Conroy resigns as St. Vincent de Paul director

By KEITH ERICKSON

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho is seeking a new leader following the departure of executive director Jeff Conroy.

The nonprofit organization’s board of directors announced Conroy’s resignation Friday.

Conroy, who served as executive director for nearly 11 years, said he will take some accrued vacation time, making his resignation effective immediately.

“I’m looking for a new challenge,” Conroy said Tuesday. “I plan to take my experiences and start over, possibly start a consulting business.”

A local resident since 1995, Conroy said he plans to stay in the area.

St. Vincent de Paul board member Shelly Enderud said the board will hold a special meeting next Monday to discuss Conroy’s replacement.

In a press release announcing Conroy’s resignation, the organization’s board of directors named two high-profile community leaders to the leadership transition team: Sandi Bloem, former Coeur d’Alene mayor, and former Coeur d’Alene city administrator Jim Hammond, who previously served as mayor of Post Falls and in the Idaho Legislature.

Contacted Tuesday, Bloem said details of the transition process have not yet been ironed out.

“They are looking at having us fill that duty for 90 days,” Bloem said. “So that’s what we’re pushing for. We have not yet met with the board so I don’t know (specifics). We’ll meet with the board and go from there.”

Conroy, executive director since 2008, said he is proud of the nonprofit’s standing as the largest homeless-serving agency in the region, as supported “by our incredible staff and partners.”

St. Vincent de Paul board member Mike Kennedy voiced strong support of Bloem and Hammond, both of whom have extensive careers in the public and private sectors.

“Their executive management experience will assist in a smooth transition for the agency, as well as in finding a candidate to lead the agency who understands the mission and work of St. Vincent de Paul,” Kennedy said.