Sowega Council on Aging director plans departure; organization launches search for successor

ALBANY – After more than a half-decade leading the Sowega Council on Aging through growth and crisis, Executive Director Izzie Sadler is preparing to step away from the organization next year, but not without carefully planning a smooth transition.

Sadler, who has served as SCOA’s executive director since 2019, announced she will leave her position on June 30 after helping train her successor. The agency opened applications on Nov. 1 for a new director, a key leadership role that will oversee operations and programs serving older adults across 14 southwest Georgia counties. 

“I’ve loved my work here with the Council on Aging,” Sadler said. “I’ve been so grateful for this position, and I feel like I came to this agency at a time that it really needed my skill sets of being able to handle change. Through COVID, managing those emergency-type situations and staying calm and keeping everyone in order during that time, is sort of my strength.”

Sadler’s tenure was defined by the pandemic years, when SCOA pivoted quickly to protect and serve vulnerable seniors amid shutdowns. One of her proudest accomplishments, she said, was developing the “Senior Center Without Walls” program — an innovative model that replaced in-person centers with community partnerships and restaurant-based meal programs.

“We were able to triple the number of people we served using restaurants,” she said. “I think that made a huge difference to our economy in our region. I’ve been told by many restaurant owners and even the YMCA that our support during that time really helped them stay in business.”

The model also expanded social and health programs beyond traditional facilities. SCOA distributed 150 easy-to-use tablets to help isolated seniors connect with staff and virtual activities like online tai chi classes.

“Because people were a little bit more isolated at home, we brought these tablets in,” Sadler said. “They’re still being used to this day. So we call it our social isolation program. It’s for seniors who are socially isolated. It’s a way for them to connect.”

As executive director, Sadler had a lot on her plate, essentially taking on multiple director positions at once. She said it was a huge learning curve when she first entered the job, and she wants a smoother transition for the next leader.

Over the past year, SCOA began implementing that transition plan by looking to hire a dedicated AAA director — a role Sadler had previously covered in addition to her executive duties. That position will now serve as a bridge to the next generation of leadership.

“We’re ready to hire another person that I would train for the next six months to take on my role,” Sadler said. “We’ll get somebody in, get them trained, and then I’ll be available to consult with them if needed.”

The agency’s search committee is looking for someone with both operational expertise and a commitment to mission-driven work.

“We’re looking for … somebody who can have their own vision and also align themselves really well with what the state is expecting of us,” Sadler said. “My time was to deal with the COVID and all the emergencies. This next person’s going to have a whole different vision and direction for the agency.”

SCOA operates more than 55 contracts and manages state and federal funding for aging services across southwest Georgia. The next executive will oversee programs such as caregiver support, meal delivery, case management, and wellness initiatives that help seniors live independently at home. Sadler said the agency’s next leader also will have to work on how the agency can better engage with its entire 14-county region. 

Sadler, who has worked in nonprofit leadership for more than two decades — including with the Albany Area YMCA — said she’s seen the sector evolve significantly, especially since the pandemic. The rising costs of fundraising, combined with an increase in local nonprofits competing for limited donations, have made creativity and collaboration essential. 

“Really connecting back with the community is going to be key on that,” she said. “I think that it really helps if your intention is to help others. You really have to have a heart for the people. You have to want to connect and you have to want to be the leader of that mission.” 

Though Sadler is leaving the agency, she isn’t slowing down. She’s already begun laying the groundwork for a new venture: Izzie Sadler Functional Medicine Health Coaching, a business that blends her long-time passion for wellness with her professional experience in community health.

“What I’m helping people do is really dig into … all components of their life,” she said. “It’s not just about your physical health. It’s about your career, your spiritual health, your social health, your hobbies, your interests, your activities.” 

Sadler said her years at SCOA, particularly her focus on prevention and wellness programs for seniors, inspired this next step. 

“One of our core programs, we do home-delivered meals, and that is for seniors who are frail, homebound, cannot make their own meals,” Sadler said. “So somebody’s delivering it and checking in on them daily. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need that because people would be able to take prevention methods. So you never know what’s going to happen in life where you are going to need services like that. It’s great that it’s there, but what can we do in our lives to prevent that?”

She’s already started to accept clients as well as hosting individual and group counseling. More information on her services can be found at https://www.izziesadler.com/.

As Sadler prepares to close this chapter of her life, she said she remains proud of what SCOA has accomplished and optimistic about its future.

“It’s been a challenge for me emotionally … just letting go of something I’ve done for so long,” she said. “At the same time, I’m excited for what’s coming next.”

Qualified applicants seeking the position should:

• Demonstrate experience in organizational leadership and program management;
• Understand state and federal grant administration;
• Show a commitment to aging services or disability services or community-based care;
• For a complete list of qualifications, visit https://sowegacoa.org/about-us/job-openings/.

Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Application deadline is Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.