Every chief executive tenure ends. What separates organizations that emerge stronger from those that spend years recovering is rarely the quality of the successor — it is the quality of the governance that preceded the decision. Yet in the most recent BoardSource national index, only 29% of nonprofits reported having a written succession plan, even as a generational wave of CEO retirements moves through senior living, IDD, and behavioral health leadership.
Much has been written about the importance of having a plan. Far less has been written about the questions that Boards actually wrestle with: How do we raise succession with a beloved, long-tenured CEO without it sounding like a verdict? How do we treat internal candidates fairly when everyone knows everyone? And what does it truly mean for a retiring leader to leave well — for the organization, and for themselves? This session addresses those questions directly — candidly, practically, and in the language of mission and stewardship.
Four Questions, Answered:
The session is built around the four questions every Board eventually faces — answered candidly, with current research and tools you can put to work immediately:
- Why is succession planning important for Boards to consider right now? A generational wave of CEO retirements, a strained leadership pipeline, and the verified cost of getting transitions wrong — translated into the currency that matters to mission-driven organizations.
- How is succession planning good governance? Succession as a core expression of the Board’s duty of care — and the distinction between succession planning and executive transition that most Boards miss, and that changes what your organization should do next.
- What should we evaluate to determine whether our organization is succession ready? Six concrete areas every Board and CEO can review together — delivered with a 24-point Succession Readiness Checklist that is yours to keep and use at your next Board session.
- What are the common pitfalls to look out for? Five failure patterns that recur across organizations of every size — each named plainly, each paired with its corrective.
Woven throughout: what it means for a long-tenured chief executive to exit well — including Leaving Well, a retirement readiness questionnaire for chief executives, the second tool participants take with them.
You will leave with a clear-eyed read on your own organization’s readiness — and a practical starting point, whatever your answer turns out to be.
This webinar will be presented by Suzette Davis, Vice President of Consulting & Senior Executive Search Consultant, AQORD Consulting and Nikki Rineer, Senior Consultant, AQORD Consulting
Suzette Davis is the Vice President of Consulting at AQORD Consulting, the firm’s Lead Executive Search Consultant, and an AESC Certified Executive Search Professional — a credential that reflects her dedication to the highest standards of excellence and ethical practice in executive search and transitions. With over 20 years of leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, Suzette brings a combination of missional insight, relational depth, and strategic discernment to every engagement. She serves as client relationship lead and succession strategist, guiding Boards of faith-based and mission-driven organizations — senior living, IDD services, and behavioral health providers — through succession planning, executive transition, and executive search. Her own experience leading organizations through transitions gives her a working understanding of what organizations, Boards, and potential leaders need to thrive — and it shows in her conviction that criteria come before candidates, and that a trustworthy process protects both the mission and the dignity of everyone involved. Recognized for her approachable style, candid counsel, and genuine commitment to mission, Suzette is a trusted advisor to Boards, CEOs, and leadership teams nationwide.
Nikki Rineer is a Senior Consultant at AQORD Consulting and the firm’s Culture and Leadership Specialist. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience, with deep expertise in organizational culture, leadership development, and executive assessment. Her tenure as Executive Director of a senior living campus and as President of a national research and consulting firm — where she guided C-suite leaders across more than 350 organizations — gives her a rare ability to evaluate potential leaders not only for competency, but for cultural resonance and long-term leadership fit. In succession and transition engagements, Nikki serves as a trusted culture and assessment resource; her background in stakeholder engagement, organizational health, and data-informed leadership assessment strengthens the process from first discovery to final decision. A respected national speaker, Nikki brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to every engagement — grounded in her conviction that organizations remember how a transition felt long after they have forgotten how it was managed, and that protecting people’s dignity through change is not a soft skill; it is the strategy.
September 29, 2026, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST