“We’re so happy to have you here to carry on our dream.”
These were the words that greeted me on my first day at Cincinnati Works more than 12 years ago. That note card, along with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, was from our co-founders Liane and Dave Phillips. To this day, the note card hangs in my office and inspires me daily.
The dream of Dave and Liane to eliminate poverty, through a head and heart approach focused on long-term outcomes, is what attracted me to Cincinnati Works. It was the perfect opportunity for me, combining my business acumen with my passion for social justice.
Looking back after more than 12 years, I believe it was the best decision of my life. And so, it is bittersweet for me to share the news that effective June 1, I will be retiring from Cincinnati Works.
This year marks Cincinnati Works’ 25th anniversary year… and I have been at the helm for half of those years. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished over my time here. We’ve grown and expanded our impact in the community through building capacity and talent, developing new value-added services, strengthening partnerships, and deepening our relationships with employers.
We are strong. We have a committed, talented team. We have an engaged board; a healthy balance sheet; diverse revenue sources. And we have a vision and plan for the future. It looks bright and exciting. I’m handing over a robust organization, poised for even greater things.
Through Cincinnati Works, I have been able to touch the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable members – those who live in poverty, those who are chronically unemployed and under-resourced, those who find themselves on the margins of society – and my life has been enriched through this work. My heart will never be far from Cincinnati Works, and my commitment to social justice is unfading.
The dream of Liane and Dave has become my dream too. When the time comes for me to pass the baton to my successor, I too will say “We’re so happy to have you here to carry on our dream.”
And thank YOU, dear friends, for your continued support of Cincinnati Works; for fueling the dream.
~ Peggy Zink, President & CEO
