Letter from Ex. Director, David Bethuram about leadership changes

Hello Everyone,

As we begin this new fiscal year, I want to make you aware of some leadership changes in Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigrant Services (RIS).

Gabrielle Neal, who has served honorably the past six and one-half years as the program director for RIS is stepping down from her full-time position to devote her time to her family responsibilities. Gabrielle will now serve as RIS operations manager. In this part-time position, Gabrielle will be responsible for technical functions of the program, grant writing and reporting, creating program budgets in collaboration with program and agency management.

I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Gabrielle for her visionary leadership of the RIS program. Under Gabrielle’s watch the RIS program has had significant growth in the number refugees served, as well as the establishment of the legal immigration program. Her creative and dynamic approach to exploring ways to best meet the needs of newly arrived refugees has been recognized both here at home by both City and State government, but also nationally by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services.

As the agency director, I cannot express adequately in words how Gabrielle has positively impacted this ministry as well as our Catholic Charities mission. The good news is that is she is not leaving, but rather taking on another role here in the agency so she can embrace her important family responsibilities.

I have asked Tim Winn and Heidi Smith to take on the roles of co-directors of Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigrant Services beginning immediately. As co-directors they will work cooperatively with the mission, vision and core values of Catholic Charities Indianapolis (CCI) in the provision of services to eligible refugees, immigrants and asylees. They will work together to develop and administer the program, including general management, community engagement, and budget oversight.

Tim and Heidi will work together with Gabrielle and me in the next weeks while the transitions of these leadership responsibilities are taking place. 

Tim will continue as the Director of Immigration Legal Services and Heidi will now step in the role of Director of Refugee Services.

I am very pleased that Tim and Heidi have agreed to work together as co-directors. Their gifts and talents will be utilized in continuing to grow and expand our Refugee and Immigrant Services. I am looking forward to working with them. Please join me in congratulating Tim and Heidi in their new positions and expressing our gratitude to Gabrielle for her years of servant leadership.

David J. Bethuram, M.A., M.Min., CFLE

Agency Director

Catholic Charities in Indianapolis