Dear Aspire Community,  

There are many ways to measure the impact of an organization. Growth. Expansion. Numbers. But when I think about Aspire, I do not first think about programs or progress reports. I think about moments of connection and service that we’ve made possible. 

I think about the moment a person we serve is greeted by name, with warmth and respect. The moment a team member asks not just what someone needs, but what they hope for. The moment an employee sees a spark in someone and helps them run with it. The moment a new employee meets their manager and knows their intrinsic value. These are the moments that define Aspire. And they are the reason I have been so proud to serve this organization for the past decade. 

As I prepare for the next phase in my journey that begins at the end of June, I have spent a lot of time reflecting. Not just on the years I have spent here, but on what I have learned from those who make up the Aspire community. What has stayed with me most is not a single moment or a single event, but a way of being. Together we have created a culture built on values. An unwavering commitment to people. A quiet, daily kind of excellence that most of the world never sees, but we know it is there – we feel it is there. I have seen it and I have felt it. 

I have seen what it looks like when curiosity replaces assumption. I have seen what happens when someone is supported to dream bigger and to try something new. I have seen what love looks like when it is shown through listening, through presence, and through persistence. These are not abstract ideas. They are part of Aspire’s everyday practice. 

When I became CEO of Aspire in 2015, I talked about transformation. I said we needed to listen more, trust more, and stay focused on the long term. I believed then, as I do now, that real change is not about doing more. It is about doing better, and doing it together. What I did not fully understand at the time was how much I would be changed by the people in the Aspire community. You have helped me to grow and transform – to be a better leader today than I was ten years ago. I thank you for that. 

Recently, I shared a book with our leadership team called Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. One line in particular has stayed with me:  

“One of the greatest joys in life is creating moments for other people.” 

That is what happens at Aspire every day. The team here creates moments that bring dignity, that build confidence, that offer safety, pride, and hope. They do it not because it is easy. They do it because they believe in the people we serve and they believe in the power of relationship and human connection. They do it because they believe in something greater than themselves.  

This work is not flashy. It is not always fast, but it is deeply human. And in a world that often asks people to move quickly and think narrowly, the Aspire team chooses something different. They choose to stay curious. To slow down and truly connect. To lead with person-centered care, because people deserve nothing less. 

Together, we have grown. We have expanded into new areas. We have launched new services. We have adapted and adjusted when the world changed around us and we have weathered many storms. Through every shift, we have held on to who we are. We have not compromised on our values or on the people we serve. That is what makes Aspire rare. 

As I step away, I leave with a heart full of gratitude and full confidence in the future. Erica Hare will lead Aspire with the same sense of purpose and heart that has always been at the core of our work. I am confident in her leadership, and I am confident in this community we’ve built. 

So, I ask you to keep going. To keep creating moments of beauty. To keep asking the deeper questions. To keep listening to the people we support and to each other. Remember always that curiosity will take you places that complacency never will. 

Because this isn’t just about services. It’s about changing lives. Changing the way care is delivered and how community is built. And showing the world what it looks like when a mission is not something we simply say, but something we live. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to walk beside you. It has been the honor of my career. 

With deep respect, love, and lasting gratitude, 

Lou