Many people come and go in our technology world. That's the way it works. It's a environment ripe for temporary transplants to make a splash, wash up on the shore, and move on. Rare are the folks that stick around for the long-haul, making substantial impacts on the way organizations use and collaborate around technology.

One of those rare folks is Holly Ross.

When I learned about Holly's departure today from the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (N-TEN), I couldn't help but flashback to 2004 (maybe it was earlier, but I don't want to date either of us). I'd met a few times with Ed Batista, who was the Executive Director of NTEN at the time, and he introduced me to Holly.

We went out for lunch near the N-TEN SF offices, and from our first conversation, I knew that Holly was in it for the marathon, not the sprint. She was so passionate about the work of N-TEN in its early days, it was obvious that she was going to make a significant difference.

Three executive directors and some years later, Holly has been the heart and soul of N-TEN for me ever since that first lunch. She's an inclusive spirit, someone always looking for opportunities to bring people together. She's a fun person, always smiling and laughing. And most importantly, she's a strong-willed advocate and support of changemakers in our sector.