New Seeing Eye CEO will focus on funding as guide-dog group nears 100th anniversary

Karen Leies can't wait to start her new job as CEO of the Morristown-based Seeing Eye , the world's oldest guide-dog school and among the largest in the industry for nearly a century

Just don't ask her to train the pups that the nonprofit breeds. Leies is still trying to get through to her own canine pals.

"They're really not that well-behaved at the moment," Leies said during a telephone interview Wednesday as her golden retrievers — Lexi, 7, and Finnegan, 3 — raised a small ruckus in the background. "I joke that if dog training were a requirement of the position, I probably would not have been successful in this."

The Seeing Eye announced her appointment this week, noting Leies' 25 years of nonprofit roles. "Her professional experience, her volunteerism, and her deep appreciation of the love between humans and dogs is the foundation of everything we do at The Seeing Eye," said board Chair Cynthia Bryant.

Leies has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and her talents lie more in the area of fundraising and development. She comes to The Seeing Eye from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state's largest anti-hunger organization.

"I feel a lot of parallels between The Seeing Eye and the Fox Foundation's work in terms of focusing on quality of life, dignity and advancement," she said.

In tune with The Seeing Eye's mission

The Seeing Eye's mission is to "enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people," as it explains on its website.

Leies spent eight years at the Hillside-based food bank, most recently as chief of external affairs. She oversaw "everything public-facing with respect to fundraising, marketing, communications, volunteerism, board relations — really encouraging public engagement and encouraging broader public awareness of the cause," Leies said. "So I think there is a lot of relevance to the work of the CEO at The Seeing Eye."

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Founded in 1929, The Seeing Eye has grown into an industry-leading provider of guide dogs with an annual budget of $33 million. The group says it has matched more than 18,000 dogs and students since its founding.

All Seeing Eye puppies get their start at the organization's breeding center in Chester. At 7 or 8 weeks old, they are housed with volunteer foster families within driving distance of The Seeing Eye. The foster families care for the pups until they are about 13 to 16 months old.

How much does a Seeing Eye guide dog cost?

The current cost of one Seeing Eye partnership is estimated at $75,000. But because of funding, largely from foundations, private donors and corporate sponsorships, current students still pay only $150 for their guide dog and the required training, which takes 24 days for newcomers and 18 for returning students. The cost reflects the original tuition in 1929, which at the time represented about a third of the total expense.

Guide dogs in training are a frequent sight on the streets of downtown Morristown. New and returning students typically bunk in the residential facilities on the organization's sprawling, 60-acre Morris Township campus. A new $7.6 million kennel opened there in 2019.

Leies will start her new assignment on Nov. 1, succeeding Margaret "Peggi" Howard . Howard, appointed in 2022, is retiring "to being a full-time grandma … and a part-time volunteer at The Seeing Eye,” said a news release announcing the change.

Leies, 55, is a graduate of Ithaca College and also volunteers with the group Women Fighting Hunger and the New Jersey Ballet. She lives in South Orange with her family, including Lexi and Finnegan.

"We love and adore them, but they are not well-behaved at the moment," Leies said by phone. "They are my steadfast companions in my home office. But during COVID, they got very accustomed to getting whatever they want, when they want it. They definitely need some more training.

"I hope I can learn from my colleagues and pick up some good training skills," she said. "I have a lot to learn, and a willingness to learn from the best in the business."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today .

Email: wwesthoven@ dailyrecord.com

Twitter/X: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: New Seeing Eye CEO will focus on funding as guide-dog group nears 100th anniversary