Meet the Board – Elizabeth Kemp Caulder
March 27, 2025A Mission That Found Her
Elizabeth Kemp Caulder’s journey with Vehicles for Change began unexpectedly. Around 2010, she met CEO Marty Schwartz at a networking lunch. At the time, Elizabeth didn’t know much about the organization. However, Marty’s passion for the mission immediately caught her attention.
Elizabeth was serving as Chief Marketing Officer for another agency, and Marty quickly saw the potential for collaboration. As a result, he invited her to join brainstorming sessions focused on strengthening Vehicles for Change’s brand and message. With each conversation, Elizabeth grew more impressed…not only by Marty’s leadership, but by the bold vision he held for the organization. His passion proved contagious. Before long, Elizabeth found herself deeply connected to the mission. Eventually, Marty invited her to join the National Board, an opportunity she welcomed with enthusiasm.
Why the Mission Feels Personal
For Elizabeth, the mission of Vehicles for Change resonates on a deeply personal level. The organization doesn’t just provide vehicles. They create freedom and independence.
Growing up with a single mother, Elizabeth experienced firsthand how limited resources can shape daily life, especially without reliable transportation. She considers her mother a hero and someone who worked tirelessly to provide for her children. Despite the challenges, Elizabeth remembers her mother finding ways to create meaningful experiences. She took Elizabeth and her sisters to parks and museums. These were places that sparked imagination and possibility.
“Exposure to aspirational experiences matters more than people realize,” Elizabeth reflected. “It gives children permission to dream beyond their immediate circumstances.”
Impact That Reaches the Next Generation
That belief continues to shape Elizabeth’s involvement today. In fact, her own children have witnessed the impact of Vehicles for Change firsthand. They’ve attended events and listened to parents share stories of life without transportation. These are families who struggled to reach grocery stores, jobs, and basic services.
Those moments have sparked powerful conversations at home. They’ve shown Elizabeth’s children that Vehicles for Change doesn’t simply provide cars. Instead, it helps families build a foundation for long-term success.
Transportation Is Universal
One reason Elizabeth believes so strongly in the organization is its universal relevance. While transportation challenges often look different, they exist everywhere. Rural communities face long distances and limited options. Urban communities struggle with unreliable or inaccessible public transit.
In both cases, access to a vehicle can mean the difference between progress and stagnation. For Elizabeth, reliable transportation represents freedom, something everyone deserves, regardless of where they live.
“In the absence of freedom,” she asks, “are we really living?”
Helping Shape the Future
As a longtime supporter and National Board Member, Elizabeth has helped guide Vehicles for Change’s growth. With support from her team at Phoenix Lifestyle Marketing Group, she led the organization’s brand recalibration and helped shape a strategic roadmap to elevate its national presence.
Looking ahead, Elizabeth envisions continued expansion. At its core, she believes Vehicles for Change isn’t just about cars. It’s about community, compassion, and caring for one another.
First Car, Lasting Freedom
Elizabeth still smiles when she thinks about her first car. It was a black Chevy Metro hatchback she bought while attending college in upstate New York. The car had its quirks. The driver’s side door wouldn’t open from the outside, and the floorboards offered what she jokingly calls “unique venting.”
Still, the car gave her something priceless: freedom. It allowed her to work, explore, and experience life on her own terms.
Looking Ahead
As Vehicles for Change celebrates 25 years of service, Elizabeth feels proud to stand alongside a mission that continues to deliver freedom and opportunity.
