Riverview Hope Campus Hires Executive Director
Rigorous Nationwide Search Yields Highly Qualified Leader
Chris Joannides
Fort Smith, AR: The Riverview Hope Campus, a social services campus slated to open Fall 2017, has announced the selection of Chris Joannides as its Executive Director. Joannides holds a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wyoming. He reports to Hope Campus Monday, March 27th.
“Hope Campus has been raising funds for several years now as it contributes its part of the 2014 City of Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan (Policy HN-2.4),” Jeremy May, vice president of the Hope Campus Board, said. “As we evolve from an intensive Phase 1 capital fundraising campaign which concluded in 2016, we are now placing an emphasis on regional partnerships and operational funding. We could not be more delighted to announce the addition of Chris and his talents to our team as we make this transition.”
Joannides’ resume includes 5 years of service and leadership at COMEA in Cheyenne, WY, which houses 100 residents through various housing programs located on site. He was responsible for case and crises management as well as directing residents to appropriate resources for healthcare, medication needs, housing, and employment with a goal of helping them achieve self-sufficiency.
“In his role as Senior Case Manager for COMEA, Chris played a crucial role in deepening the relationships with our community partners,” said Robin Bocanegra, Executive Director for COMEA House and Resource Center. “Chris was the ‘go-to guy’ when coordinating services. His clear understanding of the needs of our community and clients provided him the foundation for which to build these partnerships. Knowing who and when to include in each case plan contributed greatly to the success of our program. He will be greatly missed.”
Under Chris’ leadership, COMEA averaged a 70 percent employment rate and a recidivism rate of less than 15 percent. Prior to Chris joining COMEA, he was Vice President-General Manager at Halladay Auto Group, Cheyenne’s authorized dealer of Subaru, Nissan, Buick, Cadillac and GMC where he spent 20 years.
“I have dreamt of designing a model such as Hope Campus for a couple of years now as I’ve witnessed the barriers those in poverty struggle with daily,” Joannides said. “I look forward to becoming part of the Fort Smith community and bringing area partners together to best serve the families and individuals in most need. By working together as one team and providing collective services under one roof, we will bring additional health, wellness, and prosperity to an evolving community.”