Meet GLORIA KELLEY, Executive Director for CASA Kane County

CASA Kane County (CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates), serves more than 600 children who are abused and neglected within the Juvenile Court system. Your work can be emotional, even heart-wrenching. How do you reenergize as a team?

One of the greatest things I can do is encourage our team of advocate supervisors and CASAs to feel recharged (CASAs are specially trained volunteers who advocate for the safety and well-being of children who are the victims of abuse or neglect). The ultimate goal is to find permanency for youth and help ensure that every child lives in a safe and permanent home. At CASA. our focus is on relationships and that starts within our organization. Last year, we went to Lake Geneva and volunteered a half-day at the Royal Kid’s Camp for children in the foster care system and spent the rest of the day at our own staff retreat. We host much needed luncheons with one another and meet frequently to ensure we’re all feeling recharged and refreshed.

How does your leadership style give you greater freedom to innovate?

I lead in a way that is an organizational wide effort. I have an incredible staff and board of directors. One role is not more important than another, which encourages all of us when stress levels are high and deadlines need to be met.

We embrace our culture. We say, “Accept necessary endings.” Late last year, we undertook a search for a new VP of Advocacy and Operations. We needed organizational change, and this was one of the biggest additions in my 10 years here. We reworked positions. The board of directors, CAP, staff and CASDA volunteers went through a professional strategic planning effort to get perspective on all the pillars of the organization from people, processes, technology and finance, and now we’re working the plan.

On a personal level, I went through a divorce five years ago. Now I have a new love of my life and we’ll be married soon. I’ve learned about necessary endings and moving forward; it is how I lead my life both personally and professionally. I get inspired by smart people who are compassionate, caring and passionate.  My learning never ends and we only continue to fine tune and relearn to be better.

How has your culture contributed to results?

CASA is a freestanding nonprofit; we work closely with judiciaries. We find resources and cut through the red tape five times faster than other agencies. We are the largest among 35 organizations in the state and we are in the top 5 percent in the nation. My role is to empower those working directly with the children so we offer continuing education opportunities, which makes them better CASAs. We are the fact-finders so the judge has the right information to make a better decision.

When you go to court, it’s rather surreal and impersonal. CASA brings the personal side. You have to look at that child as an individual, not a youth in care of the state. We stick by the child throughout the case. We provide things they need through our Luggage of Love program. Like any organization, though, we have our peaks and valleys.

Is there a go-to book that inspires you?

I love to read leadership books. There’s one in particular, “Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much.” You can read it every day for years. There’s one quote in particular about conflict that I like: “Conflict is just human emotion. It’s not that it’s right or one person is good. We just have to break the barrier in understanding another. Structure is meant for a reason. Let’s talk about it and we all grow.”

What do you do to get unchained from the day-to-day?

I have a love I enjoy. We have a place in Michigan. When I go there, I relax and take it all in. Bike riding, climbing and running are ways I get away from it all.

I had a professor once who was like the actor, Jim Carrey. He jumped on tables, patented a couple things, and he would say: “Sit down, shut down and ignore the noise to focus.” My goal is to stop and think. I have that time now to write down my ideas and piece things together.

Apex would like to thank Gloria Kelley for sharing her thoughts (we extend our best wishes on your wedding, too!). Apex is passionate about CASA’s mission and feels privileged to support it.