In early 2000, Kevin Connally was asked to become a board member of Hope House, Inc.’s Foundation. He was excited to be part of an organization that helped people as he had been thinking about a career in the human services field. In 2005 Kevin resigned from his job with a national company to become the Hope House Director of Human Resources. He was promoted to Associate Executive Director in 2007, and in December of 2008 became the Executive Director.

Through mergers and organic program growth, Hope House has grown exponentially from an agency with revenue of $3 million to approximately $10 million today. Hope House, founded in 1967, has approximately 150 employees and operates two outpatient clinics and seven residential programs as well as a housing program.

He has overseen multiple construction projects, compliance audits, state regulatory agency audits, program start-ups and/or redesigns during his time at Hope House. Kevin has also been asked and served on multiple statewide committees while at Hope House. 

Presently he serves as a board member on the Regional Planning Consortium and is a member of Rensselaer County Community Services Board. Kevin was a co-founding member of an IPA of Substance Use Disorder providers called Polaris. He serves as the chairperson of Capital Behavioral Health Network, which is a BHCC (Behavioral Health Care Consortium). Kevin has vast knowledge and experience in nonprofit mergers and acquisitions.

Kevin successfully facilitated the merger between Hope House, Inc. and The Next Step, Inc. This merger complemented both agencies and allowed Hope House to meet the changing needs and regulations in the addiction field. By working with board members from both agencies, attorneys, NYS OASAS, and local government units he was able to accomplish this merger which enhanced services to clients. He is presently involved with acquiring another agency in the Capital Region which provides Substance Use Disorder services, 

“I believe that one of the most important parts of this job is to create an environment where all staff members have the resources and skills needed to do the difficult, challenging yet important work of helping people get into recovery. So often this can be achieved by seeing people as people first and employees second.”