It seems like new ED Jackie might get the bad rap in this case study, but is she really to blame?
I think she had a lot to live up to, for starters. It cannot be easy to come in to a new organization that has had such a recent upheaval in its management. Any ED has a time period after they come in to their leadership period in which there is a learning curve. By the time she had a handle on the organization's finances and development, it was perhaps already too late.
I must also note that Jackie came from a national search. I assume this means that she is new to the community in which Metro Arts and Films is located. This is also part of the learning curve regarding local and statewide funders.
Regardless, the situation she was presented with was one that needed to be addressed urgently. She may not be the exuberant ED that Chris was, but if she was a good leader she would have been able to tackle the issues she faced in ways different from him. Unfortunately, if it was more time she needed, she wasn't going to get it. I think it takes a great deal of integrity to be Executive Director of an organization, and be able to recommend closing the organization. Her reputation, just as much as the organization itself, is at hand.