It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors of Ascendigo Autism Services announces Dan Richardson’s intent to transition out of his position as Chief Executive Officer.
Dan will continue in his current role of CEO until the end of the year when a new CEO is named. Dan will assist in the onboarding and orientation of the new CEO to provide a smooth transition. Dan is graciously providing ample notice of his plans, which is allowing Ascendigo to be thoughtful and deliberate with its selection of the next CEO.
For over six years, Dan has played a critical role in the current success of Ascendigo, first as COO then as CEO. Among Dan’s accomplishments are:
- the creation of a strong senior leadership team capable of maintaining and improving operations during this transition
- deepening our internal infrastructure for optimal financial, compliance, development, human resource and programmatic management
- securing and remodeling Ascendigo’s new building
- expanding affordable housing for staff
- the completion of Ascendigo’s strategic plan
Dan is an admired leader and community collaborator. Ascendigo’s programs are well respected and in high demand. Under Dan’s inspiring leadership, Ascendigo is poised to hand the reins to a successor who will continue the forward momentum.
Dan intends to pursue his entrepreneurial interests leveraging his skills in property management. He will be launching a new business, BOLD – Empowering People + Property. Ascendigo looks forward to working with BOLD in the future to support our property needs. We wish Dan the best of luck in this new venture!
Over the next months, we will be conducting a wide search to find our new CEO. We are forming a search committee which will solicit input from key stakeholders and communicate progress. We will share the job posting soon and ask for your help in identifying candidates. The ideal candidate will build on Ascendigo’s 20 years of providing an expanding portfolio of innovative services to the autism and developmental disabilities community in the Roaring Fork Valley. Our mission will remain the same: to elevate the spectrum by empowering people, inspiring lives, and shattering expectations.
Dan brought compassion, thoughtfulness, wisdom and a tireless work ethic to his time at Ascendigo. He will be greatly missed. His successor will have big shoes to fill, but we are excited and confident in finding our next outstanding leader and the next chapter in serving our community.
Feel welcome to reach out to me, Dan, or Erin Galbreath, HR Director, if you have any questions or thoughts about this transition.
Sincerely,
Sallie Bernard, Founder & Chair, Board of Directors, Ascendigo Autism Services
A Message From Dan Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, Ascendigo Autism Services
As Sallie states, “it is with a mix of sadness and gratitude” we announce that I’ll be stepping down as CEO to start a property management business called BOLD – Empowering People + Property, which will specialize in providing property management services to people with disabilities, those wanting to age in place, and those wanting total home performance. My hope and my plan are to remain involved as Ascendigo sees fit with respect to property management and other projects.
I came to Ascendigo because I was captivated by autism as a window into humanity and I wanted to learn more. I also was inspired by Ascendigo and understood immediately how unique and innovative Ascendigo was – and still is. My goal has always been to change the world (for the better), and I am still convinced that Ascendigo is not only doing this, but it is charting a critical path for our community and society at large. So, I am sad to leave a team that often feels more like a family, but grateful to have played a role in Ascendigo’s development and recent accomplishments.
I have done my best to lead Ascendigo in various capacities and what an honor it has been to do so with a truly spectacular community of people. I am inspired by your courage, curiosity, humility, empathy, and integrity. Thank you to the board and committee members, my fellow Ascendigoers, clients and their families, donors, community partners, and especially Sallie Bernard for your support, guidance, dedication, generosity, and gratitude. Without you, Ascendigo would not be achieving its mission.
One of my original goals was to help find a permanent home for Ascendigo. As I type this from 695 Buggy Circle, our soon-to-be new home, I can confidently say that that goal is almost complete. And what a home it will be. We still need to secure a ranch/camp facility. I will continue to work on that. One of the reasons I stepped up as CEO, was to help build a leadership team and grow our organizational strength and capacity. And what a team we have. Thanks to this team, I feel wonderful knowing that I will step aside with Ascendigo’s best days still to come.
If there is one constant in autism and Ascendigo, it is the need to be flexible. The next chapter will look different for me and Ascendigo, but we will apply what we have learned as we continue to pursue the mission. In the meantime, I look forward to finishing the year and providing input on the CEO hiring effort and to ensuring a successful onboarding and orientation of the new Ascendigo leadership.
Onward & upward,
Dan Richardson, CEO & President, Ascendigo Autism Services
2024 Mission Film
