Tia Gray Stecher, Morrison’s new CEO, says that her passion for serving children and families was ignited years ago. “In fact, I’m not sure whether it was originally my idea or my mother’s, but it’s just always been there.” Now she believes she has found the challenge of a lifetime.

Ms. Stecher (pronounced STECK-er) received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work at Colorado State University, and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Denver. She is a licensed clinical social worker. She has experience in the treatment of young sex offenders, and co-designed a therapeutic foster care model for children with mental health diagnoses who were transitioning out of the Colorado State Hospital system.

She spent more than a decade in Grand Junction, Colorado, working first as a clinical director and then as executive director of Ariel Clinical Services for Children. Ariel’s service spectrum included treatment foster care, home-based family services, early intervention programs and specialized services for developmentally disabled children and adults. She positioned Ariel to provide a continuum of care for its clients, much as Jay Bloom did during his tenure as Morrison’s leader.

Most recently, Ms. Stecher was the vice president at Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) in Phoenix, Ariz., a $23 million dollar organization. JFCS provides an array of mental health and human services to families, adults and children.

Ms. Stecher and her husband Dean have five grown children, two dogs and three cats. She has a sister who resides in the Seattle area, an added bonus of her new position, she says. She and her husband enjoy outdoor activities, blues and bluegrass music and spending time with their family and friends.