Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa Announces Chief Program Officer Jennielynn Holmes has Been Selected to Become CEO

After reviewing candidates from across the nation, Jennielynn rose to the top given her extensive experience in this community and her deep commitment to helping the most vulnerable in our community. She is a nationally recognized expert, and we are excited to see her in this position.

Jennielynn has been with the organization for over fourteen years. She joined the Catholic Charities team as a part-time counselor in emergency shelters and has spent her career growing and building strong programs to help meet the ever-increasing need in the community. Jennielynn currently serves as the CCDSR’s Chief Program Officer and has also worked to help build strong systems of care as the Vice-Chair of the Sonoma County Continuum of Care Board Sonoma County Continuum of Care and as a Commissioner of the Sonoma County First Five Commission, First 5.

In Jennielynn’s words, “To say I am excited would be an understatement. I feel blessed and honored to be trusted to lead the organization after the opening of Caritas Center. We are forging ahead to address the social issues that face our community. This opportunity to work alongside our team on the front lines of our innovative services is the greatest privilege of my career.”

Len’s influence on Catholic Charities these last eight years can’t be overstated. Through devastating fires, a pandemic, an increasingly alarming housing crisis, and a frightening period for our immigrant community, he has thoughtfully stewarded community resources and overseen a skilled team to ensure the organization is a nonprofit people can count on.

Len shared with me, “My faith has been a beacon through this work. At Catholic Charities, we are inspired every day by the work of the Good Samaritan who challenged society’s expectations and offered the gift of love freely to a stranger in need. I am proud of my team’s accomplishments and eagerly anticipate their future accomplishments as we embark on this next chapter.”

Jennielynn will begin her role as incoming CEO on August 22, 2022, and will overlap with Len through the opening of Caritas Center in September 2022.