Dear PEPS Community,

We are reaching out to you with the announcement that after six highly successful years, LB Kussick is resigning from her position as Executive Director to spend time with her family and explore new possibilities. We know that many of you have come to know LB and all that she's done at PEPS during her tenure. We hope you will join us in wishing her well in all of her future endeavors.

Thanks to the dedication and leadership of LB, a fantastically talented staff, and an army of volunteers and generous supporters, PEPS is reaching more parents than ever before in increasingly varied communities. Under LB's guidance, PEPS has further improved curriculum and training and developed a peer support model that has reached tens of thousands of parents and their babies.

In her first two years at the helm, LB focused on stabilizing the organization - streamlining and enhancing the quality of the core, neighborhood based Newborn Groups and fine tuning other offerings. She built an outreach and education program and made strategic investments in resources that would help PEPS grow. Over the last four years, participation in local PEPS Groups has increased by 41 percent, a clear outcome of her leadership. Under LB's direction, in 2013, PEPS launched an expansion pilot project which has evolved into the PEPS Network, a model that allows us to work with other agencies and communities - combining our expertise in parent peer support with what they know best for their specific communities. Thanks to LB's leadership, the future is bright.

Our Board President-Elect, Laurie Alexander, is heading up a team to oversee the transition and we are implementing a plan that will not only secure the future of the organization, but build on the many opportunities ahead. LB will be staying on to help with the transition, to support staff, transfer projects and assist us as we identify a new leader.

Your input is important to us, and we hope you will share your thoughts on the future of PEPS and our next leader, and continue to support PEPS in this exciting next phase.
Please don't hesitate to contact either of us if you have questions, and thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Message from LB Kussick

Dear PEPS Community,

It has been an honor to serve as the Executive Director of PEPS for the last six years. I have been incredibly fortunate to lead such an amazing organization and work alongside the passionate and committed individuals who make PEPS so strong: our staff, board, volunteers, supporters and participants. I believe that PEPS is poised for greatness, and every day I'm inspired by the generosity and commitment of this community.

PEPS got its start over 30 years ago with the vision that no new parent feels isolated, ill-equipped or unsupported during the transition to parenthood. When I started in 2009, we were still in the middle of the great recession, and we have emerged from that healthy and strong. We have brought on incredible staff who are leaders and well-respected in our community, and we have increased parents served by 41%. We have doubled our operating budget and we are financially secure. With thoughtful investments in effective program delivery, outreach and education, PEPS is reaching more parents than ever before. We have a deep connection to our community and we are now able to serve more parents in more communities in increasingly diverse environments with the PEPS Network.

While it's bittersweet for me to choose to leave the organization at such an exciting time, I leave knowing that PEPS is well prepared to continue to flourish and grow. I am confident that the tremendous Board and Staff will work together to move PEPS forward, and I will work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition.

Thank you for all you've done for PEPS, and for your passion for parents and families in our community.

Sincerely,

LB Kussick
PEPS Executive Director
laurak@peps.org