By Michele Merxbauer, CEO of Spero
In rural communities like ours, leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about building trust—step by step, word by word, action by action.
At Spero, a mental and behavioral health agency serving Dodge, Steele, and Waseca counties, our greatest asset is our people: our employees and the communities we serve. As CEO, I take that responsibility seriously. And that begins with leading with integrity.
Integrity means aligning our actions with our values, showing up with honesty and transparency, and holding ourselves accountable—even when the decisions are tough or the path forward is messy.
Leadership with integrity isn’t easy or clean. But it’s worth it.
Integrity in Action
The work we do at Spero is complex, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. For our staff to show up fully and sustainably, they need to feel safe, supported, and heard. My role is to model that environment—to create a space where trust is felt at every level of the organization.
That’s why our leadership approach includes diverse voices across the agency. Whether we’re creating new policies, launching programs, or making difficult changes, we involve our direct service staff, supervisors, leadership, and when appropriate, even the people we serve. Everyone deserves a seat at the table.
The Messy Side of Change
One example of this commitment was our recent rebrand—from South Central Human Relations Center to Spero.
It wasn’t an easy decision. The name South Central had been with us since 1984. Internally, it held deep meaning—many of our staff had never known any other name. But externally, we faced confusion. Community members often mistook us for unrelated organizations like a local insurance agency or technical college. Unless you had a direct connection through the schools or county, chances are, you didn’t know who we were or what we did.
The rebrand gave us the opportunity to reintroduce ourselves—to clarify our identity, expand our reach, and show up more fully for the people we serve.
Was it met with questions? Absolutely. But by inviting our team into the process, we created a sense of ownership, transparency, and ultimately, trust.
Why It Matters
Leading with integrity strengthens more than just morale—it impacts our ability to sustain our mission. Trust and accountability lead to better employee engagement, stronger relationships, and long-term stability. And yes, even in a nonprofit world, those outcomes matter. They help us retain exceptional staff, meet growing needs, and continue to build healthier communities.
At the heart of it all, integrity is about doing the right thing—even when it’s hard, even when no one is watching.
Because when our teams see leadership stand by its values, they’re inspired to do the same.
