Willow Glen Resident

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Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Big Shoes: Christine Burroughs is stepping down as the CEO of InnVision after 16 years. She helped develop the fledging nonprofit agency into a major force that improves the lives of those struggling with homelessness.

Burroughs' vision created a better place

By Lisa Sibley

Christine Burroughs will probably miss InnVision more than the people at the nonprofit agency will miss her, but Gary Sargenti, InnVision's board chairman, says this as a compliment.

"She's prepared the organization well to march on without her," he says.

Burroughs, a Willow Glen resident and integral force in the agency's growth, is leaving InnVision The Way Home after 18 years. Sixteen of those years were spent serving as CEO of the organization, which has become Silicon Valley's largest provider of housing and services to homeless and at-risk families and individuals.

More than 120 guests attended a May 17 reception at San Jose City Hall in her honor. At the reception, the unassuming Burroughs was recognized for helping to transform InnVision from a small, grassroots agency into a $10.7 million regional provider. The organization serves more than 16,000 people annually at 20 sites from San Jose to Menlo Park.

"It's really a phenomenon," Burroughs says. "Most nonprofits don't have this much rapid growth."

She spearheaded 12 capital projects, cultivated community partnerships and led InnVision through two mergers. By bringing Urban Ministry of Palo Alto and Clara-Mateo Alliance Inc. under the InnVision umbrella, she helped InnVision develop its strong presence on the Peninsula.

Burroughs is proud of the growth InnVision has experienced with the help of its board and staff members, as well as community and corporate support.

"It was a local nonprofit, grassroots organization started by volunteers and churches that came together to address the new issue of homelessness," she says. "Back in the 1980s, it was something people were just starting to become aware of."

In the fight to end homelessness, Burroughs decided to call the centers inns, rather than shelters. She says "shelter" was perceived as a negative word, and that wasn't what they wanted to provide.

"We changed the name to set the tone for our future, and who we are and what we wanted to become," she says. "It's hard to believe we achieved what we did."

She says InnVision operates more as a business now than when it started in 1973. But the organization's mission hasn't changed, and it has stayed focused on ensuring dignity for their clients.

Kathy Wheeler with Cadence Design Systems is the senior manager of her company's community and global involvement program, which includes the Stars & Strikes bowling tournament. InnVision is unique in that it has been a two-time beneficiary of the fundraiser. Wheeler credits Burroughs with being successful in her networking ability to establish good relationships with everyone from public officials to corporations.

"Christine has managed InnVision with all the grace and professionalism and all the superlatives I can think of. She's very inspiring both personally and professionally," Wheeler says. "It's hard to run a nonprofit, and one that serves a population in the worst time of their life."

Burroughs considers herself a builder and entrepreneur, who has spent countless hours strategizing about preserving resources, developing new programs and programs that generate revenue.

"I'm tenacious. I have a strong faith, and I believe my faith has sustained me through some difficult times," she says.

One of those difficult times was in 1996, when the Commercial Street Inn--a women and children's emergency center--was destroyed by a fire.

Wheeler remembers the accidental fire and running down to the inn at 5 a.m.

"But what happened is that out of the ashes came a blessing," Wheeler says. "Christine was able to, with our help, build a brand new building that was 100 times better than what we could have done renovating what was there. I've never seen a building go up quicker."

The fire mobilized public support to build a new, and more hospitable, emergency center for women and children.

Another direction

As Burroughs "retires" from her position, she'll be heading full force into the real estate industry as a Realtor with Silver Oak Properties in Los Gatos.

"Now that I'm retiring, I'm going into the workforce seven days a week," she says.

Her background in real estate has come in handy over the years with InnVision, as the agency acquired properties, built shelters and rehabilitated apartment buildings and multi-service centers. She says many Willow Glen residents recognize the InnVision sign on Willow Street as the organization's corporate headquarters, but it extends far beyond that address. It has 20 sites and hundreds of partnerships that have helped InnVision grow and sustain itself.

"It's been a cumulative impact. The community has improved every year," says Sargenti, first vice president-financial consultant with RBC Dain Rauscher.

Sargenti has been InnVision's board chairman for the last three years.

There are many reasons San Jose is ranked as the safest big city in the nation, he says, and part of that is because the lives of homeless and at-risk families and individuals are being turned around.

"Christine has been able to shape a wonderful organization--one of the more successful organizations for homelessness I've seen," he says.

In Burroughs' typical fashion, she has set the wheels in motion to make sure her pending departure is part of a smooth transition. She has been delegating some of her responsibilities to other staff members, helping to reduce the impact of change.

"It's my baby--my identity," Burroughs says, "although I have, in my mind, been transitioning for the past couple years."

InnVision's board of directors and executive transition committee have selected Juan Benitez to succeed Burroughs. He joins the staff July 10. Burroughs' last official day was June 30.

"It's really a joke around here that I'm leaving," Burroughs says.

Burroughs will remain in a consulting position over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition, and is open to staying involved with the board if Benitez is agreeable.

Since 1998, Benitez has served as president and CEO of Enterprise Development, an international economic development nonprofit based in Virginia. A Cuba native and refugee to the United States at age 16, he was educated as an engineer. He eventually served as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors with Micron Technology in the mid-1980s. He joined the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1989 as deputy assistant secretary of commerce for science and electronics, later serving as deputy undersecretary of commerce for technology. Benitez is relocating to the Silicon Valley.

Burroughs is confident Benitez will be able to take InnVision to the next level, with a fresh new perspective.

Burroughs acknowledges, however, that she won't miss the daily crises.

"It's hard to keep the staff from being burnt out," she says. "This is a tough business, dealing with homelessness."

In addition to attracting and keeping people at InnVision, Burroughs says there are constant struggles with funding cutbacks and facilities maintenance issues. Yet overall, Burroughs has cherished the job's variety.

"I get to meet people from all walks of life," she says.

Burroughs will remain involved in the community, where she serves on the board of Children's Musical Theatre and is a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose. She's looking forward to an upcoming Hawaiian vacation with her husband, the Rev. Larry Burroughs, a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of San Jose.

"There's been no time to go on vacation," Burroughs says. "I'm used to moving at such a fast pace."

Given the current real estate market and her plans to work seven days a week, Burroughs will most likely keep up that pace as she heads into "retirement."

To honor her legacy and sustain the organization, InnVision's board of directors created the Burroughs Fund. The fund directly supports InnVision programs, capital improvements and the endowment. Donations can be made by visiting www.innvision.org, and designating the Burroughs Fund.