With Gratitude, a Farewell Message

Jan 01, 2026 | News & Events,

by Sue Greenberg

For 39 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading our highly regarded arts service organization. I’m leaving a job that I love — work that has been deeply engaging and rewarding.

As you know, we make referrals to volunteers with needed expertise and sponsor a wide variety of educational programs. None of this is possible without the wisdom of our board of directors, past and present; the dedication of our amazing lawyers and accountants — who often thank us for the opportunity to work with our appreciative clients; the diligence of my co-workers; the generosity of our donors; and the ongoing support of our grant makers. I’m also grateful for the friendship of my peers in other cities. (My colleagues in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco sent this retirement roast.)

When I accepted the part-time executive director position back in 1986, I thought I’d stay for a year or two. Happily, I was wrong. I credit Jill McGuire, retired executive director of the Regional Arts Commission, and the RAC staff — past and present — with my success. When I was hired, their encouragement came with an invitation to be housed within the agency’s office, camaraderie, and increased funding that allowed us to grow.

During my long tenure, I’ve been given tremendous latitude to run with whatever made good sense. I’m especially proud of our work related to protecting freedom of artistic expression, of how we supported the creative community during the pandemic, of our college outreach program — which employs working artists as presenters, and of leaving VLAA in a strong financial position. And while the one sentence runs on and on, we recently decided to incorporate advocating for the arts sector and providing meaningful volunteer opportunities into our mission statement.

Frankly, I’ve been overwhelmed by the heartfelt messages I’ve received since announcing my retirement. Throughout my time at VLAA, and during my overlapping years at The Muny, I’ve always seen myself as a behind-the-scenes hard worker, grateful for the opportunity to support what artists and cultural organizations do to enrich our lives.

Now it’s Nathaniel Carroll’s turn. As a lawyer and musician, he not only possesses the right qualifications for the executive director position — he also embodies the values that are at the core of our work. Godspeed!