Leadership Transition at Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse

Summary

After two years of dedicated service, our Executive Director, Josh Blackmon, has made the difficult decision to step down, with his last day being October 25th.

Dear Side by Side community,

We hope this message finds you well. We would like to share important news regarding leadership changes at Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse. After two years of dedicated service, our Executive Director, Josh Blackmon, has made the difficult decision to step down, with his last day being October 25th. Josh’s leadership has left a lasting impact on our organization, and we are deeply grateful for his integrity, care, and selfless dedication to Side by Side. While his presence will certainly be missed, we fully support his choice to pursue a new career path that aligns more closely with his family’s needs.

In light of Josh’s departure, we are excited to announce that Bryan Schroeder will be stepping in as Interim Executive Director. Bryan is a highly respected nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience. He brings a wealth of expertise, passion, and stability to our organization. “Bryan’s reputation within the nonprofit brain injury community and beyond positions us well for continued success,” says board member Katherine Creek, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shepherd Center. “The future of Side by Side is indeed bright.”

Bryan has held executive leadership roles at prominent nonprofits, including Executive Director at Giving Kitchen, Senior Director of Development and Marketing at Georgia Conservancy, and Executive Director of Camp Sunshine. His leadership at Giving Kitchen earned widespread recognition, including being featured in Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter” list and receiving the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award.

“It is an honor to serve the brain injury community and work alongside the incredible team at Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse,” says Bryan. “The commitment and passion here are truly inspiring, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place.”

Bryan holds a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Piedmont University and an MA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Georgia. He is widely respected, having been named one of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians and TechBridge’s Bill Bolling Nonprofit Executive of the Year in 2023, among other accolades. He lives in Decatur with his wife, Danielle Bonner, DPT, a Brain Injury Physical Therapist at Shepherd Center, their daughter Liz Reed, and their beloved pets, Miles and Sun Bear.

We are confident that Bryan’s leadership will guide us through this transition with optimism and strength. We are deeply appreciative of your continued support as we embark on this next chapter at Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse.

– Side By Side Board Of Directors