Kirk Morton has been named the Interim President & CEO of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado until a new President & CEO is hired.  Mr. Morton brings a wealth of executive management experience to the organization as he has held a number of executive assignments with both large and small manufacturing companies across the United States.  He is also familiar with Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, as he has served on the Catholic Charities Board of Directors since September 2007.  During the past year, he held the position of Vice-Chair of the Board, serving on both the Executive, and Governance & Planning Committees.  Mr. Morton resigned his position on the Board of Directors to accept this temporary position to lead the organization.

Mr. Juan Hernandez, Chairperson of the Board said, “Mr. Morton brings not only a good knowledge base about the organization, but lends a great deal of stability as we transition to the future.”  Most recently, Mr. Morton was the President & CEO of a material handling equipment manufacturer located in Canon City, Colorado.  Prior to relocating to Colorado, he was the President & CEO of Key Technology, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed equipment supplier to the global food and pharmaceutical industries.  He also held management positions with FMC Corporation, a large and diversified industrial manufacturer, and with Ford Motor Company.

The business of non-profits is not new to Mr. Morton.  He has been a Board member with a number of non-profit organizations, industry associations, and educational organizations including, the YMCA of the Walla Walla Valley, the Food Processing Suppliers Association, the Advisory Board for Catholic Schools of Walla Walla, and Catholic Charities of Central Colorado.

Mr. Morton said, “I am honored to be able to assist Catholic Charities during this time of transition.  We have a tremendous organization, and we are making a meaningful difference in the community.  It is my intention to maintain the things that we are doing well, and to drive improvement in the areas where we have opportunities to get better.  I am confident the search committee, appointed by the Board, will bring a strong, capable leader to take Catholic Charities to new heights.”

While relatively new to the community, as he and his wife, Jo, moved to Colorado
Springs in 2006, they already have strong roots here.  They are the parents of four children, three of whom attend St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs.  Their oldest child is a sophomore at John Carroll University near Cleveland, Ohio.  Jo has been an active volunteer at several events with St. Mary’s High School and St. Paul Catholic Church.

With Mr. Morton serving as the Interim President and CEO, the Board of Directors has begun a national search for a new President & CEO.  This change will not affect the mission or operation of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado.