Vista Maria, a Dearborn Heights nonprofit serving abused and neglected girls, has named a new CEO following a six-month search.
Hope Network executive Megan Zambiasi will succeed Angela Aufdemberge, who is stepping down after leading the organization for more than 12 years. Aufdemberge will serve as CEO advisor for the next several months to assist in the leadership transition. Bloomfield Hills-based search firm The Hunter Group LLC led the national search. Vista Maria has realized many parts of its vision for serving its young clients and their families during Aufdemberge’s tenure,” Chairman Greg Spinazze said in a release.
Zambiasi’s “experience and passion for the mission will bring us a new perspective and continue to move Vista Maria to achieve positive outcomes for children and families in our community,” he said. Zambiasi, 52, brings more than 30 years of experience in clinical and mental health service, leadership, and administration. Most recently she served as senior executive vice president of operations and strategy at Hope Network in Grand Rapids since fall 2020.
Prior to that, she spent more than 19 years at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in the Grand Rapids Area. She served in a number of clinical and leadership roles there leading up to senior director of clinical services.
Zambiasi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University, a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University; and an MBA, Integrated Management from Michigan State University.
Vista Maria provides shelter, support, treatment and education to abused and neglected girls, young female survivors of human trafficking and at-risk children and teens.
It opened the state’s only “secure” or locked facility for young human trafficking victims in April 2020, at the height of the pandemic.