Press Release: After a comprehensive search and careful consideration, the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc. is proud to announce the hiring of our new President/CEO, Christopher Root. He has a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from Michigan State University. Christopher has a deep-seated Catholic faith, wide breadth of social programming knowledge and a strong managerial track record that makes him the right choice for Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida.
He currently serves as the Department Head of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Lansing; a position he has held for the last 11 years. The services he oversee are numerous and include such programs as: adoption, foster care, behavioral health counseling, substance abuse, adult day care, soup kitchens, food pantries, a warming shelter, clothing and personal needs programs, an immigration law clinic, refugee resettlement, housing for disabled adults, transitional housing, and assistance with rent and utilities. He also established a medical and educational mission in Guatemala.
He is highly regarded for his ability to develop positive working relationships with priests, parishioners, donors, external funding sources, board members, agency staff, diocesan staff, elected officials and the general public. His strengths are what we need and his experience goes hand-in-glove with our programs and mission.
He leads a new and very talented team of mission-mined people including the two new office mangers. Matthew Knee has been settling into his role as Office Manager for the two Western Deaneries, and David Chodorowski has been busy doing the same for the two Eastern Deaneries. Both have a long track record of success in building community based organizations.