This month’s staff spotlight is on Beatrice Black, the WCA Executive Director. This month of May marks Bea’s 10th Anniversary at the WCA! As Executive Director, Bea wears many different hats. While her main responsibility is to ensure the financial viability of the organization and work with the WCA Board, she has the opportunity to use all her skills in planning, budgeting, writing, speaking, and connecting with people.
Prior to joining the WCA team, Bea spent 30 years working for small entrepreneurial companies – mostly accounting and software related, although she also had an office products store for six years. Just before coming to the WCA, she spent three years with Neighborhood Housing Services, responsible for their tax credit properties. As her first experience working for a non-profit, the job taught her a lot about the grant world. Bea often tells people: “I spent 33 years training for this job and am grateful for all the experiences I have had because I feel they all help me in my current role.”
Since joining the WCA, Bea has gained a much better understanding of the complexities involved in domestic abuse and the effect of trauma on our brains, which she says in turn has made her more understanding and empathetic of those who have experienced trauma. Most rewarding about her work, Bea says, is “connecting with people around the work we do and sharing the WCA mission and vision. Whether it is talking to clients about their experiences, talking to staff about their work and thinking about how to best support them, or talking to donors to find out how and why they became involved with us and then sharing what a difference their support makes in the lives of our clients.”
Bea at the unveiling of the Boise Police domestic violence awareness patrol car.
Thinking about the most memorable moments she has experienced at the WCA, Bea shared: “There is nothing that fills me with more delight then when I hear or see the delight of the children that are our clients. Hearing their laughter in our waiting room or seeing the joy on their faces as they interact with their mom or our staff in our childcare or shelter – it makes me so grateful that we are here to support them and their family.”
Thank you for everything you do Bea, and congratulations on 10 great years of leadership!
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