Senior Services Announces Exciting Leadership Plans!
Since 1962, Senior Services has provided our community with extraordinary care for seniors and their care partners. As Forsyth County’s older adult population grows and needs increase, Senior Services is embarking on an exciting journey to reinforce and sustain its organizational excellence and strong leadership model, in order to extend community reach and enhance the impact of the services they provide so older adults can remain at home, aging with dignity and living with purpose.
Accordingly, the Senior Services Board of Directors approved a leadership restructuring, voting to divide the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role into two positions.
Kristen Perry, who has been with Senior Services since 2015 and served as its Chief Operating Officer for nine years, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.
In this role, she oversees the agency’s programs, communication and marketing, finance, human resources, and business operations, guiding strategy, ensuring organizational effectiveness, overseeing resource stewardship, and leading program impact and innovation.
“I am both honored and excited to have an expanding role in leading our organization into the future,” Perry notes.
“Our work in meeting the growing needs of older adults and their families has never been more important, and I’m deeply committed to continuing to serve, support, and strengthen our impact.”
T. Lee Covington, who has served as President and CEO since 2017, has assumed the role of President of Senior Services.
He is responsible for external partner relations, the award-winning Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, and guiding the organization’s fundraising efforts.
“I’m excited to focus my energy on strengthening our external partnerships and advancing our fundraising efforts alongside Kristen, ensuring Senior Services can expand its impact for years to come.”
“This restructuring is a strategic win for our community and the older adults we serve.”
This new dual structure ensures that both Senior Services broader community work and fundraising efforts (President’s focus) and its critical internal operations and program impact (CEO’s focus) receive dedicated, focused leadership attention, securing the organization’s effectiveness now and for future generations of Forsyth County’s older adults.
Covington (President) and Perry (CEO) will implement this shared governance model, working together to steer the organization forward. This deliberate, structured approach is specifically designed to expand executive capacity and ensure smooth leadership transition and succession, guaranteeing the continuity of our mission.
ABOUT THE LEADERS:
Kristen Perry, CEO, joined Senior Services in 2015, serving as Chief Operating Officer for nine years before being appointed Chief Executive Officer.
She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Administration/ Nonprofit Management from UNC-Greensboro.
Kristen has led key programmatic and operational advancements within Senior Services, including the launch of the agency’s Service Alliance group and Aging Outlook Community Report, among other initiatives focused on advancing people, process, mission, and impact.
Kristen currently serves on the Board of Directors of the NC Association on Aging and participates in local and statewide committees and advisory groups in the aging and nonprofit space.
T. Lee Covington, President, joined Senior Services in 2015 as Chief Operating Officer after serving as Executive Director of Aging, Disability, and Transit Services in Reidsville, NC.
He holds a B.S. in Finance from Elon University, a Master of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management from UNC-Greensboro, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
He has held several statewide leadership positions, including President of the NC Association on Aging, President of Meals-on-Wheels of NC, and currently serves as Chair of the Board for the NC Adult Day Services Association.
