Transitions at JVS

A Message From JVS Board President, Michael Walker

Together with the JVS Board of Directors, I’m writing to share some important news.

After working at JVS since 1975 and serving as Executive Director and CEO since 1984, Abby Snay has decided to step down from her leadership role at the end of December. While her transition will certainly be bittersweet, many years of preparation have led to this moment, and I am confident in JVS’s leadership and the support of our community, including each one of you.

For 40+ years, JVS has helped more than 80,000 people to build skills, find work and transform their lives. Today, JVS is focused on good, living-wage jobs on career pathways. Since affirming this approach in 2015, the agency has tripled the numbers of people who find work in growing Bay Area industries, such as healthcare, technology, skilled trades and financial services.

As the leader of this formidable organization, Abby is responsible for the growth and strength of JVS. She has grown the organization to a budget of $13M with nearly 100 staff members. Tens of thousands of lives have been transformed under her tenure, and like many great leaders, she has propelled JVS’s impact forward by building the smart, nimble and connected leadership of JVS. The Board of Directors brings strategic insight, market intelligence and philanthropic leadership to JVS, while JVS’s executive management team is composed of well-regarded experts in workforce development, fundraising and nonprofit management.

The JVS Board of Directors, under the leadership of Board President Emeritus Jim Koshland, has assembled a search committee and engaged the renowned search firm, Russell Reynolds, to recruit JVS’s next Chief Executive Officer. Russell Reynolds is in the process of completing stakeholder interviews and expects to begin identifying and interviewing candidates in the coming weeks.

As for Abby, she has no plans to retire. She will bring her 40 years of building partnerships and programs to make a new kind of impact on our community. We look forward to benefiting from her expertise as a close thought partner and workforce development advisor.

In the coming months, as you hear about the lives that are transformed as we continue our mission, keep your eye out for information about opportunities to thank and honor Abby. We look forward to your enthusiastic engagement as we celebrate this next chapter with you.

Sincerely,
Michael Walker
JVS Board President
Executive Vice President and Regional Executive, City National Bank