A Tribute to LeaderWise
from a Retiring Board Member
by Rick Wagner
Do you have someone who serves as a trusted colleague, who supports your efforts, provides resources, is a reality check, and does hard things kindly? I have been blessed to have such people and organizations in my life, one of which is LeaderWise. I first learned of LeaderWise, or what was then called North Central Career Development Center, as a member of a committee that prepared and assessed candidates for ministry. I was impressed with the professionalism and positivity of the staff and the reports they produced. I became a client myself midway through my professional career when I began to question my call to ordained ministry. It was only much later that I got the opportunity to serve on the LeaderWise Board, and that has been enormously rewarding. LeaderWise has been a trusted partner for me personally, professionally, and as a judicatory representative. As a Board member, I’m happy to say that I’ve always looked forward to meetings and never come away from one with anything less than a sincere sense that we are doing the right things for the right reasons with the right people.
LeaderWise excels in assessing, counseling, and developing leaders for lives of service. It has grown in its staffing and services over the years, and at the core of that is the leadership of Dr. Mark Sundby, formerly Executive Director and now one of the 3 Co-Directors. The collegiality and expertise of the psychologists, counselors, spiritual directors, workshop leaders, and administrative staff have helped make LeaderWise a national leader, and the Board has done its best to support the organization’s growth and development. From the Board's perspective, two of LeaderWise’s key strengths are its clear mission to “foster healthy, spirit-filled individuals and communities for lives of service,” and the staff’s flexibility and responsiveness in meeting clients’ needs.
As I retire from the Board, I look forward to LeaderWise’s continued growth. Counseling services are now provided in two locations as well as by video link. High-caliber workshops that are timely, inclusive, flexible and designed to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world greatly benefit faith-based and service-oriented organizations. LeaderWise offers much, does it well and affordably, and is committed to the development of moral leaders and resilient, sustainable organizations. It is a wonderful resource for times such as these.
