Extensive Search and Recruitment Process Led by Envision Consulting
Torrance, CA (DATE) – Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSC South Bay), a nonprofit organization providing more than 200 free support programs each month for cancer patients and their families, is pleased to announce the selection of Jillian Van Leuven as its new Executive Director/CEO.
“I join my fellow board members in welcoming Jillian Van Leuven,” said Board President Kelli Viewed. “She brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience and unparalleled passion to our mission. We have every confidence that she will bring CSC South Bay to even greater heights.”
With an accomplished background spanning over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Van Leuven most recently held the position of Executive Director of MERCI, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit serving the developmentally disabled community. She has a proven track record of facilitating progressive organizational growth through the development of new service lines, mentoring and developing staff, and fostering robust stakeholder connections. Van Leuven holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from San Francisco State University and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management from California State University, Northridge. Having recently lost her best friend to lymphoma, CSC South Bay’s mission is particularly close to her heart.
“CSC South Bay’s mission and vision connect to me on a deeply personal level,” said Van Leuven. “The work that this organization does is vital for those affected by cancer. I am thrilled to be joining the team, to leading in CSC South Bay’s growth and extending its reach to serve an even wider community.”
Van Leuven succeeds Interim Executive Director/CEO Jackie Suiter, who effectively led the organization during the transition period following the departure of Joey Shanahan earlier this year. Suiter will continue to serve as CSC South Bay’s director of development. This transition in leadership follows last year’s pivotal name change and relocation to Torrance’s Rolling Hills Plaza after 34 years on the Redondo Beach Pier.
The goal of CSC South Bay is to help as many cancer patients as possible recover from the physical and emotional effects of cancer to the greatest extent possible. Services include drop-in networking groups, weekly support group programs, Kids Support Community, Teens Connect program, informational brochures, stress reduction and healthy lifestyle activities, educational lectures and workshops on nutrition and treatment. Offering what is considered to be the gold standard of psychosocial support, all programs at CSC South Bay are derived from evidence-based psychosocial oncology and mind-body research.
Jillian Van Leuven was selected as CSC South Bay’s next Executive Director/CEO after an extensive search and recruitment process led by the CSC South Bay board of directors and facilitated by Envision Consulting.