Community Living Wallaceburg is hiring Chatham-Kent native Deborah Hook as its new executive director.
Board of Directors President Derek McGivern says Hook's first day on the job is January 4 of the new year, replacing the retiring David Katzman who has held the position for 27 years.
"We're very excited for the future. This is a new page after more than a quarter century with David as the leader and visionary for our organization," says McGivern. "We're super excited about the opportunity and fresh thinking Deborah can bring."
McGivern says an executive search firm was hired to help fill the position and nearly 80 applicants were reviewed. Four candidates were interviewed.
"Deborah doesn't have any experience necessarily in the intellectual disability sector," says McGivern. "She does bring a lot of experience with her. She was called to the bar in Quebec, she's a lawyer, did some political work up there. We're just impressed with the way she thinks, she's just a real smart cookie."
The cost to hire the executive search firm hasn't been provided to BlackburnNews.com.
McGivern says Hook will be part of taking on new challenges facing Community Living groups since the closure of centralized government institutions six years ago.
"The closing of institutions in 2009 across Ontario was a huge step and now we're moving towards people living out in the community," says McGivern. "What I really hope to work with Deborah to accomplish is that next goal of having people employed in our community."
A news release from CLW says in addition to being a lawyer, Hook has a certificate in corporate governance and is fully bilingual. Hook's political career saw her serve as a senior advisor to the Quebec National Assembly and the Quebec Treasury Board.
