WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Tom Rau announced his retirement from The Neighbors’ Place on Tuesday after nearly 20 years in charge of the charitable group.
Rau joined the group as Executive Director in 2001 and has helped oversee several areas of growth including the development of the Empty Bowls fundraiser and the creation of the Marathon County Hunger Coalition.
He says many of those accomplishments happened because of the efforts of those around him. “I’ve been blessed to work with fantastic people, one person doesn’t do these things. They have happened during my time as ED, but there have been many people that have been instrumental in getting things done.”
Rau says the retirement of the mortgage for their office on Scott Street and major renovation of the building to include walk-in cooler and freezer space were also major accomplishments under his watch.
He plans to stay on through December 31st. A search for his replacement has already begun, and Rau says the plan is to make a hire by Thanksgiving so that he and the next Executive Director can have some overlap.
“I know they (the HR Committee) want that person and myself to overlap a bit so there can be that transfer of organizational history that happens when you switch from one Executive Director to the next.”
With that switch will come new ideas and a fresh perspective. “I think they have opportunities to move the Neighbors’ Place into some wonderful places.”
He says a new executive director will also have the chance to look at current processes and procedures through a fresh lens as well. “They may find efficiencies that we haven’t even though about yet. They may have new ideas in how we set up what we do in the food pantry and food banks.
“[Ideas are floating] around in the community right now that are not firmly established, but I think there will be some wonderful things happening in our community,” he adds.
Rau’s wife Marcy is also retiring as director of The Neighbor’s Place Community Learning Center. She plans to step aside in Mid-December to allow her time to get the house ready for holiday guests according to Tom.
While those on the outside may most remember the accomplishments, Rau says his lasting memory has nothing to do with anything that happened while he was on the clock.
“I don’t know how many people know this, but I had a stroke three years ago. When I was in the hospital, and my board of directors came to visit me not once did they say anything about ‘are you going to be able to do this?’ It was ‘how can we help you do the work that you have been doing?’”
He says because of the stroke he can no longer drive and has difficulty reading for long periods, but in the three years since the incident, he has felt nothing but the full support of the board.
“We talk a lot about people helping people and reaching a hand out to help someone, these people don’t just talk about it. They, as people say, walk the walk.”
