Community Action welcomes new chief financial officer

Photo courtesy of Jackie Dunham: Community Action’s new CFO Tina Schleede, standing, confers with executive director Renee Hungerford, during her first week on the job.

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is ready to kick off the holiday season with expectations of a busy schedule and announcement of a new chief financial officer.

Tina Schleede assumed the new position last week, after the former CFO left unexpectedly, according to Renee Hungerford, executive director of CAOG.

“Tina is very invested in the community and a great fit for our agency,” Hungerford said.

Schleede is an Orleans County native, born in Albion, raised in Lyndonville and living in Waterport with husband Scott. They have three children.

She is a graduate of RIT with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Previously she has been manager of Brown’s Berry Patch, an employee of CRFS for 15 years, general manager of Bald Eagle and Lure’s Restaurant during the pandemic and lastly, employed at Harris Seed.

“After 30 years in the corporate world, I decided to give non-profits a go,” Schleede said. “I’m hoping to make a difference, not just make a living.”

Schleede is familiar with Community Action, having done volunteer work there with her Girl Scout troop.

“I saw the job posted and thought this was a chance to work with a strong team of women,” Schleede said. “How could I resist.”

Schleede and Hungerford said they have exciting things in the works, including a whole new accounting system.

“We are trying to be more effective and efficient,” Hungerford said. “We are putting controls in place to make sure our resources go toward the greatest need.”

With the holidays approaching, Community Action is anticipating one of the busiest seasons ever. They distributed about 150 Thanksgiving meals. Food boxes contained turkey, potatoes, apples, carrots, squash, green beans, corn, eggs, stuffing, gravy, butter, cranberry sauce, Chex mix and brownie mix, according to Jeanette Worsley, case manager and health coach.

“Since Covid, the need for food is unprecedented,” Hungerford said. “Our outdoor refrigerators are in high demand.

Community Action maintains refrigerators at their main building on East State Street and the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More store on Main Street and at the headquarters on Clinton Street Road in Batavia. They are filled with foods such as fresh produce, milk and snacks.