About Catherine
A steady partner for the moments that matter most.
Nonprofits are my passion. They play a vital role in our economy and shape who we are as a society, and for over 25 years, my work has been devoted to helping them thrive.
I'm in my happiest place when I'm helping nonprofit leaders — both board members and executive directors/CEOs — move strategically through a leadership transition: laying the groundwork, managing the process smoothly, and landing on the other side with new leadership in place and the mission moving forward with strength and sustainability.
My path here started in social work. I earned my MSW with a focus on organizational systems then went on to complete a master's in organizational development. For several years I consulted with for-profit companies, honing my craft, but I eventually gravitated back to where my heart really was: nonprofit organizations. I wanted to apply my good skills to the groups making positive change in the world, and I've focused my work there since the early 2000s.
In that time, I've walked alongside so many organizations through leadership transitions, a process that can surface real tensions and vulnerabilities, but also, when handled well, real strength. That's the work I love: helping leaders move through the transition and into a stronger next chapter.
Connect on LinkedIn“A person of high integrity, consistent and reliable. I would hire her again.” — Lee Cruz
“Her expertise and guidance was more helpful than we could have ever imagined.” — Karl Gasteyer, The Klein
“She strategically planned our retreat to maximize the return for our organization.” — Eileen Carpinella, Arts for Learning Connecticut
Why this work
People are the mission.
Catherine believes a nonprofit's greatest resource is its people — and that leadership and talent continuity is one of the greatest challenges nonprofits face. When leaders leave without a plan, momentum stalls. When they prepare with care, the mission moves forward stronger than before.
That conviction shapes every engagement. Succession planning and executive coaching are offered directly through Coda Transitions; executive search, transition support, and the Thresholds cohort are delivered in partnership with EOS Transition Partners — so you get the right depth of support for the moment you’re in.
Whether you’re a board preparing for a founder’s departure or an executive director planning your own next chapter, the work is the same at its core: name what matters, prepare the people, and carry the mission forward without missing a beat.
Philosophy
The Coda idea.
A coda is the passage that closes one movement and carries the music into the next. Every transition holds that same shape — an ending, a threshold, a beginning.
Strength in Transition.
Partnership
Working with EOS Transition Partners.
Catherine delivers executive search, transition engagements, and the Thresholds cohort program through her partnership with EOS Transition Partners. Succession planning and executive coaching are offered directly through Coda Transitions.
Let's talk.
A 30-minute intro conversation — no pressure, just a chance to understand where you are and how I can help.