BCFO shuffles leadership as COO departs

The June 27 exit of Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks Chief Operations Officer Kathryn Wall has resulted in a leadership transition at the Springfield nonprofit.

Wall said via email that June 27 was her last day at BCFO and that she has a new role lined up. However, she said she was not yet ready to announce her new position.

"It has been a profound honor to get to be part of an organization that does such meaningful work," Wall said of BCFO. "Only the most exciting of new adventures could pull me away."

BCFO CEO Joe Daues said that, effective today, Program Director Meagan Walkenhorst has been promoted to COO to succeed Wall. Additionally, Ashley Carter, a patient advocate at the organization, has succeeded Walkenhorst as program director, Daues said.

"This is, for us, a best-case scenario. Almost never do you have a line of succession set up to where people next in line are qualified and willing," he said. "We were in a fortunate position."

Walkenhorst, who has a nursing background, joined BCFO in 2020. Carter has 13 years of health care experience and started at BCFO in 2021, according to the organization's website.

A June 26 BCFO Facebook post noted Wall would start "an exciting new chapter in her nonprofit career."

Daues added, "We hate to lose Kathryn, but BCFO is better today because of the work she accomplished here. We have enjoyed watching her grow as a leader. All of us at BCFO are confident she will continue to make a positive impact in our community."