We recently announced the anticipated retirement of our CEO Jeanette Hauck, at the end of 2025. Throughout her nearly 30-year career in the non-profit sector, Jeanette has remained deeply committed to advocating for women, youth, and children. Below are some of her reflections from her time at YWCA Spokane.

Leadership Journey

After being a CFO for a nonprofit cancer research organization, I felt a strong desire to work for an organization that served the community. That’s when I was drawn to the finance director position at YWCA. I stayed for 14 years because I believe in the mission of this organization. What we do, from frontline advocacy to administrative paperwork, matters. Each one of us, in our respective roles, supports services that are critical for this community.

One of the fondest memories I often recall is when some of our ECEAP preschool staff ran upstairs from their classroom, very emotional, looking to share special news with our leadership team. They wanted to read a letter they received from one of their preschooler’s moms. They shared that before ECEAP, this parent was at such a loss due to the challenges they were navigating as a parent that they had planned to give their child up for adoption. However, after a year in our ECEAP program, she shared that our team had given her and her child so many skills that her child was now thriving. She gave all the credit of her success with her child to the ECEAP team. The staff were crying and laughing and filled with joy and gratitude.

There have been so many meaningful moments for me, here are just a few that stood out:

• Seeing staff get their student loans forgiven after dedicating 10 years to the social services field.
• Our Equity for All events. Every time.
• We have received a number of grants over the years that were considered “out of reach.” Every time that happy dance happens it is a good memory.
• The joy of receiving the very first gift toward a new, much needed, future shelter for survivors. I can’t wait to see this project come to fruition.
• Regina Malveaux and the cockroach incident in New Orleans while at a grant meeting. Hilarious.

MLK Day

During my time as CEO, I’ve seen YWCA Spokane become a more intentional, equity-driven, and transparent organization. We’ve leaned into our racial justice mission with growing clarity and commitment. While there’s still progress to be made—as there always is when doing this kind of work with integrity—I’m proud that our approach today is more proactive, reflective, and embedded into our daily operations and decision-making than it was when I started.

We’ve also made significant strides in building a culture of transparency and open communication. This has included the introduction of new tools and practices—like Slack, monthly newsletters, an internal intranet, and regular Town Halls—that help keep staff informed, connected, and engaged. Our team is more aligned, collaborative, and mission-focused than ever before, and that’s a direct result of our commitment to honest dialogue and shared leadership.

This evolution hasn’t always been easy, but it has been meaningful. It reflects a deeper organizational maturity and a collective willingness to grow, question, and improve in service to our mission and the community.

We are also using technology to our advantage instead of fighting it. Although, I still dread the googles.

Leaving A Legacy

Jeanette Hauck named Acting CEO with Regina Malveaux previous CEO

I hope my legacy reflects a steady hand during challenging times—a leader who prioritized financial stability, led with integrity, and believed deeply in collaboration. It has been important to me to work alongside my team, ensuring that our funding was put to the best and highest use and our approach to service delivery was trauma informed and intentional.

I’m thankful for trusting relationships with city and county funders, foundations, and individuals who believe in our mission and trust us to serve the community in a way that meets each individual's needs; meeting clients where they are at, seeing them as whole, capable, resourceful, and experts in their own lives.

I am incredibly grateful to my family for their love and support throughout my entire career. There have been many late nights and work filled weekends. Together we have always made time for the moments that matter, precious memories created and futures to be planned. Having a supportive life partner has made all of this possible. My sons have been a great source of pride for me. I raised a teacher and a nurse. Helpers. This is my greatest accomplishment.

Dana and Christie as my executive team have been strong leaders in their work and supportive, trusted advisors. I am also grateful for their friendship. As we have traveled together over the years we have experienced great joy and profound grief in our personal lives. Being able to share these moments with these two women has made my life richer.

Our Director team, Jen, Kim, Erica, Morgan, Melva, Liz, Naomi, Sally and Arrianne have each challenged me to be a better leader and a better person. I have learned so much about our work and how to support our community through each one of them. Each an expert in their own field, their continued desire to learn and support our clients in the best way possible is inspiring. They are excellent leaders and human beings.

A special thank you to all the people who listened to me practice my public speaking and helped write my speeches. Erica, Claire, Briana, Jemma — you gave me words that made me feel brave. Even when my voice didn’t show it, my legs were shaking, I knew the message was clear and true.

To every YWCA staff member past and present, you are the heart and soul of this work. I am in awe of your capacity to lean into the work, regardless of the difficulty, trauma, and outcome. Your dedication to the mission is why I do this work.

Our board members are a guiding light and a priceless resource. Their time, treasure and talent has elevated the YWCA mission in our community to a new level that will take us into the future.