Co-Leadership A Successful Business Model for RIEAP, Inc.

WARWICK, Rhode Island – Co-leadership has become more visible and accepted as a leadership option in recent years. Fortune 100 and small private companies that have chosen a co-leadership team are numerous and growing.

Key requirements for the success of such a partnership include the ability to put the interests of the enterprise ahead of their egos; the right chemistry; the ability to focus on what each partner is competent to do, what each wants to do, and what needs to be done.

Judy Hoffman and Sarah Dinklage are successful co-directors of RI Employee Assistance Services (RIEAS) and RI Student Assistance Services (RISAS), divisions of RIEAP, Inc.

The advantages to the organization include cross-training of two experienced executives knowledgeable about each other’s niche; two experienced executives equally ready to lead RIEAP, Inc. in the event of crisis; and two experienced executives committed to seeking new ventures involving both divisions jointly or individually.

RIEAS serves over 170 employers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. RISAS currently has a student assistance counselor embedded in 44 schools and serves 6,000 students.

Judy Hoffman joined RIEAS in 1987. She is responsible for overseeing the public and private sector employee assistance programs for over 170 client organizations. Prior to joining RIEAS, she served as Employee Assistance Program Manager for AT&T Communications’ New York City region. She has also directed an outpatient addiction treatment program in New York City and has worked as a DWI Intake Coordinator/Sentencing Advisor to judges in the District of Columbia Superior Court. Hoffman has experience working with runaway youth services, protective services and juvenile probation in Washington D.C.

“Engaging in what seemed like a practical, yet unusual, experiment to share the leadership of RIEAP looks brilliant in hindsight,” said Hoffman. “The benefits to the organization were quickly visible both in terms of cost-savings, efficiencies, and cross-pollination.”

According to Hoffman, balancing work life with children and eldercare responsibilities has also been enhanced by having a co-executive director and the benefits to her job satisfaction and professional growth have been greater than expected.

“Where else can you find a peer who knows your work world as well as you do, has the same stake in the organization as you do and who will discuss at length organizational needs and challenges and not glaze over?” said Hoffman. “When I look at the data on non-profit leaders’ turnover or exit from their positions, I reflect on what a gift it has been to share our organization’s triumphs and difficult challenges with Sarah,“ she said.

Hoffman is a graduate of Brown University and has a Masters degree in Social Work from Catholic University. She has held certifications in alcoholism counseling in the District of Columbia and New York State; and has been a Certified Employee Assistance Professional since 1988. Hoffman has held the ACSW credential since 1982, and is a licensed social worker in the State of Rhode Island. She was honored by the Rhode Island Chapter of NASW.

Sarah Dinklage is the founding director of the Rhode Island Student Assistance Services established with enabling legislation in 1986. Dinklage was recruited by the Department of MHRH to establish and manage student assistance programs throughout Rhode Island, a leadership position that gained her state-wide recognition for her expertise in school-based prevention services for youth and their families.

Under the leadership of Dinklage, the Student Assistance Program now entering its twenty-fifth year, grew from a pilot to over 44 middle and high schools in Rhode Island. Dinklage provides training and consultation on student assistance programming and best practices in the student assistance field throughout New England. She has extensive experience working with schools, communities and evaluators in replicating evidenced-based alcohol, tobacco and other drug preventions programs.

“Managing a non-profit in these very tough economic times can be challenging and stressful,” said Dinklage. “I know the co-leadership model has resulted in increased personal job satisfaction for both Judy and me and is a key factor in our decision to stay at this work for so long – it is really a good example of where two heads are better than one!”

Prior to her current position, Dinklage served as the clinical director of RI Youth Guidance Center where she specialized in clinical services for adolescents and developed their program for children of alcoholics.

Dinklage received an A.B. degree from Smith College and her Masters in Social Work from Simmons College. She was recently honored by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) with the 2010 Advocate of the Year Award. Other awards include the RI Chapter of NASW 1999 Social Worker of the Year in Chemical Dependency, the RI Council on Alcoholism’s 2000 James Ottmar Award, Simmons College, School of Social Work’s 1998 Anne Agilby Award and the 1985 RI NASW’s Robert S. Burgess Award.

About RIEAP, Inc.

Established in 1985, RIEAP, Inc. is comprised of two divisions, RI Employee Assistance Services (RIEAS) and RI Student Assistance Services (RISAS). Its mission is to deliver responsive, respectful and comprehensive services that help employees, family members and students with the problems of life that interfere with their well-being and their ability to perform their best at work and/or in school.

For more information, visit http://www.rieas.com.