ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying is pleased to announce the selection of Mary Thorsby as our new Executive Director. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because Mary produced and oversaw the Omega Home Network National Conference in June, bringing together national speakers and substantive sessions in less than six months. Becoming close to Abode’s mission and people, she fell in love with it and wanted to do more. Her first day on the job was the day after the Dia de los Muertos event, which she also produced.

“I am proud and honored to carry on the work of ABODE’s previous ED, the incredible Martha Jo Atkins, whom I’ve admired since the moment we met,” she said. “And, of course, I feel the same way about getting to work with our founders Edwin and my kindred spirit Patsy Sasek, and our staff, volunteers, board, donors and supporters.”

Formerly based in San Francisco, Mary has spent more than 20 years helping clients including entrepreneurs, startups, Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits build their communities through communications, promotional outreach and other means tailored to their missions. She began spending more time in San Antonio a year ago to help her family care for their mother.

Mary earned business and journalism degrees from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and more recently earned an Entrepreneurship MBA from the University of Louisville. She has taught marketing and operations management at the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in San Francisco, and continues to learn about new ideas and best practices in conferences and courses.

Her philosophy of making people feel welcomed, valued and celebrated will help ABODE reach a larger platform of service and support.

Mary asks that the ABODE community help her celebrate by making a donation and becoming a closer part of our community. If you haven’t met her yet, please email mary@abodehome.org – she’d love to chat with you!