Danbury woman to lead program for moms, babies
NORWALK — Malta House, a Norwalk-based nonprofit that offers the only transitional living program in Connecticut where a mother can stay with her baby for long-term, wraparound support, has appointed a new leader.
As the new executive director, Lisa Casagrande Koeppel, of Danbury, will direct a team of staff and volunteers as well as work with the board to set a clear vision to move the organization forward, according to nonprofit’s board.
“I am extremely excited about joining Malta House,” Koeppel said in a statement. “My nonprofit leadership experience in related fields lends itself to
the diversity of skills required for taking Malta House to the next level of growth. Equally important, I am committed to the core mission and values of Malta
House and look forward to leading an organization that is changing the lives of homeless women and their children.”
Since its founding in 1998, Malta House has provided 8,800 nights of shelter to hundreds of mothers as they deliver their babies and rebuild their lives, according to its website. It is committed to providing a nurturing home environment and support services and independent living skills for pregnant women and parenting mothers and their children.
Koeppel will oversee fundraising initiatives, quality programs and services, as well as financial operations and facility management, human resources and community outreach. She has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in leadership roles addressing mental health, addiction, homelessness and at-risk families.
Most recently as director of planning and communications for the Danburybased Connecticut Institute for Communities Inc., Koeppel was responsible for all aspects of government, private and public funding, corporate grants and external communications.
Before CIFC, she was executive director of Danbury’s Amos House Inc., a transitional housing agency for homeless women with children dedicated to ensuring they have the competency for permanent selfsufficient independent living.
“Lisa brings a wealth of relevant experience to Malta House that will enable us to deliver on our mission and values through expanded operations and programming,” Malta House board Chair Kim Petrone said.
“Her success in rebuilding Amos House after being asked to serve as interim volunteer director to prevent the agency from closing, coupled with her expertise in transitional housing programs, is exemplary,” Petrone said. “Our board is confident that Lisa has the passion and seasoned leadership Malta House requires for achieving our long-term strategic vision and financial objectives for helping mothers in need build brighter futures.”
A resident of Danbury, Koeppel has a bachelor’s in social science and social work from Western Connecticut State University. She is married and has two adult children.
The Malta House Board retained a search firm to find its new executive director. Koeppel replaced Carey Dougherty, who in March left the post of executive director after six years as she relocated to California with her family.
Chief among Dougerty’s accomplishments was oversight of a $5 million capital campaign that allowed the nonprofit to move to a significantly larger facility and increase its capacity by 50 percent. That enabled Malta House to help more mothers in need and expand services, Petrone said.