Willoughby is new director of the Community Action Agency | News, Sports, Jobs

Gary Willoughby

ESCANABA — The board of directors of the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency/Human Resources Inc. has appointed a new executive director. Gary Willoughby has joined the team and will be based at the Escanaba headquarters at 507 1st Avenue North.

Willoughby recently moved here from Florida, but was born in the south of the state in Ypsilanti and spent most of his summers on his grandparents’ farm in Germfask in Schoolcraft County. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in communications and journalism, a graduate certificate in gerontology and a master’s in public administration. He also holds certificates in nonprofit management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and from Harvard Business School at the Buffalo Club in New York.

His experience includes leadership positions in nonprofit organizations in senior services, public transportation, and animal welfare, as well as in county government and the for-profit sector. He is a past board member of the Florida Council on Aging, the New York State Animal Protection Federation, and serves on the advisory boards of Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Medaille College’s Veterinary Technician program, and Florida Gulf Coast University’s Center for Positive Aging.

Most recently, he also served on the Advisory Board of the Community Action Agency in Lee County, Florida while serving as Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Humane Society.

“I am incredibly honored to join this team of professionals working in community programs such as Head Start, adult day care, senior centers, home meal delivery, transportation services, homeless assistance programs, weather shelter programs, AmeriCorps senior programs and so many other programs geared toward helping people of all ages in need in these three counties. These programs and communities are important to me and our dedicated staff, board members and volunteers and I am grateful for the opportunity,” Said Willoughby.