Bethany Hill Place Announces New Executive Director
Bethany Hill Place is excited to introduce James Tresner, our new executive director. 
James was selected following an extensive search by the Bethany Hill Place Board of Trustees and stepped into his new role on June 1.
James has had a dynamic career in nonprofit leadership and is a highly effective fiscal manager, fundraiser, strategic thinker, and organizational leader. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to increasing access to opportunities that allow children and adults to thrive while fostering long-term, systemic change. As executive director for seven years of Wanakee, a youth summer camp and retreat center in New Hampshire, James increased both program and total organization income, grew fundraising revenue, increased staff retention, and scaled systems to maintain quality through growth.
His experience over the years in fundraising, external relationship-building, program coordination, and quality improvement spans his career in a range of roles that include Development Manager, Brand Steward, and Admissions Specialist at Year-Up Boston, a national nonprofit focused on closing the opportunity divide for young adult learners. As the leader of an extended day program in the Watertown Public Schools, James oversaw a 16-person team, increased the number of program participants, and implemented a cutting-edge project-based learning curriculum. James also spent a year teaching 6th grade English and Geography in Saudi Arabia through his alma mater, Middlebury College.
“The Board is very excited to welcome James to Bethany Hill Place,” said incoming Chair of the Board Beth Dill. “He brings a wealth of experience from the organizations he has worked for in the past that will be of benefit to our organization and vibrant mission. Even in a pool of highly qualified candidates, his track record of organizational management and strong leadership abilities stood out for us. It is clear he is committed to creating pathways for social justice and inclusion for all.”
James said, “Far too often people with great potential are unable to realize it. Gaps and inequities in economic and educational opportunities, well-being, and housing have only grown deeper in recent years. I look forward to building on the achievements already accomplished at Bethany Hill Place and am excited to work with our board, staff, donors, and partners as we continue opening doors for our residents to take transformative steps forward.”
Bethany Hill Place thanks Interim Executive Director Gloria Franqui for her leadership over the past year. Gloria provided day-to-day administrative management starting in May 2022 and completed an in-depth organizational assessment to better understand the needs of the community and the type of leader needed to achieve the goals of the organization.
We are grateful to our donors, volunteers, partners, staff, and most importantly our residents for their enduring support of our work. Thanks to their partnership and belief in our mission, we are empowering children and adults to succeed through skill-building and learning opportunities, helping break the cycle of poverty.
We look forward to the next chapter of Bethany Hill Place’s impact, and thank you for your continued commitment.