Last year, two long-time executive directors of important Chelsea organizations, Trinh Pifer of the Chelsea Senior Center (CSC) and Nancy Paul of Faith in Action (FIA), announced their intentions to retire.
Since that time, the boards of these organizations embarked on extensive searches to find the right people to lead them into the future.
It was announced this week that Bill O’Reilly would take over the helm at the senior center and Sheri Montoye will become the new executive director of Faith in Action.
O’Reilly will begin his new job on May 1 and Montoye is slated to start on April 8.
“Bill will be a welcome addition to our team and a leader in moving forward with our mission to enhance the quality of life and well-being for area seniors and their families,” said Gary Munce, senior center board president.
Lori Minnick, president of the FIA board, said, “We were pleased to have many dynamic applicants for our leadership role but Sheri, with her personality, experience and vision, was a clear top choice. We are very excited to have her on staff.”
Montoye has extensive experience with collaborative efforts that have enhanced the life experience of countless residents of all ages in Chelsea and across Washtenaw County, according to information provided by Faith in Action.
She has worked as 4-H youth development program coordinator and in this capacity has managed large county-wide projects including the annual Washtenaw County Youth Show and secured grants to enhance mental health programming for youth across the county. In the Community Health Improvement Department of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, she coordinated the Healthy Communities Walking Program and served as coordinator of the annual Heart and Sole Race.
O’Reilly has a wide range of professional and volunteer experiences in the private and non-profit sector. He is president of the Chelsea Area Historical Society and serves on the City of Chelsea Downtown Development Authority Board. He is also the co-founder of MyAncesStory, a service which provides genealogy and family history research for clients worldwide.
He graduated from George Washington University with an MBA and from Eastern Michigan University with a BA in Management. O’Reilly brings a unique set of skills that will help foster growth and sustainability for the senior center.
“I have always been very impressed with the wide variety of programs the CSC has offered and each of my encounters with the CSC team have been very positive,” he said, adding, “Though I had not been actively looking for a new career, when I saw this opportunity it was an easy choice to pursue the possibility of being part of this team.”
Montoye is currently completing work toward a Master’s Degree in Public Health through Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and “brings a strong history of being a community connector that will serve her well as she takes over the ED position at FIA, where her skills will enhance the agency’s ability to alleviate the effects of hunger and poverty,” the Faith in Action release states, adding, “As she will tell you, her overarching goal is to help people live their best life.”
Her volunteer roles in the community include work with Girls on the Run, SRSLY Steering Committee and as a facilitator of a Matter of Balance at the Chelsea Senior Center.
The Chelsea Senior Center continues to experience significant growth. With 1,059 active members last year, it is a thriving organization providing over 50 programs every week including a daily senior lunch program, exercise classes, educational and volunteer opportunities.
Beyond its physical walls, CSC also supports over 300 homebound older adults through Meals on Wheels and its innovation Chelsea Community Senior Services (C2S2) program which helps seniors access resources and services they need to remain in their own homes, connected to their community.
Additional staff changes at the Chelsea Senior Center include current staff member, Jennifer Smith’s appointment as assistant director and Emily Kennedy has been hired as a second Senior Services Coordinator to help expand the organization’s C2S2 program.
“I very much look forward to continuing the wonderful programs and standards Trinh and the entire CSC team have provided, and to helping our members in any way I can,” O’Reilly said.
There will be a joint community “Meet and Greet” to welcome the new leaders of both organizations in late April.
