When Colleen Conley was hired only a year and a half ago, the
Community Foundation for San Benito County Director Gary Byrne knew
she wasn’t going to stick around for a long time. But he knew no
matter how long she stayed on – she was only going to have a
positive effect on the foundation.
When Colleen Conley was hired only a year and a half ago, the Community Foundation for San Benito County Director Gary Byrne knew she wasn’t going to stick around for a long time. But he knew no matter how long she stayed on – she was only going to have a positive effect on the foundation.
And she did.
“We were very lucky when Colleen came on board. We knew it wasn’t going to be for the long term,” Byrne said. “She has been great for this community. We have been very lucky.”
Conley announced last Thursday, through e-mail, that the day would be her last because she was choosing to retire after working in the public sector for more than a decade. The last year and a half was at the Community Foundation, and before that she worked with the county consulting with children.
Five years ago, she created a health program for the county’s preschools and day cares.
Conley chose to retire and move to San Jose because of a new grandson in city. Conley and her husband will move to the area to take care of the child.
“When a new baby is born, we go up for the first year of their life and take care of the baby,” she said.
Conley expects to move to San Joe by September.
In late 2008, Byrne asked for her help with the Community Foundation, Conley didn’t hesitate to agree.
“It’s all about bettering our community,” she said. “It put me in touch with a lot of people that are involved with the community.”
Under the title of director of community outreach, Conley helped develop the Friends of the Foundation program that introduced donating to the county’s children.
“We started Friends of the Foundation to help everyone understand what it is the Community Foundation does,” she said. “Everyone can leave a legacy.”
And the establishment of the Friends of the Foundation and the Community Foundation’s Foundation Education classes are Conley’s legacy, Byrne said.
The Foundation Education classes are a series of classes that are available to the directors of the community’s nonprofits that are trying to learn about the business.
The first set of classes started last September and 19 members of nonprofits in the community enrolled. The nine-month course helps to inform nonprofits on how to run and manage their operations.
Byrne said the classes would continue next year.
Despite moving out of the city and county, Conley still expects to visit and help out the community, she said.
Stephanie Hicks, who was the director of Arts Council, will replace Conley, Byrne said. Hicks’ first day on the job will be Aug. 16.
