Dear Friend of MACSA,

As we embark on 2010, I am both honored and humbled to share that I have been appointed as MACSA's Acting Executive Director. I have had the distinct privilege of working closely with Maria Elena De La Garza, who recently in December 2009 completed her six-month commitment to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer. I applaud Ms. De La Garza for her leadership, which was instrumental in helping stabilize and rebuild the agency.

I bring with me over 21 years of experience as a MACSA employee in various manager/director positions which include: Employment Training Manager, Director of Adult Health Care and most recently, Director of Human Resources and Administration. I embrace the challenges that lie ahead and look forward to implementing my experience as an administrator who understands service delivery, staff needs and board procedures until a permanent Executive Director is appointed.

Over the past six months, MACSA's executive team has moved the agency forward amidst challenging times that have led to a transition and restructuring in leadership, processes, the way we look at services, fundraising and communications.

As a result of organizational restructuring, it has been decided by MACSA's Board of Directors that the Executive Director and Director of Finance positions are more appropriate than the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer positions. In regard to communications, we are proactively transparent and have thus kept funders abreast of our progress via quarterly Funders' Meetings and one on one conversations. I extend my sincere gratitude to all of our funders whom have executed contracts and continue to support our mission.

The agency has also strengthened its Fund Development/Communications efforts by reaching out to individual supporters through house parties, Esther Medina's Call to Action Meeting, private fundraisers and local politicians who proudly endorse MACSA.

This transition has been both seamless and successful because of our dedicated clients, Board of Directors, staff, friends and supporters who understand that MACSA, as an agency, is uniquely qualified to carry on the mission of "enriching the lives and advancing the interests of the Latino Community of Santa Clara County." Throughout our 46 year history, we have maintained an impeccable reputation for delivering high quality, culturally competent services to high need populations. Without question, MACSA is a leader in progressive, results-based, far reaching services that impact clients and the greater community at large.

I welcome your thoughts, feedback and questions. You may reach me at 408-928-1122 x1148 or exec_dir@macsa.org.
Sinceramente,

Aurora Cepeda
Interim Executive Director