Ju-Ann Skinner and Doreen Straka have been instrumental in the growth of our organization and our ability to continually innovate and broaden our services,” said Tori Lyon, Executive Director, Jericho Project.
New York, New York (PRWEB) November 10, 2014
Jericho Project, a nonprofit leader ending homelessness at its roots, has named two new officers to its senior management team. Ju-Ann Skinner, Director of Finance, has been promoted to the role of Chief Financial Officer; and Doreen Straka, Senior Director of Strategic and Workforce Opportunities, is being named Chief Operating Officer.
“Jericho Project is proud to name two outstanding professionals, Ju-Ann Skinner and Doreen Straka, to our leadership team. Both Ju-Ann and Doreen have been instrumental in the growth of our organization and our ability to continually innovate and broaden our services,” said Tori Lyon, Executive Director at Jericho Project.
Jericho Project is a goal-oriented community enabling 1,500 formerly homeless or at-risk individuals and families to lead independent lives. Starting with the foundation of permanent supportive housing, provided at seven supportive housing residences and supportive apartments throughout New York including two state of the art Veterans Residences in the Bronx, Jericho delivers expert services enabling employment, wellness and family stability.
Skinner, who has worked at Jericho in a number of roles over 19 years, will be responsible for all Finance functions, including planning, risk management, and compliance. Prior to joining Jericho, she was an auditor with the former Arthur Anderson, and a CPA. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch and an MBA from Pace in Corporate Finance.
As COO, Straka will oversee Property Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Housing Development, and other administrative and strategic areas. Under her leadership, Jericho’s Workforce Opportunities initiative enabling over 800 formerly homeless individuals including veterans to get and keep jobs, has doubled in size. Prior to joining Jericho, she held numerous leadership positions, most recently Director of Operations at BronxWorks, formerly Citizens Advice Bureau, and Senior Program Officer at the Corporation for Supportive Housing.
Straka holds a Masters of Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work, City University of New York, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The George Washington University. Additionally, she has studied extensively at the Wagner School of Public Service & NYU School of Continuing & Professional Studies.
For over 31 years, Jericho Project has enabled formerly homeless individuals and families to transform their lives for the better. Its results are impressive: 92% of its graduates achieve independent living; and 90% of Jericho residents with a substance abuse disorder maintain their sobriety. Jericho delivers its permanent supportive housing and extended services cost effectively, at $12,000 per person annually, about half of the $32,000 for a city shelter cot, $50,000 for a room in a family shelter and a fraction of the $168,000 for a city jail cell.
