Communicators for Women Religious today announced that Kathryn Gatliff has been named CWR’s new interim executive director. Gatliff will serve in a part-time capacity while continuing her work as director of communications and public relations for the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, MN.
Gatliff has resigned her position as chair of the CWR Board of Directors in compliance with the Board’s conflict of interest policy. She served on the CWR Board for five years and has been a CWR member since 2008. Board vice chair Jennifer Brandlon will act as chair through the end of the year, when a new Board executive team will begin its term.
“Kathy is uniquely prepared to serve as our interim executive director,” said Brandlon. “She is a seasoned leader who can keep CWR’s major initiatives on track as the board moves forward with the search for a permanent executive director.”
Gatliff succeeds outgoing executive director Nicholas T. Schafer. Gatliff and Schafer will work in collaboration to ensure a smooth leadership transition prior to Schafer’s November 15 departure.
Gatliff has more than 30 years of experience serving in the fields of communications, marketing, education and meeting planning. Prior to her employment with the Sisters of Saint Francis, Kathy served as the director of marketing and education for the Midwest Society of Association Professionals, as the founder of Meetings du Jour, and as the executive director of an international non-profit organization for credit and finance professionals. In her former profession, she obtained both the Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designations, and was a past recipient of Planner of the Year Award by the Minnesota Chapter of Meeting Professionals, and the Industry Innovator Award from the State of the Industry Program, sponsored by Meetings: Minnesota’s Hospitality Journal magazine.
The Board will begin its search for a permanent executive director shortly.