Since 1993, Bridgeway has served individuals with developmental disabilities in the McDonough, Fulton and Knox counties regions. Now, the 32-year-old organization is under the direction of a local woman who has been involved with local organization since the late 1980s.
Staci Danner of Industry recently took over the CEO of Bridgeway. She sat down with the Community News Brief to talk about her role and her goals for the organization.
What does it mean to you to be the new Bridgeway CEO?
I am humbled and honored to step into the role of Chief Executive Officer of Bridgeway, effective Oct. 1. Having served here for over 26 years – including as CFO – this moment carries profound meaning for me.
What were you doing before you accepted this role?
In 1989, I started at McDonough County Rehab Center (now Bridgeway) as a payroll clerk, and I left the company to be a stay-at-home mom. I returned to the center six years later as the HUD specialist, and since then, I've held most every position in the finance department and since 2018, I had served as the organization's Chief Financial Officer How did your education prepare you for this role?
What experiences do you bring to this role that will make the office effective?
I graduated with my bachelor's degree and my MBA from Western Illinois University. I was not a traditional student and attended college at the same time as working and raising my family. This experience has taught me time management skills, how to persevere and that almost anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
Tell me a little about Staci outside of work, and a fun fact or two about you.
My hometown is Industry, IL, which is where I currently live with my husband, Jason Danner. We have three children and three grandchildren, all of whom we love spending time with.
One of my other passions is serving the community in which I live. Part of the way I do that is by serving as the Village President of Industry.
I became a Village Trustee in 2015, then was elected as the Village President in 2021. I also serve as the treasurer for my church.
Summer is my favorite season and in my free time I love to be on the water boating and relaxing. My favorite pizza is Hawaiian (ham and pineapple.)
What are your goals and plans for Bridgeway? First big project you'd like to undertake?
As I step into this role, my focus is on building a culture where growth, leadership and well-being are part of everyday life. We want to keep investing in our people, creating more opportunities to learn, lead and support one another. Most importantly, Bridgeway will continue to put people first. Our employees, those we serve, and our community will always be at the center of every decision we make. We’ll get there by listening, being transparent, and communicating openly along the way.
What makes for a vibrant social services organization like yours, and how can/does your org achieve that?
Instead of only focusing on deficits, we have a strengthsbased perspective: seeing clients as resourceful and resilient, connecting them to assets in their environment. It adapts to change as community needs evolve, social problems shift and funding contexts change, so flexibility is crucial.
At Bridgeway, we believe everyone has the potential to succeed. We offer effective resources and tools for individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges, substance use disorders and other challenges. Making lives better through high-quality services, Bridgeway impacts thousands of people annually in over 20 counties in Illinois, offering Behavioral Health Services, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Services and Affirmative Business Opportunities. We believe that staff need to feel supported, valued, and safe to innovate. A healthy organizational climate correlates with better outcomes.
What's the most exciting part of your job (in your opinion)? Most challenging?
The most exciting part of my job is being surrounded by people who care so deeply about others. Every day, I see the pride, commitment and joy our team brings to their work. It's inspiring and humbling to lead such a talented and compassionate group of professionals who are changing lives across our communities.
The most challenging, and equally exciting, part is prioritizing among so many opportunities for growth.
Bridgeway is expanding its reach and impact, and our focus is on moving forward with purpose, building on our strengths as we continue to grow into one of the nation’s leading behavioral health organizations.
What would you like to see happen with Bridgeway within the next year? Five years?
In the year ahead, our focus will remain on providing the best possible care to the individuals we serve and finding new ways to strengthen and expand those services. Over the next several years, I want Bridgeway to become one of the most sought-after places to work, a place where people feel valued, supported and proud of the impact they make every day.
