Meyer recently completed a comprehensive strategic planning process, a deep dive into how we do grantmaking and how we can better center community in all we do. As Meyer Memorial Trust sharpens our focus on racial justice, and on applying an anti-racist, feminist lens to our work, we must strive to better align our purpose and our business operations.
To achieve that stronger alignment, Meyer CEO Michelle J. DePass has promoted Brenda Hodges to the role of Chief Financial Officer. As Meyer's director of finance for the last five years, Brenda has been a trusted advisor to the executive team and Meyer's board of trustees. She has steered the organization's finances through great periods of change, growth, and challenges. Brenda has also led Meyer's independent audit process, and modernized the organization's accounting practices with an emphasis on mission alignment. This new role is an opportunity for Brenda to oversee and elevate the strategic value and impacts of other compliance functions, such as IT and operations.
As we move through operationalization, Meyer's attention will in due course turn to impact: how can we make the most impact in Oregon? And how do we know when we are? That focus on impact merits someone entirely focused on it.
To achieve that goal, DePass has appointed Kaberi Banerjee Murthy to the newly created role of Chief Impact Officer. The Chief Impact Officer’s top priority is to bring a racial justice and intersectional feminist lens to the work which centers community voice and shifts power. Since 2018, Kaberi has led Meyer's programs and strategy teams, while also leading the board and staff through a planning process which just resulted in a new strategic framework. As Meyer's inaugural Chief Impact Officer, Kaberi will oversee all of Meyer’s mission-focused work, specifically the development of its long-term strategy, oversight of grantmaking, programs and advocacy, and the implementation of values-aligned evaluation.
Congratulations, Kaberi and Brenda. Meyer is grateful for your thoughtful leadership.