by Chris Horst, chief advancement officer
For reasons outlined in more detail on my personal blog last month, I’ll be stepping back from my current leadership role at HOPE International into a part-time role in January 2023. This transition was made for positive family reasons and the desire to decrease travel and be more present with my family during this stage.
My transition means that two of my colleagues will be stepping into more senior leadership positions. For more than a decade, I have worked closely alongside both Dan Williams (pictured above in black) and Erika Quaile (pictured above in pink). They have both proven to be exceptional leaders of their respective teams. But even more significantly, I’m impressed with who they are as people. I am thrilled that they will be promoted to vice presidents and fully confident in their ability to move HOPE’s mission forward.
Dan and Erika embody the best of HOPE’s culture, and we are inspired by how they follow Jesus. They desire to grow, learn, wrestle with their own shortcomings, and serve others—their families, churches, communities, and colleagues.
It has been a joy and privilege to manage Erika and Dan, and I’m thrilled to share more about their unique qualifications for the roles they’ll be stepping into in the new year.
Vice president of advancement
Erika will be stepping into the role of vice president of advancement. In her new role reporting to our president and CEO, Peter Greer, Erika will lead all donor-facing aspects of HOPE’s work. She’ll oversee our capable marketing, experience, and development teams, working alongside an accomplished group of directors and managers to guide HOPE’s fundraising efforts into their next chapter.
Erika has proven herself to be a talented leader at HOPE. With 12 years of experience within the organization, she served first as Peter’s executive assistant and has subsequently been promoted to increasing levels of leadership within the development team.
Erika stepped into leading the development team in 2018 and led the growth of our fundraising revenue from $18 million (2018) to over $30 million (2022). Erika has built a vibrant, prayerful culture within the teams she has led. And she is a fierce advocate for HOPE’s mission, pushing her team and the organization to pursue big goals—including HOPE’s first strategic growth initiative, the Dreaming Beyond campaign—on behalf of those we serve across the globe.
Vice president of integrated strategy
Dan will be stepping into the role of vice president of integrated strategy. In his new role, he will also report to Peter and lead HOPE’s integrated strategy department, a vital support team that includes spiritual integration; listening, monitoring, and evaluation (LM&E); partnership; strategy design and management; and innovation.
Through these disciplines, the integrated strategy department advances HOPE’s mission by helping teams across the organization clarify standards, align expectations, and develop excellent practices that elevate the quality and efficiency of their work.
Prior to joining HOPE, Dan served as a missionary in Niger, West Africa. During his subsequent 11 years at HOPE, Dan has served in increasing leadership roles throughout the organization, including roles in Haiti, on the microfinance team, and leading the spiritual integration team.
With humility and innovation, Dan brought the integrated strategy department into existence. This team is strategically positioned to serve the entire global HOPE network in how we pursue our Christ-centered mission. Dan has earned the respect and trust of leaders far and wide—both within HOPE and within the broader Christ-centered economic development space.
Confidence in HOPE’s future
Both Dan and Erika will continue to serve on our executive team and will provide strategic leadership beyond their departments. We believe this is a time for bold vision and plans, and we’re now praying and dreaming about where God is leading us as an organization to accelerate the end of poverty in all its forms. I believe this is the very best time to be part of HOPE and am thrilled to be cheering on my colleagues as they step into these new roles.
To learn more about how the HOPE network impacts families in underserved communities, watch “How HOPE Helps Families Flourish.”
