist in Theriogenology. And she's a specialist in canine breeding. And that enables us to hone in on the traits that are optimal for a guide dog in today's environment. And we know we are always working in a rapidly evolving environment, and the dogs we need to work with change as well.
So I believe Dr. McCray's role is absolutely pivotal driving the organization into the future. Something I, I don't know if we discussed. This podcast in my first conversation, but. Adding a nurse. Yeah. We have added the role of nurse to our team, and that's another client facing support role. Making that client experience all the richer when here and just providing that support.
I think that's been so important on the strategic [00:05:00] front. . We have had some tremendous partnership with our board of trustees, and we work to reframe the board structure this year, making the board, uh, more nimble, making our committees, uh, more nimble to address what is again, an evolving. Landscape and low vision services, being able to address those, uh, more effectively.
So I've been very excited to work with our new board chair, uh, John Reed, who just assumed the role in, uh, in January. So that's been key as well. I think the team across this year. Looking at what kind of skills do we need, and I'm sure we'll talk about this more in this conversation as we see the evolving needs of our clients.
Mm-hmm . Having individuals who are dual certified, whether that is in both Guide Dog mobility and in, uh, orientation and mobility in some of the, uh, [00:06:00] other vision rehabilitation skills will help us provide more holistic client service. And our team has really been motivated to achieve those, those pieces, and I think that's gonna be a seismic part of our future.
Yeah. So lots has been happening and evolving here during this year.
Christina: Absolutely. That is a lot to do in one year. , it's a lot. I mean, just going through it all, it's a only year wife and I'm sure reflecting on it all. Yes. You've accomplished so much.
Melissa: Well, Christina, it's a team and I appreciate you saying that and such a part of that.
As you know, both of you, the primacy for me of having the voice of our client at the center of what we do and . We have launched a quarterly call with all of our clients, and I've really enjoyed those conversations and moving ahead with an alumni board and mentorship. So we're doing all of this as a team, which is exciting.
It's more client voices at the table. Yes, absolutely. At every, [00:07:00] at every table.
Leslie: I love that we've talked about that before, how it needs to be in every conference room, right? Who's not at the table at whose voice is not being heard? And I think it's a wonderful message and we can definitely feel, I know as a team member, that has been reflected in the last year.
Yes. Um, and being more represented as clients in all conversations. So thank you for that. Yeah. Um, that has been fantastic. To be a part of. Well,
Melissa: thank you Leslie, for highlighting that and Christina, because, um, this year I assume the role of vice chair of the board of the American Foundation for the Blind.
And I wanna be the best ally I can be to our community, and that is listening to those of you with the lived experience. That's the way we can improve as an organization. So when Leslie says to have your voice at every table, that is at the heart of our work.
Christina: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, there's so many amazing things happening, and this is gonna be a hard question, I think for you to answer of what's been the most inspiring part for you?[00:08:00]
You know, being in your role, learning more things about our team and stuff. Is there anything that sticks out?
Melissa: I think what's so inspiring every day and . Everyone that comes to our organization feels this. It's the exceptional mission, focus, drive, and passion of our team, uh, whether it is, uh, our team who creates this culinary experience for our clients when they come in, our facilities team, our canine care team, our marketing team.
Our philanthropy team who speak to our donors and supporters, there is such passion. You feel it. Uh, yesterday we had a breakfast for lunch here at Leader. It's cold, cold times here on the Leader Doc
Leslie: episode.
Melissa: Nice to bring everyone together for breakfast. And you can see it takes a special person to be here.
It takes a person with the drive knowing that we are one of the few organizations. advocating for our [00:09:00] community, addressing this need. So it takes a special person to be here and I, I'm very grateful and inspired by that. Every day
Leslie: we work with some very incredible people. And I know, I feel that too, as part of this team.
Um, as you look to the future, what are you thinking about as your top priorities for the team in this next fiscal
Melissa: year? That's a pivotal question. Right now we've celebrated 85 years and what brought us from a small farmhouse in 1939 to one of the world's largest blindness and low vision guide dog organizations.
It is paramount that we plan for a future that's ever evolving and. Our relevance to our community. And to that end, we had a, uh, survey this year where we spoke to all of our active clients, professionals in the field to say, what do you need in evolving service provision as we move forward? So I'm excited [00:10:00] for the team as we move into our strategic plan in our next 85 years to say, how can we more holistically serve our clients?
And to my mind, that is additional service provision that addresses more stages of our client's journey with us. We know that, uh, vision loss is an ever evolving journey. I would like to add . Pieces such as activities of daily living and technology, which will round out our orientation and mobility and guide dog work to give more and support more.
Uh. The clients that work with us today and the clients of tomorrow who have evolving and very different needs. And, uh, for those of you listening, I know your access to service provision has a lot of variables depending upon where you are in the country, depending upon what your network or community looks like.
And we [00:11:00] need to have a greater voice in, uh, . Creating a path to service and creating a more holistic service provision for you as a client and our entire community, uh, can come around that our volunteers, our donors, our supporters to say in 2025, what does guide dog service provision look like? What does o and m look like?
What does going to make you the most confident client moving forward? I'm very excited for those conversations. We have invited in industry experts in the field to say, what, what? What would this look like integrated with our current programs? And part of that, you're gonna get me so excited talking about all these things.
Yeah, I love it. It's a capital campaign, uh, for our residents. As our programs evolve, the physical space needs to evolve and also accessibility is so evolved since we built this building. So that's . Really, uh, foremost in my mind, how can we create the most accessible [00:12:00] environment here that mirrors the services we wanna provide?
We know our residence is a sanctuary and a place where people can come, uh, really receive this service, meet others, develop a peer network. So we'll come together to say. What does the residents need to look like? What do rooms need to look like today? What does our dining room need to look like Now? This is going to be a significant capital campaign as part of our, uh, next strategic plan.
And I, I think another physical component of that campaign will be how do we well on site in terms of breeding for, uh, leader dogs. And I know, uh, our theologists and our veterinarians are thinking of that right now. It is the constant evolution of services. What's made us great in these 85 years, how can we be, continue to be great moving forward?
Christina: I think as a team member, it's really great to be a part of an organization that is constantly changing with the times. Yes. I mean [00:13:00] times things change so rapidly now with technology. Yes. Just the way volunteerism works, all of that, and to see that we are . Changing with it, I think makes me as a team member committed to what I do.
And I love to change. I'm absolute, I'm one of those people who love Yes. Change constantly. And so it's, uh, very great to be a part of that. I agree. Change as we move forward. And, you know, I, what I personally love is that we're not in a box of like, Nope, we're, we're here and you have to meet us here. We're meeting people where they're at.
Melissa: I agree with you, Christina, because people come, our clients come, and whether you're guide dog or ONM. We know you're a whole person with a multitude of needs and how can we evolve to address that and not stay and continue to serve people in the way we have, which has been very good, but we need to evolve.
And I, I love that as well.
Leslie: And that [00:14:00] holistic approach. I think it's so important. And our colleague Christie mentions this all I. O and m or guide dog, whatever your mobility device is, we can get you to the door. Yes. But what happens when you get inside and how can we support those efforts in full independence?
Yes. Um, so I love this conversation. It's so exciting to be a part of this. I'm really looking forward to the strategic planning, getting going and all that can happen.
Melissa: I agree with you, Leslie, and what's exciting is will . Have primacy always for Guide Dog and for our core service provisions. Mm-hmm . And it's what can come alongside those pieces.
That's so interesting today in this evolving and shifting landscape. Before we began our conversation, we were talking about, um, the new technologies that are out. And I love at client celebrations every week, sitting at the table and hearing about these new devices, what's new in the field. And we learn so much from our clients.
Leslie: And the conversations that happen in that downtime. Just creating, like you're saying, this environment for the, the future. Yes. But [00:15:00] so much of that happens here. It does. That just naturally happens, but we're not providing mm-hmm . And those conversations are so impactful for our clients. So I'm, I'm really excited.
I think it's gonna be great and all the new technology to adapt that and make this the most accessible and comfortable building that we can for our clients is, is an exciting time.
Melissa: I think you're absolutely right because I know that our clients love our residents. Mm-hmm . And what happens within its walls and how can we make that even more extraordinary while people are here is receiving services.
Christina: Yeah. And I think something too, what I currently love is where our office sits Yes. Is right at the top of the stairs and where your office is. Yes. You're right near the residence. Yes. And so. It's so interconnected and there is no barrier of, oh, a client, it, you know, you can't talk to a team member. I have had so many wonderful conversations just because I'm at the top of the stairs and clients are working on the stairs and they come up the stairs and um, so I think that's [00:16:00] such a great part of this organization as well, is that I think everybody feels more connected to the mission 'cause we're right.
Here with them. Absolutely. And their journey.
Melissa: And I think it's part of our advocacy that whether it's a digital space, a physical space mm-hmm. That we are promoting the greatest accessibility and inclusive culture we possibly can. Whether it's here on the Leader dog campus or in communities around the country, that proximity accessibility is so important.
Leslie: Talking about accessibility in a different way, being accessible. You, Melissa, have been so accessible to clients, to volunteers, to donors in this last year and well beyond that as well, um, and team members. But yes, your location of your new office being so accessible for clients, but also as you already mentioned, those quarterly meetings with clients and giving clients an opportunity to fully unmute, join the conversation, give their thoughts and feedback.
Um, I have definitely seen . Like a huge just boost in morale, right? Mm-hmm . [00:17:00] Our clients are feeling heard, so your mission of that is definitely, it's happening.
Melissa: It's so critical. Uh, I, I think those conversations, hearing, uh, . Really from our clients in communities around the country fuels us, and it gives us an understanding of where we need to be.
I'm excited about the alumni board, about our mentorship, and then equally moving forward, we have had those same quarterly calls with puppy raisers and breeding host homes, and. Such an important part of the continuum of our work. I think communication is so important and Christina has been such a partner for me in that every month we have created a video from a different part of leader, our Leader Doll campus.
For the team and for the board. And we've been up on the roof Yes. Of the Canine Center. . We've been in the kitchen, we've been in training vehicles. Uh. That's just been very illuminating for people. Yeah.
Christina: And so
Melissa: thank you Christina, for that partnership.
Christina: Of course. Well, thank you for choosing [00:18:00] me to be a part of it because I think my favorite was the roof.
Yes. 'cause I had never, I did not know that there was a roof access to where we went up. Yes. So that one was a lot of.
Melissa: Fun. But I know for everyone listening, we're talking about the roof of our Cage, night Center. This is a extraordinarily large building. Yes. And the work that goes on there is so very important.
So being up on the roof was, uh, a new vantage point.
Leslie: Yes.
Melissa: I look
Leslie: forward to those videos every month. It's enlightening. We don't get to often see what all of our incredible team members do and to think about. There are . Plenty of maintenance team members that are up on that roof and know every inch of this building and what it needs to to run fully.
So it's been really exciting and we definitely look forward to those. And I think that goes back to that accessible, you're so accessible and you're so open, and that has just been so
Melissa: appreciated, I think. Leslie, thank you. It's key. Uh, I love making those videos and being with the team in those spaces.
And we've also, as a team, extended that openness to our. Guide Dog Community through the [00:19:00] International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International and Vision Serve Alliance. Our team really collaborates and partners with all those organizations in very open conversations because we are all serving the same mission, and it's important that we have that open dialogue, whether it is here with our team or externally with
Others in this service area.
Leslie: Yeah. And we talk about that here and there, but I, it is such a unique field. It is, yeah. In this community and all of us working together with the other guide dog organizations to collaborate and, and advocate together. Right. More in numbers. Um, and that has been a beautiful thing and I look forward to those conversations continuing.
Yes. So as we're thinking about all the things that we have done and, uh, the future here, what are some of the skills or values with. In the team that you think are gonna be crucial as we move forward in future successes?
Melissa: Really good question and a thought provoking question, Leslie. I think, uh, [00:20:00] leaders are learners, so to always be learning.
Christina spoke about our rapidly evolving environment, and it is, uh, whether that is within guide dog service provision or orientation and mobility or marketing or philanthropy. We need people that are staying abreast of what's really happening in this space. And I think resilience. And please, uh, correct me, Leslie, I, I think there's a, a term 80% of travel is recovery mm-hmm
Is that correct? Yeah. And, and I think it's. Very similar for our team. Our job is hard. This is hard. There's very few people in the world that are guide dog mobility, instructure instructors, or certified orientation and mobility specialists. It's hard. So to stay resilient and uh, know that, uh. We have so much gratitude for the work our team does, you know, to have that resiliency in delivering service provision, wanna [00:21:00] support the teams as much as possible so that we can deliver the best service to our clients.
So I think I would say learn, be resilient. And of course, as we said earlier, we need people that are passionate. About this mission. This is social justice work to me. And uh, as we said earlier, it's the work of inclusion for our community and that access. We want people to be able to have that guide dog and go in any environment and be a part of, uh, their community and, and have access.
And that's a continual fight, whether it is with a cane or a guide dog, it's, it's, we need people that . Are fueled by our mission.
Leslie: Absolutely. And it's a journey, right? It's, and it's like we've talked about, it's constantly changing and how if we can continue to support our clients in those advocacy efforts and being able to, to, um, confidently advocate for themselves.
And we always talk about, you know, the impact of what we do goes so much further than [00:22:00] independent travel. It's the, the confidence and independence. It's the . Um, increased employment. It's the, the health and fitness, it's the community, it's the family. It's just so much more. And as we talk about expanding these services, it's only gonna grow.
It is. Yeah. And being able to work with other organizations and other, um, professionals. It's, it's such an exciting time. As we are kind of wrapping up here, we have a couple questions. First off though, is there anything else that, uh, you wanna share with our listeners, our audience about, you know, this first year or the future?
Melissa: I think the first thing I'd like to say, thank you for that, that moment. Uh, I would like to say to our clients, thank you. Thank you for choosing Leader, uh, thank you for your loyalty to our mission and this place. I know how important it is for you and please know that, uh. We are here for you. This is your organization.
I would say that to each and every one of our clients. This is your [00:23:00] organization and we want you to be a great part of this place. We always say at Client Celebration, we're a phone call away, and we are, uh, please never hesitate to reach out to us because we're all coming together for this next strategic plan and for what a leader is in its next
85 years. So my message would be one of gratitude to our clients, to our team that does this work day in and day out. And this is a special time. Uh, it is, as I said, the 85th anniversary of our organization. It is also the 100th anniversary of Helen Keller's Challenge two Lions to be. Constant advocates for people who are blind or visually impaired.
And, uh, we were founded by Lions Club members and that that mandate to advocate and champion and be a partner and ally remains a core part of this place and always will be. So a message of gratitude to our clients and our team. [00:24:00] I think that's a wonderful
Christina: last message. As we wrap up, I know we could talk
Melissa: Yes.
For hours on end. Thank you for having me here. And thank you for the work you do in this podcast, giving everyone a window into our work and mission.
Leslie: Absolutely. It's so important and this is just also shows that you take the time to do this every so often and check in and really educate our listeners.
Um, we appreciate you so much. Thank you. And this last year has been so fun and so fantastic and we are certainly looking forward to what the future brings in the next 85 years. Absolutely. .
Melissa: Absolutely. Thank
Leslie: you both. And thank you so much to our listeners for listening to the Taking the Lead podcast. I'm Leslie Hoskins with host Timothy Kyo, who we're missing greatly today, and Christina Hepner.
We hope you enjoyed hearing about Melissa's first year and the exciting things to come with our team. Please join us next time as we continue to dive into the world of blindness.
Christina: And if you'd like to learn more about applying to our free services at Leader Dog, you can head to leader dog.org or [00:25:00] call us at (888) 777-5332.
Don't forget you can reach us at taking the lead@leaderdog.org with any questions or ideas. If you like today's podcast, make sure to hit subscribe and check us out wherever Podcast Stream.