Press Releases
Released on August 4, 2008
Recovery Corps CEO Raymond Jetson announces retirement
Board meets to discuss next steps for leadership, organization
Baton Rouge, La. (August 4, 2008) – Louisiana Family Recovery Corps Chief Executive Officer Raymond A. Jetson announced today that he is retiring effective December 31, 2008. The Recovery Corps Board of Directors is taking action on the organization’s next leader.
“Raymond Jetson has led the Recovery Corps to tremendous achievement and service over the past 28 months for the people ofLouisiana. Those that have recovered or are still recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Rita are in a much better place today because of his leadership,” said Ralph Stephens, Recovery Corps Board chairman. “The Board is currently assessing the best path to take to name a successor and gauging the success of the Recovery Corps since it began service delivery in the aftermath of the storms.”
Jetson’s announcement is in keeping with his April 2006 commitment to the Board of Directors to serve as CEO for no more than three years. Jetson is leaving to pursue his long-term goal of serving full-time as pastor of Star Hill Church. The congregation currently has more than 1,000 members and outreach programs for the elderly, families and youth.
“It has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as leader of the Recovery Corps. Since opening its doors, the Recovery Corps has made real impact on the lives of so many Louisiana citizens, said Jetson. “For me and my family, it is now time to return full-time to serving our community in a different capacity at Star Hill. We will be taking a renewed focus on the community initiatives at Star Hill to make the Baton Rouge community a better place for all."
Jetson came to the Recovery Corps in April 2006. During his tenure as CEO, the Recovery Corps greatly expanded its service offerings beyond recovery planning, or case management. The Recovery Corps funded and launched many services and initiatives in the areas of home repair, mental health and emotional well being, and children’s summer programs. Jetson oversaw the launch of NOLA Bound, a program that reached out to displaced New Orleanians in all 50 U.S. states offering recovery planning assistance and real-time information on the status of New Orleans’ recovery. He also made considerable effort to ensure the state’s humanitarian response is better coordinated in future disasters.
“When Louisiana was hit by Katrina and Rita, the human services sector and government were doing everything humanly possible to assist people, but not in a coordinated manner,” said Jetson. “The Recovery Corps has invested significant resources in refining our coordination and collaboration model and worked closely with the State of Louisiana to ensure better communication and coordination of services in future disasters through Louisiana Act 313 and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Louisiana Recovery Authority.”
Prior to his time at the Recovery Corps, Jetson served as the deputy secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. From 1984 to 1999, he served as the state representative for District 61 in the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served on the Health and Welfare, Appropriations and Joint Budget Committees.
“The Board is excited for Raymond and his family as they embark on this new chapter of their lives. We will use this opportunity to assess the strength of the organization and determine where we can make the best, most effective, long-term impact on the communities of Louisiana,” said Stephens.
About the Recovery Corps
The Recovery Corps, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Baton Rouge, La., coordinates humanitarian services for the State of Louisiana in the aftermath of disaster, natural and manmade. Formed in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Recovery Corps assists families and individuals with their comprehensive recovery needs through its human service and non-profit partners in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and across Louisiana. The Recovery Corps has assisted more than 30,000 households with recovery planning, housing, children's services and emotional well-being needs since January 2006. To learn more or donate, visit www.recoverycorps.org.
