RKD Group: Thinkers

What do 30 years in corporate travel have to do with running a homeless shelter? More than you'd think.
In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, host Nipa Eason talks with Susan Blouch, Executive Director of Lebanon Rescue Mission, about the nontraditional path that took her from owning a corporate travel business to leading an 81-year-old, faith-based nonprofit as its first woman executive director and first non-pastoral leader in its history.
Susan closed her business in 2010 with no job lined up, spent months in interviews, and was told outright by a friend: "They are never going to give this job to a woman." Seventeen years later, she's led two capital campaigns, relocated an entire men's campus, and is currently building a 25,000-square-foot facility to serve women with children and a fast-growing population almost no one is talking about: seniors experiencing homelessness.
In this conversation:
- Why nonprofit hiring managers should stop reading job titles and start reading skill sets
- How Susan navigated community pushback as a single woman leading a gospel rescue mission
- Walking into a capital campaign on Day 1, including a zoning board rejection and appeal
- Why 45% of Lebanon Rescue Mission's guests are now over 65, and what that changes about shelter design
- The shift from communal dorms to 40 private rooms, and why dignity matters for guests in their 70s and 80s
- The unexpected mentorship happening between senior and younger guests
- Practical strategies for preventing staff burnout and secondary trauma on the front lines
- What it means to actually live out "God, family, work" as an organizational value
Three takeaways for your nonprofit:
- Hire for skill sets, not titles. The best candidate for your open role may come from an industry that looks nothing like yours.
- You don't know what you don't know. Surround yourself with good counsel, put one foot in front of the other, and stay willing to change direction.
- Learn to tell the noise from the voice of truth. There will never be a shortage of people telling you how to do your job.
About Lebanon Rescue Mission: Founded more than 80 years ago in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Lebanon Rescue Mission provides emergency shelter, meals, and recovery programs for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness.
About RKD Group: Chat: RKD Group: Chat brings you behind the scenes of nonprofit life, spotlighting the compassion and purpose behind the individuals solving the world's most challenging problems. Hosted by Nipa Eason.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, we sit down with Gina Lattuca, Chief Communications Officer at the SPCA Serving Erie County in New York. With 36 years at the organization, Gina has led its storytelling through the era of typewriters and fax machines into the age of AI, shaping how a 160-year-old humane society speaks to its community.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, we sit down with Stephanie Chanpimol, annual fund and advancement services manager for The Salvation Army's Northern New England Division. With two decades of experience at the organization, Stephanie shares how a willingness to learn, strong communication skills and a commitment to building meaningful relationships have shaped her nonprofit career.

In this episode of RKD Group: Thinkers, we sit down with Brittany Hodak—author, entrepreneur, keynote speaker and creator of the “superfan” philosophy that has helped brands like Walmart, Disney, Amazon and countless artists build deeper customer loyalty and engagement.
Brittany’s journey began in the music industry during a moment of massive disruption. As record labels struggled to respond to file-sharing and digital downloads in the early 2000s, Brittany saw an opportunity others missed: Fans didn’t just want music—they wanted connection, experiences and a sense of belonging. That insight led her to launch a company focused on creating premium fan experiences and collectible products for artists and brands, eventually earning her a spot on Shark Tank and partnerships with some of the biggest names in entertainment.
Today, Brittany helps organizations understand what turns casual supporters into passionate advocates. Her core belief is simple but powerful: Superfans are created at the intersection of your story and theirs.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, we sit down with Kendra Mungra, Director of Communications at Toys for Tots. With a background in marketing, communications and entrepreneurship, Kendra brings a creative and deeply human-centered approach to donor engagement—especially when it comes to monthly giving and building sustainable support.
As Toys for Tots approaches its 80th anniversary, Kendra is helping evolve public perception of the organization from a holiday charity into a year-round force for children in need.