Top Executive Christopher Paige to Retire

Northern California social service agency seeks CEO successor

Today, the Board of Directors of California Human Development (CHD) announces the upcoming retirement of Christopher Paige, chief executive officer and leading advocate in the fight against poverty for farmworkers and others across northern California. The announcement kicks off a search for Paige’s successor as he works closely with the staff and board on an orderly transition over the coming months. Paige’s decision comes as CHD prepares to celebrate it 50th anniversary next spring. His retirement, which is slated for July, brings to close a remarkable career beginning in 1975 as Program Planner and rising to take the top CEO reins in 2011.

“It has been my honor and distinct pleasure to work hand-in-hand with the staff and board of California Human Development and with our clients and partners for nearly the entirety of my professional career,” says Paige. “I am so proud of the work we’ve accomplished on behalf of farmworkers and many others who struggle to overcome poverty. To me, this has never been a ‘job’, but rather a passion and how I have truly wanted to spend my time,” adds Paige.

Paige leads CHD’s team of 240 dedicated staff in offices across northern California and serving people from 31 counties. The agency, which is a non-profit community-based organization headquartered in Sonoma County, helps those most at-risk to achieve self-sufficiency through training and employment, affordable housing, disABILITY services, immigration assistance, and residential and outpatient programs for drug-free living.

“Over the past 40-plus years Chris has brought immense dedication and energy to California Human Development, leading the charge to abolish conditions of poverty across northern California and advocating on behalf of hundreds-of-thousands of our state’s poorest residents,” says Emila Aguilar, Vice Chair of the CHD Board of Directors and Chair of the Search Committee. “We look forward to building upon the many successful partnerships and programs at the local, state, and federal level that Chris has helped establish during his tenure. We are deeply grateful for all he has done for CHD and those we serve.”

The Board of Directors has retained Leap Solutions Group, a Sonoma County-based consulting firm, to conduct a nationwide executive director search to identify Paige’s successor. Any inquiries about the position should be directed to Leap Solutions at recruit@leapsolutions.com. The position description and requirements may be viewed on Leap’s website at: www.leapsolutions.com/practice-areas/recruiting/recruiting-opportunities/.