Sara Serves: Succession

One of the greatest privileges of the position we hold is the opportunity to watch others grow and to help them succeed. Being part of someone else’s development is such a joy; whenever I get to help another person find their path to their next great adventure, that feeling, more than anything, is my why. It’s why I went into planning—helping communities and people become their vision never gets old.

These days, I do less high-level planning and more crisis management. But I still get to teach in VT’s Certificate program, which is always rewarding, and I get to be part of the Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute. The Institute has been blessed with incredible sponsors who believed in the mission from the beginning, talented women who have participated in the program, and, last but not least, an Executive Director who brought her whole self to every task and person.

For four years, Bonnie Svrcek has nurtured this program and all the women who are part of it. She has helped them gain skills, make connections, and form lifelong friendships. The Institute has empowered women to take chances on new opportunities and build the confidence to expand their influence. She has graduated around 100 women who have benefited from her guidance and care.

Bonnie has committed to one more year of leading the Institute. At the end of 2026, she will hand stewardship of this project to a new caretaker, who will undoubtedly do things differently. The transition will be hard for all of us.  After all, don’t we always like things the way they are? But growth and change are part of life, and succession is part of that.

We are in the process of searching for our next leader. We need the professionalism, knowledge, and skills that Bonnie has given so freely, but even more, we need someone who will care as she has.

Succession is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity: for new perspectives, new ideas, and new growth. We will dearly miss Bonnie in the program, but we won’t be letting her leave altogether! This might be the hardest succession I’ve ever taken part in… but, as always, I’m excited to see the next person succeed and to see the Institute grow its reach. It is change, after all, that creates growth. This succession, like all others, gives us a moment to take stock, consider our path, and move forward with deliberation. So, here is to 2026, and new things coming our way!

Sara

Welcome to our new member:

Briana Evans, Assistant City Manager, City of Danville