Longtime CEO Of La Casa De Esperanza To Leave In March

WAUKESHA, WI—Anselmo Villarreal, the longtime President and CEO of La Casa de Esperanza, announced that he will become the new leader of the national social justice not-for-profit group known as Southwest Key based in Austin and step down from the top position at the Waukesha non-profit group he has led for nearly 31 years, according to a news release.

“My heart will forever be with La Casa de Esperanza, but Southwest Key needs a new leader to help it grow and thrive during challenging times. I am grateful the Southwest Key Board has placed its trust in me to take on this challenge,” Villarreal said. “There is more than one tear in my eye as I plan to leave La Casa after more than three decades of service to the community. However, I am heartened by the strong team in place to continue the La Casa mission of providing opportunities to those in our community, with an emphasis on the Hispanic population, who need support to achieve full social and economic participation in our society.”

Villarreal will remain in his role as President and CEO of La Casa de Esperanza until March 2021, at which time he will turn over his La Casa duties to its long-time Chief Operating Officer Shari Campbell, who will serve as Interim President and CEO until a successor is selected. Villarreal said that at his request, he will assist with the transition and search for a new La Casa leader on a volunteer basis until his successor is selected, the release said.

“It is bittersweet to think of La Casa without Anselmo, but Shari has worked hand-in-glove with him during the last several years on projects including the Charter school, our housing services, our Head Start program, our Center for Financial Stability and much more,” said Rudy Gutierrez, chairperson of the La Casa Board and a US Bank official. “She has a demonstrated track record of success and is well known and respected by the La Casa community. We are in very competent hands with Shari in charge and our strong senior leadership team. She knows La Casa and its programs well and has many strong relationships at the agency and in the community. She will do a great job.”

La Casa de Esperanza, Inc., is a community-based organization dedicated to serving Waukesha’s low-income and Latino population since 1966.

Under Villarreal’s leadership, La Casa has expanded its programs and services to respond to the changing needs of the community. His accomplishments include strategic planning to ensure efficient agency-wide service delivery; vastly expanding community collaboration; leading two successful capital campaigns for a new community center, building renovations, and program initiatives totaling over $12 million; and starting social enterprise projects through the national Denali initiative and Café Esperanza Food Service Training Program. In 2003, Villarreal played a key role in establishing a La Casa de Esperanza Foundation Board that is dedicated exclusively to attracting financial support to ensure the future viability of La Casa’s programs and services, according to the La Casa website.

Villarreal began his career in the federal government of México, the country of his birth and college education. After graduating from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico, he came to the United States to advance his career by earning a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1986. In 2014,Dr. Villarreal earned his Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service at Cardinal Stritch University, the website said.

Board Chairperson-Elect Jesus Cabrera of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said, “Indeed, we wish Anselmo well, and we are most grateful for his many years of service and his commitment to our mission. We also appreciate his help on the transition and search for a new leader in the months ahead. Under Anselmo’s leadership, La Casa has been focused on transforming the lives of the people and families it serves and working to foster hope and provide opportunities that promote a prosperous, engaged and connected community. Those efforts will continue.”