Community Foundation Sonoma County’s Kay Marquet to resign

“It’s the right time for a change, for me and for the Community Foundation,” said Kay Marquet, in a prepared statement. “This is a high point in our history and there is much to celebrate in our 25th anniversary year. Collectively, I believe we have made a difference in making Sonoma County a wonderful place in which to live and thrive.”
Marquet’s support was instrumental in helping such groups as the United Community Resources for Youth (UCRY). Whitney Evans is Board President of the Sonoma Valley Fund, an affiliate of the Community Foundation. Evans said, “We were the first group in the county to identify UCRY as a cause and she was supportive of that and let us take the lead. That was one of her favorites, along with the art museum, which is a partner with the Sonoma Valley Fund.”
Marquet will be leaving in March 2009, after nearly 17 years with the organization, to launch KMarK Associates, a consulting firm working in the field of philanthropic services.
The foundation’s board has formed a search committee, chaired by board member Joan Woodard, and will retain a professional firm to conduct a nation-wide search. Marquet said she will work with a professional team assigned to conduct a national search for the right replacement and will continue to “guide the organization” to ensure a smooth transition.
“The search committee will work closely with the search firm to identify candidates both locally and nationally who have the vision and leadership potential to take us to the next level,” said Board Chair Barbara Graves. “Our goal is to have a new leader securely in place by March 31, 2009.”
Evans said they would be looking for someone with a proven track record. “It’s a challenging business. One of the most important things the president and CEO does is project a positive image, and that’s a sales job.”
“The board and staff will do our best,” said Marquet, “to attract an extraordinary new leader who will be supported, as I have been, by an engaged community of donors and nonprofit organizations willing to work together on important local issues.”
“How fortunate we were to have had her for 17 years,” said Evans.