Dr. Sara Ray Stoelinga was hired as the turnaround chief executive officer in 2019 at Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford (ECR). When she was hired, the organization was under severe financial duress with more than $20 million in debt, a line of credit that was maxed out at $3 million for more than three years, several million dollars in unpaid accounts payable, and was at risk of running out of cash due to severe liquidity issues.
At the same time, the organization lacked direction and leadership. Ray Stoelinga led the rebuild of the entire operations of the organization, bringing on a strong leadership team to help her to accomplish this amazing transformation. In less than five years, Ray Stoelinga was able to bring the organization back from the brink of financial collapse, significantly diversify the board, establish an organizational direction and build a philanthropic agenda.
In partnership with a group of committed board members, she took a board that was more than 85% white males and transformed it into a board that is nearly half women, nearly half people of color, and more than 10% people of disabilities. At the same time, the organization now has financial sustainability that includes several million dollars in reserves, as well as almost 12 million dollars in endowment.
“Walking into any of ECR’s programs, I get the opportunity to see our amazing students and clients and also our incredible, talented, thoughtful staff members at work,” said Ray Stoelinga. “The work we do across all of our programs and the communities we serve is bound together by the focus on equity and access, transforming lives and trajectories.”
A key component of Ray Stoelinga’s strategy has been her focus on people. She led initiatives that significantly improved employee compensation and benefits, including providing free health insurance and a generous 401(k) match. These efforts, alongside retention bonuses and transparent compensation systems, resulted in reduced turnover and a stronger workforce. Ray Stoelinga’s leadership has also emphasized professional development, with programs designed to “grow your own” staff by funding advanced education and credentialing opportunities for employees.
“I find passion and inspiration in coaching and mentoring our staff members across the organization,” she said. “We are on a journey of learning and improvement together, each day striving to serve the communities and individuals we serve better and enhancing our own skills and work along the way.”