NEON Board Names Rev. Tommie Jackson Interim CEO/President

Submitted on behalf of Michael Berkoff, Chair, NEON Inc. Board of Directors, Nov. 7, 11:30p.m. 

"At a Special NEON Inc. Board of Directors meeting tonight, Thursday, November 7th, Board members named Reverend Doctor Tommie Jackson as the anti-poverty agency's new interim CEO/President. 

Rev. Jackson, Pastor of Stamford's 1,200 member Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, replaces former acting CEO/President Chiquita Stephenson who is currently on an unpaid leave of absence.
Rev. Jackson has a diverse background in public service including his current position as Executive Director of the Stamford Redevelopment Commission; and professional experience as the former ExecutiveDirector of the Chester, Pennsylvania Economic Redevelopment Authority (1993-1996) and Executive Director of the Maryland Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (1982-1987.) 

After tonight's meeting NEON Board Chair Michael Berkoff said, "Rev. Jackson brings a strong set of skills to his new position at NEON, including hands-on experience in fiscal management, developing and executing best practices for organizational sustainability and improvement, program/organizational capacity building, leadership development, team building and fundraising. 

The entire NEON Board of Directors is working closely with local and state officials to re-organize and restructure the agency so that it can once again fulfill its important mission to provide needed programs and services to the vulnerable population residing in the 8 cities and towns in lower Fairfield County."