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Dievendorf Leaves Equality Michigan

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For the fifth time in less than a decade, Equality Michigan is without an executive director. Last week, Emily Dievendorf left the organization. She has led the agency since the departure of Denise Brogan-Kator in July 2012. Dievendorf's leadership role has worn many titles, but all were, effectively, executive director of the agency.
Neither Dievendorf nor David Wait, Equality Michigan Board Chair, returned calls seeking comment on the departure. A press statement is expected today.
Between The Lines has learned that Bill Greene, the former board chair of Ruth Ellis Center and current REC board member, will step in as interim executive director in the near future. Greene is President of the W.K. Greene and Associates Consulting Company where he advises businesses and non-profits. Sources close to the organization said a national search for a new executive director will be conducted, and Greene Ñ unlike previous interim executive directors Ñ will not be a candidate to fill the open position.
Since the 2007 retirement of founding executive director Jeffrey Montgomery – who led Equality Michigan's predecessor agency, Triangle Foundation – the agency has witnessed a parade of leaders brought in with great fanfare, then let go in short order. In 2010, Michigan Equality and Triangle Foundation merged to form Equality Michigan.
In 2008, board member Kate Runyon moved over to the position of interim executive director of Triangle while the agency sought a permanent executive director. She left to run Equality Maryland and now lives in Germany. In 2008, Alicia Skillman was hired by the board and was in charge until her resignation at the end of 2010. Skillman was replaced by board member Denise Brogan-Kator, first as interim executive director, then for 10 months as permanent executive director. Brogan-Kator left in July 2012, and Dievendorf was formally appointed to managing director of the agency in April 2013 and then as executive director beginning in March 2014.
The board will announce an executive search in the coming weeks. For all inquiries about Equality Michigan's day-to-day operations, contact Bill Greene by emailing [email protected]. For inquiries about the transition or executive director position, contact board chair Dave Wait by emailing [email protected].

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