Shana Menkis has been in the Executive Director role at Sara Riel since April 1st, and she quickly found out that she’s landed in the right place for her. Her previous roles with Manitoba Health and Jewish Child and Family Service, along with her upbringing, have prepared her to lead an organization that puts dignity, connection and caring at the forefront of its services.
“My family believes in community building and giving back,” she explains. “Growing up, it wasn’t even about ‘giving back’, it was that if you were going to be part of a community, you had to contribute what you can. It’s not optional, it’s not volunteering, it’s simply being a good community member.”
Her early volunteer experiences helped shape her vision for her career, and she pursued a Master of Business Administration to bring her goals into focus. “I volunteered in a lot of organizations when I was younger and I realized they needed help,” she explains. “I wanted to be in a position to help eventually and the best way I could think of was to get a business degree.”
After her most recent experience in provincial government as the Executive Director of Quality and Citizen Experience, Menkis is happy to be back in social services. “When I went into government, I had the intention of coming back to the non-profit sector with a new understanding of how government does and doesn’t work,” she explains. “I wanted to build a broader network and learn to be a better leader. I always knew I would come back to non-profit, as it was truly where I left my heart.”
Always conscious of Sara Riel and its good reputation in the social services sector, Menkis says it was an easy decision to apply for the leadership role when it became available. “I was familiar with the work, with the kinds of supports that were generally available…although I’m learning a lot more now!” she admits.
In fact, her first impressions were of the graciousness of the staff. “It’s been overwhelming to start a new role, obviously,” Menkis shares. “But it’s been everything you would expect. The people are incredible, and they’ve been patient with me. They’ve given me such grace in this time. They are all willing to help and to share. I’m blown away by how dedicated and creative the team is here. They will do anything they can make things work for those we support.”
That’s great news for Menkis, who has big dreams for Sara Riel’s community. “I know it might seem a bit foolish, considering all that is going on around us, but I see a world where Sara Riel is able to meet all the needs of a community that truly needs us,” she explains. “I hope we can build more relationships and tap into new sources of inspiration. I see that there’s a willingness to do that here and I’m so excited to join the team and be a part of that.”