The Edward King House Senior Center’s board of directors has appointed Isidro “Tj” Thomas as executive director, filling the position Carmela Geer vacated last month after 13 years.
Thomas will oversee the center’s programs, operations, staff and partnerships, according to the organization.
“The Board was impressed by Tj’s warmth, passion for community and program engagement, and leadership experience,” Dr. Anna Matos-Mournighan, the board president, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with Tj as the Edward King House Senior Center continues to build on its strong foundation and plan for the future.”
“The work of creating welcoming, connected, and meaningful communities has been at the center of my career, and I am excited to bring that experience to Newport and to the Edward King House community,” Thomas said in a statement. He said he looked forward to “listening and learning from our members, staff, volunteers, Board, and community partners while building on the strong foundation that already exists.”
The appointment follows a search the board began in August, after Geer announced she was stepping down to become health services coordinator for the town of Middletown. Her last day was Sept. 11. Geer had led the center since 2013, a period in which it grew to more than 90 programs and services annually and earned national accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers, according to What’sUpNewp’s earlier coverage.
Founded in 1969 and housed in the historic Edward King House, the nonprofit center serves older adults and caregivers across Newport County.
The board said it will introduce Thomas to members, volunteers and community partners in the coming weeks.
More information is at edwardkinghouse.org.
