ADRIAN — The Lenawee Community Foundation board of directors announced today that president and chief executive officer Bronna Kahle will retire from her role at the end of this year. Paula Trentman, currently executive vice president of the foundation, will succeed Kahle as the organization’s leader beginning Jan. 1.
Kahle served as president and CEO during a transformative season for the foundation, helping strengthen the organization internally while expanding its visibility, responsiveness, and impact across Lenawee County, according to a news release. Under her leadership, the foundation has experienced significant growth in charitable assets, donor engagement, grantmaking, and community leadership initiatives focused on improving Lenawee’s health, happiness, and hope in partnership with donors.
During Kahle’s tenure, the foundation successfully completed its $2 million Health, Happiness, and Hope Fund campaign, launching a stronger flexible grantmaking resource to help Lenawee County respond to current and future community needs. The foundation also expanded donor services, strengthened grantmaking and community partnerships, and increased organizational capacity to better serve Lenawee for the long term.
“Serving the Lenawee Community Foundation and the people of Lenawee County has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Kahle stated. “This work is deeply meaningful because it is ultimately about people, relationships, generosity, and community. I am incredibly humbled by what we have built together and deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners, staff, and board members for their trust, partnership, and shared commitment to this community.”
Kahle added that she has complete confidence in the foundation’s future leadership.
“Paula Trentman is exactly the right person to lead LCF into its next chapter,” Kahle said. “She brings decades of community foundation experience, strong relationships across Lenawee County, deep institutional knowledge, and, most importantly, a genuine heart for serving others. The Lenawee Community Foundation will be in excellent hands.”
Trentman has served the Lenawee Community Foundation in various capacities for more than 25 years. Throughout her tenure, she has played a key leadership role in grantmaking, donor stewardship, scholarships, nonprofit partnerships, and many of the foundation’s most important community initiatives and programs.
“LCF has always been about helping connect people who care with causes that matter,” Trentman said. “It has been a privilege to be part of this work for so many years, and I am honored by the trust the Board has placed in me. Lenawee County is filled with generous people and strong community partners, and I look forward to building on that momentum together in the years ahead.”
Board chair Dave Hickman said the Board is grateful for Kahle’s leadership and excited for the Foundation’s future under Trentman’s direction.
“Bronna Kahle has provided exceptional leadership during an important season of growth and organizational strengthening for the Lenawee Community Foundation,” Hickman said. “Her passion for Lenawee County, commitment to community philanthropy, and ability to bring people together around meaningful work have left a lasting impact on the foundation and our community.”
Hickman added, “At the same time, the board is thrilled to announce Paula Trentman as LCF’s next president and CEO. Paula is respected throughout Lenawee County and across the philanthropic community. She understands this work at every level, believes deeply in the mission of the Lenawee Community Foundation, and leads with both experience and heart. The board is confident LCF’s future is incredibly bright.”
The Lenawee Community Foundation board of directors said the transition plan reflects a thoughtful and strategic leadership succession process designed to ensure continuity, stability, and continued momentum for the organization and the community it serves.
