The Hearth Connection Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Charlie Cook has been named the new Executive Director of Hearth Connection.  His first day will be Monday, February 24, 2014.

Charlie impressed the search committee, the staff and members of the Board with his strategic insights, calm leadership, and years of experience in the mental health field.  He will succeed Richard Hooks Wayman, who led Hearth Connection's efforts to end long-term homelessness for several years until becoming the CEO and President of LUK, Inc. in October 2013.

 

Mr. Cook most recently worked with St. Stephen's Human Services as the Director of Administration, where he oversaw quality improvement, strategic planning and contracts management. He previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer of Chemical & Mental Health at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

 

Charlie also worked as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Spirit Hurricane Recovery with the LA Department of Health & Hospitals, which developed a service delivery structure to provide crisis counseling to many victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also has federal-level experience, having worked for the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as Senior Program Manager and lead Project Officer.

Hearth Connection would like to thank everyone involved in the search and transition process, including the many highly qualified candidates committed to ending homelessness in Minnesota.

 

We are excited to welcome Charlie to the team and hope you will have an opportunity to meet with him shortly after he begins work at the end of February. We believe his talents and passion for our mission will propel the great work of our projects and collaborations forward as we pursue an end to long-term homelessness in Minnesota. 

 

 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Kelli Johnson

Chair, Hearth Connection Board of Directors