Dana Pauley

PRESIDENT & CEO

Dana Pauley (EL 2017) takes a vision and makes it a reality through strong strategy development and acquiring critical funds. In July 2021, she became the third President & CEO for Leadership Montgomery (LM), a community leadership organization whose mission is to connect and prepare leaders to build thriving and inclusive workplaces and communities. Together with staff and board, Dana leads the organizations’ strategic direction, program development, and day-to-day operations to serve an alumni network of more than 2,500 leaders. She joined LM in 2018 as the Vice President, Philanthropic Investments to lead the team that oversees fundraising, marketing, membership, and events. In that role, she was responsible for increasing the organizations’ revenue and served as a leader in the design and implementation of LM’s race equity offerings. While serving as the Interim Executive Director from October 2020 through June 2021, she led the organization during a global pandemic, using innovative and creative approaches to continue programming and introducing virtual education sessions to keep leaders connected.

Dana has proven herself to be a calm and compassionate leader, consistently delivering results while adapting quickly to ever-shifting priorities and environments. Her ability to lift up those around her to meet their potential has led to the development of numerous high-quality programming and events. She knows that the key to success is to meet people where they are and leverage individual skills and knowledge to foster positive and productive collaboration. As President and CEO of Leadership Montgomery, she wants to make sure that leaders have the access, resource, and connections needed to thrive and advance the community.

Before joining LM in 2018, Pauley served as Development Director for MdBio Foundation (now called Learning Undefeated), where she was instrumental in growing revenue more than forty percent during a three-year period. She has held leadership positions in development and marketing for education and health nonprofits after a career transition from retail management. Across her nonprofit career, she has partnered and worked with global companies, foundations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to further collaborative leadership that achieves access, equity, and inclusion.

Ms. Pauley serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the board for the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, is a board member of Committee for Montgomery, is a member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board,  is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and regularly participates in additional volunteering activities in the community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Counseling and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She resides in Montgomery County with her husband and three children. She draws inspiration from great conversation, both inside and outside of work, and relies on exercise, fellowship, and family adventures to provide grounding, challenge, and respite.

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