Below is a press release issued Monday by Community Action Agency about its new director, who comes to the job after the state Department of Social Services moved to take control of the troubled, scandal-ridden agency.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INTERIM CEO and INTERIM CFO APPOINTED AT NEW HAVEN’S COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY(NEW HAVEN)-In a partnership between the Board of Directors of the Community Action Agency of New Haven, Inc., the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Connecticut Association For Community Action (CAFCA), John E. Richardson, Jr. of Wallingford has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of the agency and Phillip Gutt, of West Hartford, has been selected as its Interim Chief Financial Officer.The collaboration between these three organizations is to ensure a stronger executive management base and to implement stringent fiscal controls before a permanent CEO and CFO are selected, and to reconnect with past and current partners while continuing the Community Action Agency of New Haven’s mission of providing services and helping our client base become self-sufficient.Mr. Richardson has an extensive background in the development, deployment and management of organizations across diverse industries which spans over 20 years. “I am excited to be a part of the Agency’s commitment in promoting self-sufficiency and helping to create a more streamlined, efficient organization. I look forward to continuing the established relationships that the Agency has cultivated over its 28-year existence while cultivating new partnerships in order to expand our services to the 20,000 families that we touch each year. “Mr. Gutt brings an extensive financial management background consisting of over 20 years in public accounting as a CPA. Additionally, Mr. Gutt has spent the past 10 years serving as Interim CFO for other non-profit agencies.Mr. Richardson is available for interviews with the press.