New Leader Update

Subject: A New Leader for People & Culture at Oishei

Dear Fellows,

We have another update to share with you as we continue building the team that will carry us into the next phase of our work.

Please join us in welcoming Sam Hill as the Foundation’s new Leader of People & Culture. This is a newly created role that reflects one of the most important commitments we made in our strategic transition: ensuring that our internal culture reflects our external mission. Sam will lead efforts around hiring, professional development, and organizational wellbeing—all grounded in racial equity—to help create a workplace where our team can thrive and grow.

Sam brings deep leadership experience in people-centered work—and he also brings a deep connection to this place. He is a proud Buffalo native, with roots on the East Side, and, yes, a member of the fifth cohort of the Karen Lee Spaulding Oishei Fellowship for Leaders of Color.

We also want to be transparent with you: Sam initially served on the Search Committee for this role. Through that experience, he became increasingly drawn to the work and to the Foundation’s direction. After thoughtful reflection, he stepped out of the committee process and entered the candidate pool. He went through the same steps as all applicants, working with our search firm, Koya Partners, and participating fully in interviews with the committee. We share this openly because we value transparency, and we trust you understand how seriously we take these processes.

This appointment is part of our broader transformation which began last year. As we continue to evolve our structure and grow our team, you’ll hear more from us about what’s ahead. Sam’s leadership is an exciting step in that journey, and we look forward to you getting to know him more in the months ahead.

As always, thank you for your insight and your ongoing partnership.

With gratitude,

Christina Orsi
President