Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana (YFCNIN) announced Friday, Nov. 9 that Larry Lance is transitioning out of his role as the organization’s CEO effective January 1, 2019. He will be succeeded by Chris Todia, who is currently the Chief Operating Officer for YFCNIN.
Lance is not retiring but moving into the role of Senior Advisor/President Emeritus for YFCNIN beginning January 2019. Lance’s focus will be on coaching Todia, furthering their development strategy, and launching their new planned-giving program.
Todia joined YFCNIN in 2016 as chief operating officer. He previously served on the marketing staff at Colorado Christian University for three years, and then launched a sales and marketing career with Furniture Row in the greater Denver area. At Furniture Row, he was responsible for developing big-picture vision and strategy for product development as well as handling the daily details of marketing, merchandising, sales management, training, and product design. He later founded his own consulting company to help companies with branding, growth, and organizational strategy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bethel College and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado Christian University. Chris lives in Fort Wayne with his wife, Amy, and two children.
Lance has been with YFCNIN for the past 42 years, serving as an instrumental part in their growth from four to twelve counties in northern Indiana, with their territory including 99 schools and potentially reaching 64,000 teenagers. Lance started out with YFC in 1976 as a part-time Campus Life director at Huntington North and Homestead High Schools.
Lance has championed Todia’s candidacy to move into the CEO role and has mentored him over the past two years.
“Chris Todia has earned the respect and trust of our board, our donors, our leadership team, and our staff,” Lance said. “He has demonstrated in every respect that he is ready to assume the role of CEO, and lead this ministry into its next phase of growth and development,” Lance said.
Todia looks forward to taking on new responsibilities and focusing the YFC organization on its renewed vision and strategy.
“It is such a blessing to be stepping into this role with an organization with such rich history and still so much opportunity,” Todia said. “God is moving in this region in unique and powerful ways, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Our team’s desire and efforts are focused on serving thousands more young people throughout Northeast Indiana in the years to come.”