PETALUMA, CA (May 16, 2013) – COTS (Committee on the Shelterless) has announced a change in leadership with Executive Director, John Records, transitioning from the role of managing the agency he has guided for 21 years. Mike Johnson, the agency’s Chief Operating Officer will assume the new title of Chief Executive Officer effective July 1.
Records has joined the COTS Board of Directors and will continue in an advisory role for fundraising, development, and program innovation to further benefit COTS and the local community. Records will also continue his work to advance COTS as a national leader in homeless prevention and support. This consists of research and collaboration with key academics and influencers in the field including an ongoing partnership with the University of Albany, New York.
This strategic succession plan has been meticulously planned over several years and coincides with the 25th anniversary of COTS. “I feel great satisfaction having guided COTS to its 25th successful year including gaining national recognition for our work to transform lives,” said Records. “I am proud to be part of the team that has built a strong foundation for COTS, including mentoring my successor, to ensure that we continue to provide award-winning services to our community for many years to come.”
Johnson has been with COTS since 1999 and became COO in 2010. He currently manages the day-to-day operations of the agency. Among his accomplishments are creation of the COTS Integrity House program to provide permanent, independent housing for adults, development of the Kids First family shelter and ongoing initiatives to provide housing for veterans.
“Our goal at COTS is to continue to provide the outstanding services and programs that have effectively and successfully transformed the lives of thousands of people in our community,” said Johnson. “The agency’s number one priority will be support for our “Invest in Miracles” development strategy to sustain the long-term health of our programs for homeless families and adults.”
Records joins an esteemed group of COTS Board members, including Board President, Chris Ranney of Ranney Capital Management in Petaluma. “COTS is a beloved part of our community because it is a compassionate nonprofit doing amazing things for people in need,” said Ranney. “It is a good investment for the community because it is such a well-managed organization, and we have every confidence in Mike Johnson to lead COTS well into the next 25 years.”
