After serving as executive director of Momentous Institute for six years, Michelle Kinder is stepping down at the end of the month. Replacing her on Friday, March 1, will be Development and Strategic Partnership Director Jessica Trudeau, who joined the Institute less than four years ago.
Prior to joining the Institute, Jessica was executive director of Family Compass, “where she led the organization in its mission to build healthy families and a strong North Texas community by preventing child abuse and neglect.”
A graduate of Louisiana State University, Jessica earned her Master of Science Degree in Public Health from Tulane University and “worked at the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas at Parkland Health and Hospital System.”
According to Jessica, “All children deserve to have equitable opportunities to achieve their full potential. I am honored to work with the remarkable staff at Momentous Institute and the Salesmanship Club in furthering the mission of building and repairing social emotional health of children and families in our community and across the globe.”
During her 20 years with the Institute, Michelle had also served as a licensed therapist and director of therapeutic services before assuming the role of executive director. During her tenure as executive director, Michelle oversaw “the organization through immense growth in research and training, while continuing to pour into cutting-edge therapeutic services and the nationally renowned Momentous School. The organization expanded its reach throughout North Texas and nationally, with deep multi-year initiatives in Tennessee and Georgia; grew its Changing the Odds conference into a renowned annual thought leadership event; and helped change the conversation around the critical importance of social emotional health for children.”
According to Michelle, “I will always remain an avid supporter of and donor of Momentous Institute. I’m confident Jess is the ideal fit to lead the organization into its next chapter. The best is yet to come for Momentous Institute. Jess already plays a key role, along with members of the Salesmanship Club, in connecting supporters to our mission and nurturing strategic partnerships. Her style, passion and expertise align perfectly with the bold strategic plan ahead. She’s a walking advertisement for servant leadership and social emotional health.”
Owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the Momentous Institute “serves over 5,500 children and family members through innovative education and therapeutic services.”
According to Salesmanship Club President Patton Chapman, “Momentous Institute has been dedicated to transforming children’s lives for nearly 100 years, and over the past six years, Michelle’s leadership, vision and dedication have helped propel that mission to new heights. On behalf of the Club, we are tremendously grateful to Michelle and have unwavering confidence in the skillset Jessica brings to the table, along with the incredibly talented Momentous Institute team, who will continue to carry through and expand our vision of social emotional health for all children so they can achieve their full potential.”
* Photo provided by Salesmanship Club of Dallas