A year of change at important non-profits

The last year has seen major transitions in a few key Tri-Valley non-profits.
The latest two were Senior Support of the Tri-Valley and Open Heart Kitchen. At Senior Support, Executive Director Marlene Peterson retired after 32 years of service to seniors here in the valley. Senior Support provides critical support to help seniors age in their homes.
The board has tabbed Robert Taylor as the new executive director. Taylor, like the new leaders at other organizations, brings a range of experience to the job. He’s run both non-profit and for-profit organizations and most recently was president of Calidad Industries, a non-profit that focused on job training and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the board of Open Heart Kitchen announced the appointment of Heather Greaux as its the new executive director. She succeeds long-time director Linda McKeever who left the organization last year.
Previously, she ran two non-profits, the Monterey Zoo and Elephants of Africa, that collectively had more than $2 million in revenue. She is charged with executing the strategic plan to feed the hungry in the valley. Open Heart serves more than 350,000 meals annually with hot meal programs at 11 locations as well as weekend box lunch programs for 19 schools.
Greaux will oversee the management of the nonprofit with a focus on fundraising, community outreach and personnel management.
The other big change was Hope Hospice bringing St. Claire’s Home Health under its non-profit umbrella. CEO Bob Boehm, who has a broad business background, has been working to re-position Hope Hospice to meet the challenges of ObamaCare.
The home health arm allows Hope Hospice to expand its services to patients who do not meet the criteria for hospice care (six months or less to live according to a physician).
Boehm was quoted in the Livermore Independent, “Combining home health care with our agency means we can offer the rehabilitative therapies as well as palliative care to patients who have chronic or advanced illness but are not currently on hospice.”
These patients can receive care while still pursuing treatment to cure their ailments. Hospice care is palliative, not curative. With the Hope Hospice team managing the entire process, patients will be able to transition seamlessly should their condition change.

Last year, the Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation did not renew the contract of Executive Director Susan Hayes after three years and launched a search for a different leader. The board hired Steve McCoy-Thompson, a Pleasanton resident for more than 20 years.
He has a varied career with experience in business through senior positions at Deloitte Consulting and the Bechtel Corp. as well as non-profit experience. During his 25-year career, he and his family lived in China and India.
The common factor in these new appointments is the directors are upping the expectations and qualifications for the senior leadership. These new leaders have impressive backgrounds and will be expected to take their organizations to the next level.