April 9, 2026 —This January, The Kendal Corporation welcomed Margaret Plank as the new board chair. A Quaker and experienced clerk, Margaret brings a thoughtful, unifying presence to the role.
Her connection to Kendal is deeply personal. When her mother moved to Collington, Margaret saw firsthand the strength of a supportive, resident-led community. She experienced what makes Kendal distinct, and now she brings that understanding, along with her governance experience, to this new chapter.
Before guiding TKC, Margaret dedicated her career to public service. She advocated for consumers and the public as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and served as senior counsel at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With degrees from Yale University and Columbia Law School, and as an active member of the Bethesda Friends Meeting, Margaret knows how to listen, advocate, and unite people around a shared purpose.
Why Quaker Consensus Matters
Margaret’s path to the chair role reflects years of Quaker practice and board service. She does not approach leadership as a top-down responsibility. Instead, she embraces the Quaker understanding of a clerk: someone who listens deeply, guides the process with care, and helps the group find unity.
That approach was especially clear during the TKC CEO search over two years ago, which Margaret chaired and which ultimately led to the recommendation of Vassar Byrd. Throughout that process, the board saw her style in action. She created space for every voice, encouraged transparency, and helped the group move toward shared understanding.
Redefining the Role of Board Chair
In many boardrooms, the chair directs the conversation and pushes the agenda forward. Margaret sees the role differently.
As a clerk, her first responsibility is to listen. She creates space for open discussion and ensures strong personalities do not dominate the conversation. She invites voices in, recognizing that the loudest voice does not provide all the wisdom needed to help the group discern the right way forward
If Margaret wants to speak from a personal point of view, she steps out of the facilitation role and passes it to the Vice Chair. That allows her to contribute as a regular board member while preserving a fair and balanced process for everyone at the table.
The goal of this consensus-based approach is not simply agreement. It is a shared understanding.
Strengthening Understanding Across the Kendal System
One of the board’s top priorities is strengthening trust and communication between TKC and Affiliate partners. Margaret is deeply committed to making sure every Affiliate partner feels heard, valued, and connected to the broader mission. It helps set expectations, strengthens partnerships, and creates a stronger foundation for collaboration.
TKC offers tangible support in important operational areas, including technology infrastructure, marketing support, and strategic guidance. These resources help Affiliates work more effectively and plan with confidence.
But Margaret also recognizes the importance of something less visible and just as valuable: connection.
Affiliate leaders become part of a peer community that offers encouragement, insight, and shared learning. That network can reduce the isolation that often comes with leadership roles and provide a trusted space for problem-solving and support. It strengthens leaders, supports retention, and benefits the entire Kendal System.
When the Kendal System feels connected and is aligned closely with the Kendal mission and brand, we send a clear message to current and prospective residents, members and staff alike: this is an organization of exceptional quality and shared purpose.
Strength with Intention
As Kendal looks ahead, growth remains an important conversation. Margaret supports a highly intentional approach. Growth, in her view, should never come at the expense of values.
Kendal’s future depends on welcoming partners that share a resident-led ethos and value Quaker principles. Expansion is strongest when it is thoughtful, selective, and grounded in mission.
Margaret describes Kendal’s growth model as a blended family. It is a fitting image.
Some communities are founded by Kendal. Others join later through affiliation or partnership. But each one is welcomed with care and integrated intentionally. The goal is not uniformity. It is rooted in shared values.
This approach reassures founders, residents, and long-time supporters that Kendal’s core identity will remain strong. Communities like Collington show how non-origin Affiliates can thrive within the Kendal System. They bring fresh energy and new perspectives while strengthening the network as a whole.
Margaret Plank brings a wealth of public service experience and a deeply personal appreciation for Kendal to her new role as board chair for The Kendal Corporation. Guided by Quaker principles, she is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment where voices are heard and valued equally. Through her consensus-driven governance style, Margaret will support the board in strengthening the shared Kendal System and building meaningful connections and understanding across all Affiliates.