Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Seymour.
Hi Pamela, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began with a career in banking where I spent ten years. I then moved to TX and started a new career in High Performance Computing where I spent fifteen years. After the company I was working for sold to a venture capital group, my job and entire department were eliminated. I assessed my life and decided to try my hand at non-profit leadership directing an organization that was focused on older adults. I spent ten years with that organization, then moved to River of Refuge and have been here for six years. What drives me? The fact that I wake up every morning and know that I’m doing something positive and needed for my community and those that are less fortunate.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Never a smooth road and that’s what keeps things interesting, especially in Non-Profit work. With my first job in non-profit, I’d volunteered for several years delivering meals on wheels to homebound older adults on my lunch hour two days a week. I also served as Treasurer of their board. The new Executive Director was hired who supposedly had years of Executive Director leadership experience, rather than me with no NP experience. Within six month of the organization hiring this person, they learned that he’d embezzled money from another local charity some years ago. They put him on administrative leave and asked me to come in as the new Director. The first day on the job I discovered he’d embezzled $47,000 thru the interception of mail directed to the organization. He died in prison shortly after becoming incarcerated. The second year, a 4-alarm fire destroyed the church where we officed and we lost everything and had no renters insurance. The third year, I merged the organization into another like-non profit and the rest is history with that organization. The current organization has also had a few struggles and so far we’ve made it through.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I manage River of Refuge, a local non-profit focused on transitioning homeless, working families to stable housing through programming and case management. I have been a manager of people, and processes my entire career. What I am best known for is the ability to operate an organization on a shoestring budget with few staff members. I also am good at problem solving and being creative in the way I solve them. Cash flow is also one of my strong suits. In my current position as Executive Director I am also the HR manager, grant manager, the fund development, marketing, PR, and fundraising person in addition to my work as the Executive Director.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the fact that when there is a tragedy or a bump in the road, it typically does not get in my way of doing my job or providing services to our families.
What sets you apart from others? resilience, hard work, dedication, the ability to find ways to help those in need regardless of the struggles and roadblocks that have been put in my way.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
timid, shy, reserved, dependable, great student, rule follower. I loved to be outside riding my bike, playing tennis, skating, all sports.
Pricing:
- there is no charge for our program
Contact Info:
- Website: https://riverofrefuge.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/riverofrefuge
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverofRefuge/
