Metro Caring family,

At Metro Caring, we have a dual mission: to address the immediate needs of our community for nutritious food while building and envisioning a tomorrow where hunger no longer exists. These two different but complementary ambitions require a robust strategy and team to succeed.

To position Metro Caring as a thought leader, build the anti-hunger movement, and meet day-to-day operational responsibilities, the Board of Directors has approved an expansion of Metro Caring’s leadership team. Effective April 1, Metro Caring will be led by two Chief Executive Officers: a Visionary CEO and an Integrator CEO.

Our current CEO, Teva Sienicki, will become Metro Caring’s first CEO-Visionary (CEO-V). Erik Hicks, who is currently our Chief Development Officer, will become Metro Caring’s first CEO-Integrator (CEO-I).

The two CEOs will report to each other, overseeing distinct responsibilities that align with their strengths. As CEO-Visionary, Teva will focus on research and development, manage major external relationships, provide strategic vision in partnership with the community, and serve as the primary contact to the Board of Directors. As CEO-Integrator, Erik will oversee the operations of the organization, prioritize ideas, execute the strategic plan, manage staff, and supervise financial management and revenue generation.

This co-leadership model offers an abundance of benefits, especially for a growth-oriented organization like ours. Complementary, diverse leadership teams have even been shown to outperform traditional single leadership structures. Co-leadership also reimagines traditional authoritative structures, helping us to focus on collective action and emphasize the value of shared power.  For Metro Caring, having two CEOs will offer opportunities for increased fundraising capacity, amplify the visibility of our mission, and advance of our commitment to equity.

We are thrilled to have Teva and Erik take on the first iteration of these roles. Their own unique strengths are perfect for demonstrating the effectiveness of shared leadership. Teva is our idea generator, our route finder, and our future-thinker. Erik is our steady force, our manager, and our implementer.

In short, Metro Caring’s CEO-Visionary will see the future, and the CEO-Integrator will make it happen. I look forward to Teva and Erik doing just that.

In community and with gratitude,

Deborah Price
Chair, Metro Caring Board of Directors