FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2011

St. Patrick Center names Tom Etling as new Chief Executive Officer

The St. Patrick Center Board of Directors announced today that it has hired Tom Etling as the new Chief Executive Officer. Etling will officially begin his duties as agency CEO on April 11, 2011. (Plans will be announced in the near future for a media tour date/interview opportunity with Tom Etling.)

“Tom Etling’s appointment fulfills a lifetime of service to St. Patrick Center and our clients, a commitment that began more than 18 years ago as a volunteer,” said Steve O’Hara, President of the St. Patrick Center Board of Directors. “Tom is very passionate about our agency and mission to build permanent, positive change, and has a demonstrated history of getting results for St. Louis.”

Tom Etling comes to St. Patrick Center from Metro, where he was Vice President of Marketing, responsible for Metro Transit’s rebranding efforts leading up to Proposition A in Spring 2010 in St. Louis County (which passed with 63% of the vote). In addition, he led the marketing and partnership efforts of Metro’s tourism enterprises, including the Gateway Arch. Etling has prior experience with St. Patrick Center as President of the Development Board, which included a seat on the Board of Directors. He was introduced to St. Patrick Center by his late father, Thomas H. Etling, who served on the Board of Directors for 14 years, including 2 years as Board President, prior to his death in 2002. Etling lives in Our Lady of the Pillar parish with his wife and four children.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to help make an even larger impact on the lives of the people in our community who need St. Patrick Center’s programs and services the most,” said Tom Etling, new St. Patrick Center CEO. “I look forward to working with the Board, our tremendous staff and community partners to further our mission in the St. Louis region.”

“I will enjoy working with Tom and am grateful to the St. Patrick Center Board of Directors for their work toward selecting a new CEO,” said Brian O’Malley, President of Catholic Charities. “I’m also very grateful to St. Patrick Center Chief Operating Officer Greg Vogelweid for serving as Interim CEO during this five-month period. While the homeless face many problems just getting through the day, we are all blessed to have St. Patrick Center. Besides the many services provided, the agency is also home to many of us trying to find a way to show we care as the Holy Spirit moves us.”

Tom Etling replaces Dan Buck, who departed St. Patrick Center in October 2010 after serving nearly eight years as CEO. Buck is now Executive Director of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation.

Kent Rapp and Dale Meier of Grant Cooper & Associates managed the CEO search for St. Patrick Center.

Plans will be announced in the near future for a media tour date/interview opportunity with Tom Etling. A high resolution photo is available upon request.

Mission of St. Patrick Center:
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals achieve permanent, positive changes in their lives through affordable housing, sound mental health, employment and financial stability.

FOR MORE INFO:
Kelly Peach
Senior Director of Communications
St. Patrick Center
Direct line 314.802.0687
Cell 314.581.7126
kpeach@stpatrickcenter.org

Stephanie Perry
Writer/Producer
St. Patrick Center
Direct line 314.802.1968
Cell 314.853.8886
sperry@stpatrickcenter.org

www.stpatrickcenter.org