Cate Magennis Wyatt, the Founding President of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, has stepped down from day to day operations as of July 31, 2015 and has assumed the title of Founding President Emeritus. She will be assisting in the transition with interim President and CEO, Stuart Haney.

"I could not feel more grateful to The Journey Board of Trustees for their tremendous efforts over the past six months, to bring this transition to fruition," said Magennis Wyatt. "The Journey has been my passion for the past ten years and it was time to pass the baton to fresh leadership."

Magennis Wyatt incorporated the nonprofit Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership in 2005, and created the vision that led to its future success. For the past ten years she has led The Journey and its talented team of professionals with her strength, wisdom, creativity, energy and, above all, her profound commitment to the organization's mission and the values it seeks to promote. Under her leadership, The Journey has been designated by Congress as the 38th National Heritage Area; has been named by the Secretary of Interior as the 99th National Scenic Byway in the country; has launched the Living Legacy Tree Planting program to honor the Civil War fallen; has published seminal work with National Geographic Society; has developed award-winning programs in the areas of education and heritage tourism; has become a thought leader in preservation and in the promotion of American history; and has formed enduring partnerships with over 350 municipal government entities, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic foundations, business associations, and corporations, including Warner Brothers, History Channel, Esri, and Ancestry.com among many others.

"Thanks to Cate's leadership and vision, The Journey has become a model public-private initiative that honors our past, supports our economy and social vitality, and civically engages future leaders in our shared heritage," said Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, Board of Trustees Co-Vice Chair. "The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership is indebted to Cate and the board for creating a seamless transition. Cate, who originally made a five-year commitment to The Journey, was persuaded by the board to continue her work for an additional five years and lead the organization to its 10th Anniversary, which we celebrated this year. We have been blessed to have her amazing talents to bring into being and develop a leading organization with an amazing record of innovation and success, and are proud to claim Cate as our Founding President Emeritus," she said.

An event to highlight and honor Magennis Wyatt's leadership and accomplishments is currently being planned in the coming weeks. As the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership celebrates its tenth anniversary, organizational leaders invite all partners to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments achieved together and look forward to working with everyone in the years to come to continue to advance the values that are cherished.

"It has been my great privilege to serve as Chair of the Journey Board for the past several years with Cate as our President. She is an extraordinary leader who not only has achieved great things in her own right, but makes everyone around her better. The Journey would not remotely be where it is today without Cate at the helm. We are deeply sorry to see her step down as President, but we are so grateful for the opportunity to continue to work closely with her in her new role as Founding President Emeritus," said Board of Trustees Chairman David F. Williams.

Magennis Wyatt and the board began the process of selecting her permanent successor back in April, engaging the search firm of Bryan & Jordan Consulting LLC. The search process is ongoing. Haney will serve as the interim president and chief executive officer until a permanent one is named.

Haney, a resident of Loudoun County for over 25 years, is an attorney who has served in various executive capacities. In addition to serving as Co-Vice Chair of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, he is a founding board member of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. "Having served on the board as its Co-Vice Chair, I am delighted and look forward to extending my service in this way," he said. "I want to thank Cate for her tireless work over the last decade creating an award-winning organization that all of us along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground are proud of. Cate is one of the most gifted and talented executives I've come across. I look forward to working with her as we transition to The Journey's future."