Nonprofit Leaders Panel: Promoting Wellness, Preventing Burnout, and Fostering a Positive Work Culture

Brian Steffen, Chief Executive Officer, Eugene Family YMCA

Brian joined the Eugene Family YMCA as their CEO in early 2018.  Prior to arriving in Eugene, he spent 2 years as the CEO of the YMCA in Missoula, Montana and 10 years as the CEO of a federal- and state-funded social service nonprofit in Eastern Montana.  He has extensive experience leading capital construction projects; navigating private, state, and federal funding opportunities; and leading organizations through pathways to operational excellence founded on resource development, strategic planning, and project management.

Brian grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana and always looks forward to spending time outdoors on a project. He, and his wife, have five children; together they love reading books, climbing mountains, paddle boarding, mountain biking, and volunteering in their community.

Cary Lieberman, Executive Director, Greenhill Humane Society

Cary Lieberman has been the Executive Director of Greenhill Humane Society since 2007 and has been actively involved in animal welfare and community organizations for over 30 years. Cary is currently the Vice-president of Lane County Community Organizations Active in Disaster and has served on the boards of two other non-profit organizations. Cary’s focus has been on community building, life-saving, and improving the animal welfare system to address community health needs from a humane perspective.    

Under Cary’s leadership, Greenhill Humane Society has grown from under 15 employees and a handful of volunteers to over 40 employees and 300 monthly volunteers. The organization has successfully completed a $6 million expansion, including state-of-the-art animal housing and a veterinary surgical center; developed a community-wide trap-neuter-return program; and leads Lane County’s disaster response efforts for animals and people with animals.  

In 2009, Cary obtained his designation as a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, and in 2014, he received his No-Kill Animal Shelter Management Certificate from the University of the Pacific. Cary is active in the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Social Psychology from the University of Oregon. Greenhill Humane Society has been on Oregon Business Magazine’s 100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon list for the past two years and is on the 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon 2022 list.

River Aaland, Director of Training and Outreach, Ophelia’s Place

River is responsible for introducing Ophelia’s Place to new audiences and communities and offering a range of professional development trainings to youth-serving staff. River has expertise in issues of youth advocacy, girls/women’s empowerment poverty, eating disorders, body positivity, anti-oppression work, healthy communication, and team building. In addition to these topics, she is passionate about teaching self-care practices as a core component of providing quality care.

River is committed to approaching every person she works with from a human-centered, compassionate, and respectful viewpoint and feels especially fortunate to be able to support adolescents and those who work with them. She has been at Ophelia’s Place since 2011 and is grateful to be surrounded by an incredible team of generous, funny, and (mostly) cat-loving people.