I am pleased to share that my first 100 days as President & CEO of The Guidance Center have been successful. I began by restructuring the duties of the executive leadership team to better meet our needs and position the organization for long-term success. Our new COO, Jill Blackson, and new CSO, Pasquale Vignola, have already seamlessly taken on my former duties. Our long-standing CFO, Gary Guetschow, has been instrumental in advising me and helping me adjust to my new responsibilities.
 
Additionally, we have held several meetings with our executive and senior management teams as well as a committee of our board of directors to discuss the future direction of The Guidance Center and develop a 2-year strategic plan. I am incredibly fortunate to have a board that fully supports our agency culture, especially our emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion, and I deeply value their thoughtful input and guidance as I settle in to my new role. I am also excited to have Fatima Salman from the University of Michigan join our board, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise.
 
As a part of my transition and through thoughtful engagement of the organization’s leadership and stakeholders, we have identified two main areas for growth in our new strategic plan, which I will spearhead in the coming months and years. These include:
 
1. Expanding the reach of The Guidance Center’s mental health and substance use disorder services by opening a new location in Allen Park. Two existing satellite locations will be consolidated into one larger, full-service treatment center for children and adults, mirroring the successful service delivery model on The Guidance Center’s main campus in Southgate. This will also allow The Guidance Center to increase the number of people served in northern Downriver communities as well as in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Detroit.
 
2. Increasing the capacity of the Wayne County Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides forensic interviewing, medical evaluations, and trauma-focused therapy for child victims of sexual abuse or other forms of trauma. By increasing our capacity, we will be able to serve more children, dramatically reduce wait times, and ensure we are effectively meeting the growing needs of the community.
 
As a lifelong resident of Wayne County and with over 18 years dedicated to The Guidance Center during my 30+ year career, I am deeply committed to the individuals we serve and honored to continue the legacy of this exceptional organization. I look forward to continuing to work with our dedicated board, staff, donors and allies; and am excited to expand our reach and engage even more community partners in our critical work.
 
Ways to get involved:
Make a Donation
 
Sponsor Summer Glow
 
Sponsor Grape Expectations for Kids Dinner
 
Become a Volunteer
 
Build Project Kits
 
CONTACT:
Alexander Sebastian, Director of Philanthropy & Communications, 734-626-4157/asebastian@iamtgc.net
Ericka Wisler, Office of the President & CEO, 734-785-7700/ewisler@iamtgc.net