TRC gets new leader in Ormand

Having already opened a new food bank and changing its name, the wheels of change continue to turn at The Resource Connection.

The former Human Resource Council welcomes a new executive director this month while bidding farewell to its longtime food bank manager.

The community-based nonprofit organization — which provides children and family services, nutrition, and sexual assault/domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Amador and Calaveras counties — named James Ormand as its executive director May 11.

Prior to joining The Resource Connection, Ormand was president and CEO for Pathway Enterprises, an Ashland, Ore.-based nonprofit, operating human services programs in southern Oregon and Northern California. The University of North Dakota graduate has also served as CEO for nationally affiliated organizations such as Easter Seals and The Arc and has served on several state and national associations.

After 28 years of nonprofit work, “it is an incredible opportunity to be involved with a legacy organization ... like The Resource Connection,” Ormand said. “Once I brought my wife and family to the area, they fell in love with the geography ... and the many different communities.”

Ormand replaces the retiring Catherine Bourland, who has been involved with HRC and TRC since its 1981 founding, and became executive director in 2007. She will remain with TRC to assist with the transition until July 2, according to Ormand.

For many served by TRC, the face of the organization for the past 18 years has been Food Bank Manager Billie Westernoff. Westernoff retired at the beginning of the month.

Westernoff, 69, said her fifth great-grandchild is soon to be born and now is the time to make the transition to spending more time with family.

 In the time she spent with TRC, Westernoff said she is most proud of the Mother Infant Child Harvest Project, funded by Calaveras First 5, and used as a model for similar projects nationwide. She and Shirley Runnings, who heads up the Women Infant Children program at TRC, testified before Congress about the program.

Her Congressional recognition did not end there. Ormand said a tribute to Westernoff’s contributions was entered into the Congressional Record May 15 by U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River.

“I cannot begin to tell you how many families I have worked with over (my career). I would say that they have blessed me more than I ever blessed them. I learned a lot,” Westernoff said. “My heart will always be with the families I worked with over the years.”

The January completion of a new 6,000-square-foot food bank on George Reed Drive in San Andreas made it easier for Westernoff to go.

“I wanted to see that come to fruition,” she said. “It’s been a dream of mine for 13 years. In order to serve the community, we needed a real facility.”

Ormand said Jeannie Hayward has stepped in as interim program director for the food bank while a permanent director is sought.