Claire Dees is a respected expert in business administration, event planning, fundraising, and grant writing and a significant contributor to the nonprofit sector. She is the executive director of Spectrum Autism Support Group Inc. in Duluth, Georgia, and assumed the role in 2016 after leading the organization as president from 1998. Ms. Dees also was the community engagement manager at Parent to Parent of Georgia from 2012 to 2016. Her devout, local civic involvement includes being past president of the Duluth Civitan Club, board member of the Duluth Business Association, and chair of the Community Advisory Committee at the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University. Further, Ms. Dees is a Leadership Gwinnett graduate.
In preparation for her career, Ms. Dees earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Presbyterian College in 1978, which laid the groundwork for her extensive career in nonprofit leadership. Her achievements have been recognized through various awards, including the Moxie Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in 2022, the Autism Achievement Award for Georgia from Georgia State University in 2019, and multiple Moxie awards in 2023. She was also nominated for the Moxie Pay it Forward Award in 2024 and recognized by the Harris Goud Foundation in 2022. Ms. Dees attributes her success to a robust support system within her community. She values the support from friends and the collaborative spirit among nonprofits, which fosters resource sharing and mutual aid. Her involvement in nonprofit chief executive officer groups provides her with valuable peer support and encouragement.
Among her most notable achievements, Ms. Dees considers raising $1.5 million in a single year to purchase a building for Spectrum Autism Support Group Inc. as her greatest success. This fundraising accomplishment was particularly remarkable given that their typical annual grants are about $200,000, underscoring her effective leadership and strong community backing. Under Ms. Dees’ leadership, Spectrum implemented its first customer relationship management (known as CRM) protocol last year, improving donor and contact management. This is part of the organization’s strategy to expand services and address the needs of the approximately 20,000 people with autism in their county. Spectrum serves about 2,000 individuals and their families annually and is introducing new programs for adults to help bridge this gap.
Looking ahead, Ms. Dees plans to continue her impactful work with Spectrum Autism Support Group into the foreseeable future. Still, she is focused on developing a succession plan to ensure the organization’s mission continues smoothly after her ultimate departure, part of which includes documenting essential information to aid in transitioning leadership roles. Influenced by the example of community-minded values set by her family, Ms. Dees exemplifies dedication and service and volunteers outside of Spectrum. When she is not busy serving others, her hobbies include reading, walking, hiking, and crafting.
