Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 29, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 33 N O N P R O F I T S P O W E R 1 0 0 Tiffany Lillie CEO Girls Inc. of Worcester Employees: 45 Residence: Worcester Colleges: Quinsigamond Community College, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston University Girls Inc. is just coming out of crisis mode, having spent the last year roiled in turmoil aer two top executives, including the former CEO, were forced to resign amid allegations of racial discrimination. e nonprofit, which primarily serves girls with educational initiatives, had to suspend its programs for a time, settle a lawsuit, and used an interim CEO while its board considered how to move forward. Now the dust has settled and programming has resumed, Lillie is tasked with putting the nonprofit back on solid ground, reassuring its diverse employee and client base while keeping funding levels up. Lillie's success or failure will determine whether Girls Inc. completely puts this crisis in the rearview. Her tenure as CEO, which started in October, is her second stint at the organization. Lillie worked as a program specialist for the girls' empowerment nonprofit from 2006 to 2009. Most recently, Lillie was assistant superintendent of equity, diversity, and community engagement at Framingham Public Schools. Lillie now is tasked with reimagining services and staffing in the face of funding constraints. According to its 2022 annual report, the nonprofit posted a nearly $440,000 operating loss with funding from major sources declining since 2021. Assets were $13.2 million, down from $14.6 million. Lillie has had experience finding ways to support opportunities for young people while working within a tight budget. At Framingham, her team was expecting to add new positions to support a new program, but funding fell through. "It was very difficult for the team to process," she said. "and we had to come back and determine how to move forward." – E.M. Kathleen Jordan President & CEO Seven Hills Foundation, in Worcester Employees: 3,789 Residence: Worcester Colleges: West Virginia University; Boston College; Central Michigan University Seven Hills isn't just the largest human services agency in Central Massachusetts; it operates 235 sites across the state as well as Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and even in other parts of the world through its Global Outreach affiliate. Tying together the varied programs for adults and children with complex needs is Jordan, who was promoted in 2023 to lead the nonprofit she joined in 2003. Jordan oversees a range of complex initiatives at Seven Hills and its 15 affiliate companies, including quality assurance and program improvement, risk management, Medicaid initiatives, research, and regulatory oversight. With a $450-million operating budget, the foundation has 3,789 employees serving 60,000 children and adults. Jordan is a sought-aer speaker and serves as adjunct faculty at Central Michigan University, where she earned her doctorate. As the biggest player in the Central Mass. human services industry, Seven Hills still will partner with smaller organizations to deliver services, such as working with Worcester nonprofit shelter Meryl's Safe Haven to provide support for migrant families. Seven Hills has teamed with Worcester behavioral health nonprofit Open Sky Community Services to attract and train employees in the human services field. Jordan got her first taste of nonprofit operations when she worked for the West Virginia University Foundation while still an undergrad. e job isn't without its challenges. A particularly difficult moment came when Jordan had to close an important children's program that was losing money, but she pivoted, opening a new program generating better reimbursement rates. "Leaders can't be afraid to make these kinds of calls," Jordan said. – E.M.

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