Term begins Oct. 1; Decision marks first time a woman will serve as chair 

At its quarterly business meeting today, the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees elected as its next Chair Candace (Candy) Littell Maxwell of Wilmington, Delaware. Maxwell is a retired strategic advisor with more than 30 years of diverse experience in business leadership, governance, policy, and strategy. In October 2018, she completed eight years of service on the Institution’s Board of Trustees, during which time she served on the Board’s Special Committee on Amphitheater-Related Issues, on the Presidential Search Committee, and as Chair of the Audit Committee, as well as other committees and working groups.

“Candy is viewed not only as having significant experience on Chautauqua’s Board, but as someone whose Board service and professional career are marked by a spirit of collaboration that is grounded in a strong background in finance, business, leadership, and strategy,” said James Pardo, current Chair of the Board of Trustees. Pardo’s term as Chair will conclude October 1 when Maxwell’s term begins.

Most recently, Maxwell served as a member of the Board’s Strategic Planning Working Group, a team composed of volunteer leaders and executive staff who worked for more than a year to lead the process that resulted in the formulation of the next strategic plan for Chautauqua Institution (click here to read a separate announcement about 150 Forward).

“Candy’s experience in leadership and strategy is exactly what we need as we embark upon an ambitious strategic plan that calls us to expand significantly the reach and impact of Chautauqua’s mission,” said Institution President Michael E. Hill. “I am thrilled by the Board’s choice for our next Chair and confident Candy will build upon the extraordinary legacy of leadership that has brought us to a point of unprecedented strength as an organization.”

“I have been fortunate to serve in executive and volunteer leadership roles that simultaneously leverage my talents, experience and passions,” said Maxwell. “Clearly, as a longtime volunteer leader for Chautauqua, I am committed to its mission, and I believe I bring the specific experience and leadership disposition that the Board needs now. I am honored beyond measure to accept this appointment as Chair-Elect of Chautauqua’s Board of Trustees.” 

Maxwell will be the first woman to serve as Chair of the Board.

Maxwell began her career as a management consultant for the public accounting firm Ernst & Young. She later served as Senior Health Policy Analyst for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, a Congressional advisory group, where she focused on Medicare program reform. She served as Executive Director of the Health Care Technology Institute and as Vice President of Policy for the Advanced Medical Technology Association. She also served on the Board of Directors for Respironics, a publicly-traded global medical product company, and chaired its Corporate Governance Committee. 

Maxwell’s consulting career spanned nearly 20 years, starting as president of Littell Group, Inc., a firm specializing in strategic planning for medical product firms. She was also co-founder and managing director of ContentHealth LLC, a business intelligence firm serving health care organizations. 

ABOUT CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION

The pre-eminent expression of lifelong learning in the United States, Chautauqua Institution comes alive each summer with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. Over the course of nine weeks, more than 100,000 people visit Chautauqua and participate in programs, classes and community events for all ages — all within the beautiful setting of a historic lakeside village. As a community, we celebrate, encourage and study the arts and treat them as integral to all of learning, and we convene the critical conversations of the day to advance understanding through civil dialogue.