Willow Domestic Violence Center names new leader

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Willow Domestic Violence Center has tapped a five-year veteran of the nonprofit as its new leader.

Meaghan Lacey de Chateauvieux had for three months shared interim leadership responsibility with Mike Dedee, director of operations, and Marie Viavattine, director of programs & services, prior to being named president and CEO on Tuesday.

De Chateauvieux joined Willow in 2013 as director of development and marketing. During her tenure she successfully completed an $8.4 million capital campaign while spearheading 20 percent year-over-year growth in annual fund contributions and building Willow’s community of supporters.

The fundraising enabled Willow to open a new facility last year. A nearly $5 million grant from the state Homeless Housing and Assistance Corp., coupled with more than $3 million in philanthropic support helped open the center.

The new building features 49 beds and is the largest domestic violence shelter in Upstate New York. Willow has doubled the size of its counseling center and expanded its hotline call center to field more than 5,000 calls annually. In addition, the new site offers a first-of-its-kind onsite pet shelter to keep all family members safe and offers advanced protections and security system.

De Chateauvieux is a graduate of Nazareth College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in women’s studies. She also completed a master’s degree in political science at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Prior to joining Willow, de Chateauvieux served in a variety of roles in not-for-profits and university settings. She is active in the community on a variety of committees and was a graduate of Leadership Rochester in 2009.

“Willow’s 40-year history leading our community’s response to domestic violence, including the past five years of transformational growth, has created such momentum,” de Chateauvieux said in a statement, “to strengthen our partnerships, to expand our programs and prevention efforts and to remove barriers that survivors face on their journey to safety and healing. Willow’s future is bright thanks to our dedicated staff, board leadership and tremendous community support and collaboration.”

Willow’s board said de Chateauvieux displayed “tremendous leadership” during its transition, and worked hard to stabilize the organization. “Meaghan’s passion for our mission and values will ensure Willow’s important work continues and position it for an exciting future ahead,” officials said in the statement.

De Chateauvieux follows Marisol Ramos-Lopez, who was named chief executive in March and left abruptly in May. Ramos-Lopez was preceded by Bonnie DeVinney, who served in the leadership role on an interim basis when former head Jaime Saunders was named president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Rochester Inc. late last year.

Formerly known as Alternatives for Battered Women Inc., Willow’s mission is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life. It has served Monroe County for nearly 40 years and is the county’s only state-certified provider of domestic violence residential and nonresidential programs.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
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