PRESS RELEASE:
[Milwaukee, Wisconsin] — August 2026 — Special Spaces, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to creating dream bedroom makeovers for children battling cancer, announced Jody Bartnick as its new National Executive Director, effective September 21, 2026.
Bartnick brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience focused on children and families, community impact, organizational growth, and philanthropy and cross-sector collaboration. She currently serves as Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Dane County, where she leads a team of more than 30 professionals and oversees community impact initiatives, strategic collaborations, public policy, grantmaking, and philanthropic investments exceeding $14 million annually.
Prior to joining United Way of Dane County, Bartnick served nearly 14 years as Executive Director of 4-C, a nonprofit resource and referral organization serving children, families, and childcare providers across 11 Wisconsin counties. During her tenure, she expanded the organization’s service area, strengthened financial sustainability, developed community partnerships, and led teams dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.
“Jody brings a remarkable combination of strategic leadership, operational discipline, community connection, and genuine compassion for children and families,” said Christopher Swain, Board Chair of Special Spaces. “Her ability to listen, build relationships, bring people together around a shared purpose, and translate vision into action makes her an exceptional leader for Special Spaces. As a member of the founding family and longtime leader of this organization, I am incredibly proud of what our volunteers, chapters, donors, partners, and families have built together. I am equally excited about this next chapter and confident Jody will help Special Spaces grow its impact while preserving the heart and spirit of the mission.”
Bartnick succeeds Swain, who has voluntarily led the organization since 2017. During that time, Special Spaces grew into a national organization with 10 chapters across nine states, transforming approximately 200 bedrooms each year into comforting, healing spaces where children can rest, recover, play, and dream. The organization’s work is powered by dedicated volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and donated goods and services.
Swain will continue serving Special Spaces as Board Chair, providing governance and leadership partnership as Bartnick assumes the National Executive Director role.
“I am deeply honored to join Special Spaces and become part of a community that understands the extraordinary impact of creating a special space where a child can simply be a kid,” said Jody Bartnick, incoming National Executive Director of Special Spaces. “I am inspired by the passion of the organization’s chapters, volunteers, donors, partners, and Board. I look forward to listening, learning, and building relationships across the network as we work together to strengthen Special Spaces, expand its impact, and ensure more children and families experience the hope, comfort, and joy that a Special Spaces makeover can bring.”
As National Executive Director, Bartnick will serve as chief executive of the Special Spaces network and report to the Board of Directors. She will provide strategic and operational leadership across the chapter-based organization, strengthen alignment between the National Office and local chapters, support organizational sustainability, expand national partnerships and fundraising, and build the systems and infrastructure needed for continued growth.
Her experience aligns closely with the organization’s priorities for its next chapter, including strategic leadership, relationship building, fundraising and external engagement, organizational development, and collaborative team building. Throughout her career, Bartnick has worked with boards, volunteers, donors, nonprofit organizations, businesses, government partners, and community leaders to build shared goals and advance mission-driven impact.
Bartnick holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Communications from Concordia University Wisconsin, as well as an Associate of Science in Child Care and Development from Madison Area Technical College. She has also served in numerous community leadership and nonprofit governance roles.
About Special Spaces
Founded in 2004, Special Spaces, Inc. creates dream bedroom makeovers for children battling cancer. Through 10 chapters across nine states, the organization transforms approximately 200 bedrooms each year into personalized spaces where children can rest, recover, play, and thrive.
Each Special Spaces makeover is made possible through the generosity and dedication of volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and donors — creating dream bedrooms for children battling cancer – spaces to recover, play, and find joy.
More than a bedroom, but a place where a child can simply be a kid.
One Child. One Room. One Day.
To learn more about Special Spaces: www.specialspaces.org
