Nonprofit Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission starts search for new CEO amid deficit
The board of the poverty-fighting agency Economic Opportunity Commission has officially parted ways with its leader after news of its more than $3 million deficit became public.
The commission said CEO Emilia Reyes’s contract came to a conclusion at the end of the year, and the board of directors decided to begin a search for a new leader rather than bring her back.
She had been placed on leave prior to the December meeting of the board.
Reyes became the first woman to lead the agency when she was hired in January 2020.
The commission’s staffers in December projected a deficit of about $3.4 million, pointing primarily to contracts in which they have been unable to renegotiate deals.
With an operating budget of $134 million, the EOC said the deficit makes up just 2.5% of its spending.
“In response, the Fresno EOC Finance and Program teams are actively working together to implement cost-saving measures, streamline resources and share costs across programs,” the EOC said in December. “Our financial strategies have already begun to slow the rate of deficit growth and we are working diligently to eliminate the deficit entirely.”
As the EOC conducts a search, its former CEO, Brian Angus, will serve in an interim role, the board said in a news release.
From 2010 to 2019, Angus led the nearly 60-year-old nonprofit aimed at anti-poverty programs that serve the underprivileged.
“Fresno EOC has always been a vital resource and advocate for our community. I am honored to return during this transition to help ensure the agency remains strong, focused, and committed to delivering impactful services,” he said in a news release. “Together, we will continue empowering individuals, supporting families, and working toward fighting poverty in Fresno County.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM.
