The Mission Continues Announces Upcoming Change of Command As It Embarks On Three-Year Strategic Plan

PRESS RELEASE

•  President and veteran advocate, Spencer Kympton will depart at the end of July, and has selected Mary Beth Bruggeman, VP, Program Strategy to succeed him.
• Nana Adae, Managing Director at JP Morgan Chase, will be the new board chair, succeeding John Tien, Managing Director, Citigroup
• With these changes, two high-level leadership positions in the organization will be held by women.

NEW YORK, March 11, 2019 (PRNewswire) – The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization that empowers veterans to continue their service, and empowers communities with veteran skills to generate visible impact, today announced a “passing of the guidon” effective August 1. Spencer Kympton, President, has decided to step down as of July 31, and the Board of Directors’ has approved Mary Beth Bruggeman as his successor. Long-time board member Nana Adae was also elected new Board Chair as John Tien’s seven-year Board service, and four-year term as Board Chair, comes to an end.

The transition comes as The Mission Continues embarks on a three-year strategic plan to prepare veterans to be leaders within their communities and position the organization as a leading advocate for veterans. Through this on-the-ground leadership development and advocacy, the organization aims to activate more than 70,000 veterans and volunteers in service and positively influence millions of people in communities nationwide. This vision will culminate with a year-long, high-impact campaign centered around marking the 20^th anniversary of 9/11.

“I’m inspired by this team, and I’m excited about our clear, compelling vision for 2021 that will propel The Mission Continues into the next phase of veteran and community service,” Bruggeman said. “We will stretch our reach and our voice to move toward systemic change.”

Bruggeman will officially assume day-to-day leadership of the organization on August 1, succeeding Spencer Kympton, who has held leadership roles within the organization since 2011. Kympton will remain involved through the end of 2019, acting in an advisory role to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“This is a prime moment for The Mission Continues,” Kympton said. “We’re coming out of our strongest fundraising year ever. We delivered on our 2018 vision. We’ve designed an ambitious and impactful 2021 plan. Mary Beth has been instrumental every step of the way. The time for this change has come, in large part, because the right person to lead The Mission Continues into the future is right here, right now.”

Mary Beth Bruggeman

Bruggeman’s path to leadership runs in parallel to the veterans The Mission Continues serves. A graduate of the Naval Academy who served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bruggeman’s responsibilities have grown within The Mission Continues since 2015, serving as a regional leader and most recently as Vice President of Program Strategy.

“The Mission Continues exists to build veteran leaders,” Kympton said. “Mary Beth embodies our mission in all ways.”

In addition to the appointment of Bruggeman as the new president of The Mission Continues, the organization announced Nana Adae will be taking over as the new board chair, succeeding long-time supporter of the organization John Tien as his term comes to an end. A managing director with JPMorgan Chase & Co., Adae graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy for seven years as a Cryptological Officer.

Nana Adae, center, at The Mission Continues 2016 Women Veterans Leadership Summit.

“The board of directors serves as an extension of the great work the organization is doing, and I’m honored to be a partner in driving it,” Adae said. “John Tien has been a fantastic connector and veteran leader. I look forward to continuing his legacy, mobilizing the team and marshaling the resources that will empower The Mission Continues to deliver on its strategic plan.”

These leadership changes mark a significant milestone for The Mission Continues: Women now hold two, high-profile leadership positions at the organization in a sector traditionally dominated by men. 

“We’re finally at an inflection point, where the two best, viable candidates happened to be women,” Adae said. “It’s a proof statement in how this organization has moved forward. There is still much to be done, but there was a time not long ago when women would not have had the opportunity to build the experience to take on these types of roles.”

Bruggeman agrees.

“This is a completely organic leadership opportunity,” Bruggeman said. “The Mission Continues is intentional in addressing the issues that attract so many strong women. We look forward to amplifying our voice to help move all veterans toward generational change.”

More information about The Mission Continues and events happening around the country can also be found at https://missioncontinues.org.

About The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that empowers veterans to build stronger communities through service. Our programs in cities across the country deploy veteran volunteers alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve educational resources, increase access to parks and green spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and more. Through this unique model, veterans build meaningful connections and grow as individuals while creating long-term, sustainable local impact. To learn more, visit http://www.missioncontinues.org or follow us on Twitter at @missioncontinue.

For more information, please contact:
Laura L’Esperance, The Mission Continues
llesperance@missioncontinues.org
917-375-4930