Hello!
I want to take a moment to introduce myself to you, the families and staff that serve all the wonderful people supported at ABLE. As the new Executive Director, I bring 14 years of experience leading nonprofits to ABLE. I’m excited to be here and to join my experience with our dedicated staff. As a leader, you can expect two things from me on a regular basis, transparency and consistent communication. I believe strongly that transparency and communication are the keys to strong leadership. I will do my best to always provide you with information that helps you feel confident in the work we are doing here at ABLE.
Prior to serving at ABLE, I was the Executive Director at Families First of Monroe County. Families First serves families in Monroe County, Wisconsin who struggled with housing insecurity. Before Families First I was at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA for over 10 years. At the Y I led the health operations for the organization which included building relationships with numerous health systems to provide services to members of the Y as well as the larger community.
A little bit about me outside of my work responsibilities. I am the father to one amazing 8-year-old son. He is my pride and joy. He attends school in La Crescent, and I am excited to work so close to where he goes to school. We enjoy our summer vacations to the various waterparks and amusement parks in the region. I also serve as the Cubmaster for his Cub Scout Pack, Pack 98 in La Crescent. I enjoy being able to show my son what leadership looks like as well as provide positive experiences for numerous youth in the area. My son is full of joy and is excited about me working at ABLE. Don’t be surprised if you see him around the Lancer facility on a regular basis.
As a servant leader, my goal is to support you all in making your work meaningful and to help you feel appreciated. To our families and guardians, thank you for entrusting your people supported to ABLE and our dedicated team. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. I can be reached at 507.933.5509 or lwalraven@able-inc.org.
Respectfully,
Lee J Walraven, MS