Bridge Communities Welcomes New Opportunities, New CEO in New Year

Bridge Communities announces that John Hayner has been hired for the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer.  This shift moves Bridge forward into a new era of growth and leadership as Bridge transitions into the future.

As CEO, Hayner will be responsible for Bridge’s day to day operations, long-term strategic and organizational planning, and Board communications.  Hayner will work with and learn from Mark Milligan, Bridge’s Co-Founder, and Joyce Hothan, Bridge’s Executive Director of Program.  Milligan and Hothan will remain actively involved in the leadership of Bridge Communities, and the rest of the staff remains unchanged.

Hayner is a long-time Glen Ellyn resident with a deep background in financial and operations management, entrepreneurship, and non-profit management.  He was an active volunteer and board member with Anima Young Singers and Teen-Parent Connection, both in Glen Ellyn.  He completed a master’s degree at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration in 2005, where he continues as Adjunct Faculty.  Most recently Hayner served as Chief Operating Officer of Perspectives Charter School in Chicago, planning and managing the growth of the school to 2200 students. 

Tim Boyd, Bridge Communities Board Chairman states, “After a comprehensive search, we are thrilled to welcome John to his new role.  Bridge has ambitious goals and plans for the coming years and we are confident that John, in partnership with Mark Milligan and Joyce Hothan, will meet and exceed our expectations.”

Boyd goes on to say, “John joins Bridge Communities at a time of substantial community need, as so many DuPage County families struggle to find and maintain affordable housing.  John’s leadership will strengthen an already highly-skilled team of professional staff and volunteers.  Bridge will continue to provide the largest and most effective transitional housing program in DuPage County.”  Bridge Communities currently serves the needs of over 100 homeless families a year, providing safe housing, case management, job search assistance, tutoring, counseling, reliable transportation and more.

“I’ve always admired Bridge Communities’ dedication to helping homeless families transition to self-sufficiency and Bridge’s long-standing reputation in DuPage County and beyond,” states John Hayner.  “Bridge’s broad-based community support, legions of volunteers for mentoring and tutoring, committed board of directors, and superb staff would be the envy of any human services organization.  I am pleased to be coming in to see to the continuation of the great legacy established by Mark, Bob, and Joyce.”

Bridge Communities, Inc. is a dynamic, grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in the community.  Its program of transitional housing, mentoring and supportive services empowers the families to increase life skills and earning power to promote self-sufficiency, sustain permanent housing, and to break the cycle of poverty within the family unit.  What began by co-founders Mark Milligan and Bob Wahlgren when they decided, in 1988, to begin to help homeless families, has now become a powerful current of change in the lives of hundreds of extremely low to low income at-risk families.  To make a donation to support homeless families served by Bridge Communities, or to find out how to support Bridge in other ways, please call Mark Milligan at (630) 545-0610, ext.10 or visit www.bridgecommunities.org.