Jeanine and I attended Chopped for Charity, the Open Table fundraiser that she started several years ago when she was the Executive Director of the organization. This evening, the honored guest was Deena Whitfield, former Chairman of the Board. Jeanine was invited to speak about the impact she had on both herself and the organization. Here is her speach:

“Fierce. A force to be reckoned with. Persuasive, indefatigable, strategic, energizing, infectiously positive.” These are the words former Board  members who could not attend this evening used to describe working with Deena

It is a privilege to be able to honor – my friend and former colleague Deena Whitfield.  As the BOD chair and ED, we faced many major challenges that led to organizational transformations. With Deena as a partner the challenges became bumps in the road toward a greater shared vision.  That vision is what I want to thank her for this evening

I met Deena Whitfield in 2013 at my  first OT Board meeting. Peter Hilton was president and Lynn Zubrigg the chair. That day, the Board was discussing the recent strategic plan when Deena spoke up: “I think we should be striving to make Open Table the best food relief program in the country.”       ….that ambitious statement rendered the rest of the board speechless.

It came as no surprise when, a year later, the Board voted Deena and Patty Chambers in as co-chairs. If anyone had the vision and drive to help Open Table become the best it could be, it was Deena, and Patty would be able to navigate the Maynard local politics.

“Think more strategically” became her rallying cry.  Under Deena’s leadership of the Board, OT experienced an accelerated transition from an operations board to a strategic one—a change that has arguably had the greatest impact on Open Table’s trajectory. Yes, she’s an amazing fundraiser and a natural leader. But more importantly, she was able to bring the entire Board along on the journey, paving the way for other major transitions. Little did we know, it would also prepare us for one of the biggest crisis we’d ever face—and no, it wasn’t the pandemic.

In 2015, Open Table lost its Maynard location at the Mill, leaving us just two weeks to find a new home for our community dinner. At the time, it was infuriating, but in hindsight the catalyst for a second major cultural shift-professionalizing the all-volunteer organization. 

By the end of her term as Board chair, Deena had accomplished much.  She had convinced the Board to hire the first professional staff, she negotiated a lease with a purchase clause for the 33 Main Street site (with the Aubuchon Hardware), then co-led a capital campaign and brokered very favorable mortgage terms with Middlesex Bank to secure Open Table’s “ permanent home”, a term she coined that rallied longtime volunteers to get behind this major shift. 

Changes of this magnitude would test any organization, but the strategic culture shifts Deena had cultivated made it possible for Open Table to weather these foundational transitions.  This shift later paved the way for Open Table to purchase two more buildings and our refrigerated truck, with Deena, now a volunteer on the fundraising committee, strategizing the campaigns that made these acquisitions possible.

So tonight, let us raise our glasses to Deena’s early vision realized: To creating the best food relief organization in the area if not the country, that vision has had vast impact , and you are still here, inspiring others to join OT on the the journey.  

Thank you, Deena.