After too many years shuffling papers and chasing dollars that left him unfulfilled, a bit of serendipity brought Daren Strunk to SJW nearly 10 years ago. And, that good fortune has continued, which is why we are excited to share he has been promoted to COO.
Daren started as a volunteer before joining SJW full-time as what he refers to as “Outreach Specialist No. 1” as he was the first person to work outside of the Human Services Campus. During his time at SJW from employment services to operations, Daren has worn many hats, learning the ins and outs of the organization, while finding innovative ways to grow it.
When meeting Daren for the first time, it doesn’t take long for his passion to shine through, and some might even say it’s contagious. Daren explains, “We all have something inside us that wants to give back or make an impact on people’s lives. I’m able, on a daily basis, to teach clients how to overcome barriers to self-sustainability. Who doesn’t want to be a part of helping people get to the next spot – whether that’s employment or housing – and providing hope to people who might not have it?
I know we are the best and most effective at what we do because that’s all we do. And, it’s even more rewarding working with such a great group of people who care about the same things. It’s been 10 years since I joined SJW and it still doesn’t feel like work to me. I never thought I would say that about my job.”
Congratulations, Daren!
