The board of directors at Hopeful Horizons, the local children’s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center, announced that CEO, Shauw Chin Capps, will be exiting her position as of Dec. 31.
Capps and her family will be relocating to Atlanta, where her husband, Paul, will be serving as a full-time associate pastor at Peachtree Baptist Church beginning Jan. 2, 2019.
Capps has served at the helm of the organization for more than 15 years.
As a part of the board’s succession plan, on Jan. 1, 2019, Kristin Dubrowski, Hopeful Horizons’ current COO will step into the CEO position.
Dubrowski was the executive director of CODA for more than nine years prior to the merger of CODA and Hope Haven. Upon the merger, Dubrowski became the COO.
“Her strong leadership as COO has contributed to the growth of Hopeful Horizon,” Capps said. “I have had the privilege of working alongside Kristin for almost two years and there is no better person to step into the CEO role. She is a true servant leader and will continue to provide the strong leadership that will take Hopeful Horizons to next level of excellence.”
Board chairman Andre Nougaret expressed the Board’s confidence in Kristin and the succession plan. “All healthy organizations forecast a succession plan and look explicitly at leadership transitions,” he said, “and the good news is that Hopeful Horizons’ strategic plan includes the development of a robust succession plan. A strong nonprofit leader is critical to the success of the organization, its ability to continue providing uninterrupted services to the community, and for long-term sustainability. We are fortunate that there has been an intentional focus on developing a succession plan that has been unanimously approved by the Board.”
As Dubrowski steps into the CEO role, the COO position will be dissolved and replaced by two full-time key positions that will ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.
Thus, Erin Hall has been hired as chief development officer and Derek Rucker has been named director of grants and program evaluation.
With almost a decade of experience as executive director of non-profit organizations in South Carolina, Hall is a strategic leader and a strong fundraiser. As past executive director of Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter, she executed a million-dollar capital campaign to expand their facilities. She also has a decade of experience in marketing and communications.
Rucker has more than 15 years of experience in program and grants administration, spending seven years in Maryland dedicated to progressively responsible positions within the Office for Children and Families, ultimately serving as its director.
He moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he spent more than three years with the global non-profit BCFS Health and Human Services. Rucker has successfully written and managed grants totaling more than $5 million.
Of her remaining tenure, Capps said, “My last two tasks as CEO of Hopeful Horizons are providing the leadership of letting go and the leadership of paving the way. The best gift I could ever ask for is knowing that the mission of Hopeful Horizons will continue under such capable and strong leadership.”
For more information, visit hope fulhorizons.org.
