September 18, 2008
The Saving Grace Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Janet Huerta will succeed Toni Ryan as Executive Director of Saving Grace (formerly known as COBRA). According to Nancy Obymako, President of the Saving Grace Board of Directors, a task force that included Ms. Ryan, Saving Grace volunteers, and Board members began meeting shortly after Ryan announced her retirement. The task force thoroughly considered the agency’s Strategic Plan in order to determine the essential competencies and strengths required to lead the organization successfully towards its vision for 2013. After an exhaustive process that included staff and community feedback as well as interviews with Board members, the Board unanimously decided that Janet Huerta was exceptionally qualified to take over the leadership role.
Ken Wilhelm, Director of United Way, noted that he was pleased with the Board’s selection of Ms. Huerta and stated, “I have worked with Janet for many years in her various positions at COBRA and have always found her to be a very capable, collegial individual. I look forward to working with Janet in her new role at Saving Grace.”
Huerta, most recently the Assistant Director of Saving Grace, had a marketing, public relations, and training background for businesses when she accepted the position of Development Director at the Relief Nursery in Eugene in 1994. Moving to Sisters, she joined the COBRA staff in 1998. As Assistant Director, Janet has been responsible for the agency’s operations as well as the 25 staff who provide services for violence prevention and intervention. In 2007, Huerta received the Soroptimists’ Making a Difference for Women Award.
Well known and respected in the public service communities, Huerta is a member of the Deschutes County Family Law Advisory Council and Professional Advisory Council, Commission on Children and Families. She currently chairs the Deschutes County Domestic Violence Council and regularly delivers domestic violence and oppression awareness trainings for businesses, organizations and government agencies. Director of the Commission on Children and Families Hillary Saraceno said, “Janet is an exceptional leader and human being. She has the ability to work with very diverse groups of people, to help others find the common ground, and to tap into each person’s strengths for the good of our community. Any program or project Janet is a part of is better because of her participation.”
Saving Grace is the sole provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in the tri-county area of Central Oregon, with offices in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, and Madras. Saving Grace provides a 24-hour hotline, a 24-bed shelter and a supervised visitation and exchange center for children and parents involved in sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse or stalking.