New Village CEO announced

Jeff Nichols, of Grand Junction, Colo., has been hired as the new chief executive officer of Opportunity Village.

Nichols will begin his duties sometime in June 2014, following the retirement of current CEO John Severtson.  

Nichols has been serving as CEO of Strive (formerly Mesa Developmental Services) since 2008.  Strive is a person-centered impact organization 

providing services and supports to over 1,100 people with a wide variety of disabilities and needs.  Prior to this, Nichols worked at South Dakota Achieve, in Sioux Falls, for 17 years.  Among a variety of executive roles, he was their vice president of finance before becoming the chief operating officer in 2003. Prior to his work in the human services field, he worked numerous years in school districts in the finance and technology areas and also created and operated his own company, AURA Software.

Nichols is also currently serving as the executive director of the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens (which was acquired by Strive in 2013), helping their volunteer board with budgeting, planning for the near term and strategic, long range planning focused on operational and financial stability, community relationships, growth and expansion. He also serves as the executive director of the Parenting Place, which was also recently acquired by Strive. He is also active in several statewide organizations, is a member of the downtown Rotary club, graduate of the National Leadership Institute, participant in the GJ Chamber New Executives program and a GJ Chamber member and Chamber Board member, a member of The Alternative Board, and a member of ACHE.

Previously, Nichols was very involved in a wide variety of community organizations and efforts like school PTA, Big Brother mentor, Cub Scouts Den Leader and CubMaster, Sioux Falls Soccer Association referee, assessor, coach and board member; served on the board for SD Parent Connection; and also spent nearly eight combined years as an adjunct professor at Kilian Community College and the University of Sioux Falls.  He was also instrumental in leading statewide service change initiatives and - Read More Via e-Edition