A-SPAN announces the retirement of its President & CEO, Kathy Sibert. After leading the organization for 11 years, Sibert will continue her role through January 31, 2020.
Sibert became the President & CEO of A-SPAN (Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Inc) in 2008. Beginning with a budget of only $800,000, Sibert has expanded the now four-million-dollar organization from one site providing Day and Outreach services, to a multi-program organization providing a continuum of services 24/7, 365 days of the year, for homeless individuals and veterans. This culminated in the award of the Homeless Services Center contract and its Grand Opening October 1, 2015. The County’s Homeless Services Center is much more than a shelter. It has a day and outreach program, 50-bed shelter program, a 25-bed additional winter shelter program, a 5-bed medical respite and nursing services program, a full production kitchen serving 3 meals/day, and has all A-SPAN’s housing programs located in one place. The Center is a national best practice model to end homelessness as it facilitates moving someone quickly from being homeless into a home. A-SPAN has been instrumental in reducing Arlington County’s homelessness population by 60% in the last 7 years. The organization has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as being a leader in solving homelessness issues.
“Kathy has inspired us to support those less fortunate from streets to stability,” said Michael Garcia, Chair, A-SPAN Board of Directors and Agent for State Farm Insurance. “Kathy has done an outstanding job building the organization into an invaluable resource for our community and beyond, and she will certainly be missed, but she leaves the organization on sound footing with a strong future.”
Sibert has received numerous awards for her achievements. She was selected locally by Arlington County’s Commission on the Status of Women for its Women of Vision award in 2012 and was honored by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement for the regional 2015 EXCEL Award. Harvard Business School admitted her for the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management course in 2017 and Bank of America chose her to attend their Neighborhood Builders Leadership course in 2019.
Under her direction, A-SPAN has won several awards including the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Best Nonprofit Award in 2010 and the Leadership Center for Excellence Legacy Award in 2014. The organization received Honorable Mentions for the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management 2015 and Center for Nonprofit Advancement AIM Award 2016. In 2018, A-SPAN was awarded Bank of America’s prestigious Neighborhood Builders award with a grant of $200,000. In addition, the A-SPAN Board of Directors won the coveted Center for Nonprofit Advancement Board Leadership Award in 2015.
Sibert has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management and is a graduate of the Leadership Arlington Class of 2010 and Leadership Greater Washington 2017.The Board of Directors has identified Betsy Frantz as Interim President & CEO as of February 1, 2020.