Rachael Montano

By DONNA HAYNES
LARSO Board President
On behalf of Board of Directors

We have an important update regarding leadership at LARSO. As of Oct. 13, Rachael Montano will step into the role of Interim Executive Director (until a new Executive Director is hired), following the departure of our current Executive Director, who will be taking on a new opportunity with International Folk Art Market (IFAM).

Rachael has been with us since April 2025 as our Membership Coordinator, and she has already made a significant impact. Under her leadership, we’ve seen notable progress, including being the first Membership Coordinator to bring us under double digits with our reassessments since 2019. Rachael’s efficient and friendly approach to work has earned her the respect and admiration of both staff and members.

A natural team player, Rachael consistently brings valuable insights from her diverse background in supervision, managing food contracts, purchasing, restaurant management, and even home care.

We are confident that Rachael will continue to bring her exceptional skills, positive attitude, and dedication to her new role as Interim Executive Director.

Additionally, we’d like to take a moment to thank Jacci Gruninger, our outgoing Executive Director for her hard work and leadership during her two plus years with the organization. To show our appreciation, we’ll be hosting going-away events during lunch hours the week of Oct. 6-10, providing an opportunity to say goodbye and express our gratitude.

Please join us in welcoming Rachael into her new role and in wishing our outgoing Executive Director, Jacci, all the best in her future endeavors.