Tom Collishaw started his new position as president and CEO of Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) on Tuesday. Collishaw, who was the organization’s vice president, is now the fourth CEO in its 50-year history.
Collishaw first came to SHE 32 years ago as a VISTA volunteer after graduating from Colgate University in upstate New York. He has held a variety of increasingly responsible positions within the organization, including director of development, new homes program manager and administrative analyst in the new homes and rehabilitation divisions.
Since becoming vice president in 1993, Collishaw has been directly responsible for all land and project development activity, including project financing for single-family housing, rental housing, and water and wastewater activities. During his tenure, SHE has developed thousands of single family and multifamily housing units, and has been a leader in local homeownership, housing rehabilitation, sewer and water development, and community development efforts.
“I look forward to my new role at the organization, especially at a time when we celebrate our 50th year of building and sustaining healthy homes and communities,” said Collishaw. “We will continue to invest in the lives of our participants, the future of their children and in stronger, more productive communities.”
Long-time president and CEO Peter Carey retired on June 30th after 40 years with the organization and 25 years as CEO. Carey will remain an active participant in housing and community development at the national level in his role as acting Chief Operating Officer of NeighborWorks America, a network of more than 240 community development and affordable housing organizations.
SHE is currently planning its first-ever rental housing development in Visalia, expanded impact of water and sewer development efforts, building on its partner programs with local cities, and large new multi-faceted developments in Patterson and Goshen.
For more information about Self-Help Enterprises, visit SelfHelpEnterprises.org.