After 14 years of service, Whitney H. Montgomery is retiring from North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS). Ken Lawson from Tallahassee, Florida has been selected as the interim Executive Director.  

Montgomery led the school through sustained growth during his tenure. Under his leadership, the school’s endowment nearly quadrupled, providing more than $1 million annually in perpetuity to provide scholarships to students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds as well as enhance resources for field staff. Montgomery reflects fondly on his time with NCOBS: 

Outward Bound is an amazing organization, and the North Carolina Outward Bound School continues to push many boundaries in how we deliver experiential education programs to inspire individuals to care for themselves, and others, through challenging experiences in new environments. Our staff members are among the finest in the world, and our culture of safety is strong. It has been an honor to serve alongside hundreds of field and administrative staff, dedicated volunteers, and board members. NCOBS has built a rock-solid foundation, and now it is time for new leadership to leverage that for the future with new approaches and ideas. 

Lawson, the newly appointed Interim Executive Director, has served on the NCOBS Board of Directors for six years. His professional career has been primarily dedicated to public service. From 2011-2020, he served in three executive leadership roles overseeing three Florida agencies: the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Visit Florida, and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. 

NCOBS Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kent Satterfield, is thankful for Montgomery’s service and says Montgomery will be remembered as a servant leader. He is also hopeful for the future of the organization: 

We look forward to building on Whitney’s incredible 14-year track record with a new leader who can discover what more is in our school as we plan for the next 50 years of offering students life-changing and life-affirming personal growth and discovery.

The NCOBS Board of Directors is working with a national search firm to find a permanent executive director. Montgomery’s last day with the organization will be November 30. Lawson is expected to serve a minimum of six months as the interim Executive Director.