Deacon Jim Vargas tapped to lead Southern California’s largest homeless services provider
Father Joe’s Villages welcomes President & CEO Deacon Jimmy F. Vargas, who will officially begin on Feb. 17, 2015. In his new role, Vargas will oversee all facets of the organization, including the comprehensive services offered through St. Vincent de Paul Village, Toussaint Academy, Josue Homes and the agency’s portfolio of low-income housing.
“I strongly believe that it is our obligation to help and care for the homeless,” said Deacon Jim. “It is thrilling to be part of the passionate team that is motivated to do the right thing for our clients. With such a powerful mission, it’s an honor to lead this organization into the future.”
Vargas brings to the nonprofit, whose mission is to end homelessness one life at a time, more than 30 years of broad management and human resources experience at companies like The Copley Press, Inc. and Citicorp/Citibank.
In his most recent role as vice president and chief human resources officer at Copley Press, Vargas oversaw human resource operations for 5,000 employees across a chain of newspapers with news bureaus in multiple U.S. locations and Mexico.
Before The Copley Press, Vargas served as senior vice president of the Education Group at KIII Communications. There, he led human resource development for publishing companies in the fields of medicine, films, humanities, primary school education and book clubs.
Prior to his time at KIII Communications, Vargas served in various director and vice president positions of human resources at Citicorp/Citibank, within its bankcard, private bank, real estate, information systems, and investment divisions.
He is a deacon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego serving the community of Mary, Star of the Sea in La Jolla, previously having served the community of Our Lady of Angels in downtown San Diego.
“As a Catholic Deacon for more than eight years, a member of numerous non-profit boards in San Diego and an accomplished businessman, Deacon Jim has the perfect combination of a head for business and a heart for those we serve,” says Father Joe’s Villages’ Board Chairman Steve Francis.
“Deacon Jim is the perfect choice as the next leader of our Village,” said St. Vincent de Paul Village Board Chairman Vince Kasperick. “In addition to his extensive leadership experience, he brings a strong passion for our mission of serving the poor. His deep roots in our community and collaborative leadership style will be effective as we continue to work with the City, County and other service providers to end homelessness in our community.”
Vargas has a degree from New York University in biology and sociology. He is also past chair of the board for the Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego Foundation, founding chair of Epiphany Prep Charter School of San Diego, current chair of Totus Pro Deo and Casa Cornelia Law Center and serves on the board of The Resource Center for Community Development.
Interim President & CEO Diane K. Stumph will continue her role as chief financial officer.
For more information on other services and programs, visit www.neighbor.org.
###
ABOUT FATHER JOE’S VILLAGES
As Southern California’s largest residential homeless services provider, Father Joe’s Villages has been empowering people to achieve self-sufficiency for over 63 years. What started as a small chapel serving San Diego’s impoverished has grown into a cutting-edge provider of innovative housing programs and services. Father Joe’s prepares up to 3,000 meals and provides a continuum of care to nearly 1,500 individuals every day—from infants and adolescents to adults and seniors. This includes over 200 children and over 200 military veterans. As an industry thought-leader, Father Joe’s offer innovative solutions to address the complex needs of the homeless, regardless of age, race, culture or beliefs. The organization’s primary goal is to transform lives and end the cycle of homelessness. To this end they provide housing, healthcare, food, clothing, education, job training and child development in an internationally modeled “one-stop-shop” approach. This mission is made possible only through the efforts of compassionate staff, dedicated volunteers, and generous public and private donors. For more information, please visit: https://www.neighbor.org.
