Harris Oberlander, who transformed Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Inc., from a shoestring nonprofit into an essential social services agency serving thousands, announced today he will retire as CEO after 20 years leading the settlement house.

His retirement will take effect after a replacement is named following a nationwide search that will commence immediately, Trinity Board of Directors President Beth Carey said.

Oberlander, 66, arrived at Trinity in October 2004, after 17 years at the nonprofit St. Anne Institute in Albany. His impact on Trinity, which provides services from addressing food and housing insecurity to violence and foster
care prevention in marginalized communities, has been profound and will endure beyond his departure.

“I have discussed retirement with the Board of Directors for several years, and now is the right time for myself and Trinity,” Oberlander said. “I have sought to bring out the best in our team members and community. I have great faith that our mission will continue to thrive under the next generation of leadership.”

Experienced upon his arrival at Trinity in individual and family therapy, and as a supervisor and administrator, Oberlander righted an organization on shaky financial footing by having a constant eye out for new services and funding sources for its community. When Oberlander arrived, Trinity foundered in dire financial straits, facing fears of closing its doors. “I was not cashing my checks,” Oberlander said. “It was that close.” Today, Trinity serves thousands with a growing variety of services, backed by more than 100 employees and a budget approaching $10 million. Marcus Q. Pryor, a former Trinity Board member with a long and distinguished history of public service in the region, called Oberlander’s selection to lead the agency “without question one of best decisions … of my nonprofit career.” “Twenty years later, Harris is an enduring part of this community,” Pryor said. “I’m not the slightest bit surprised. When Harris arrived, he had more dreams than he had words for. He is just an amazing leader.”

A 1980 graduate of the University at Albany School of Social Welfare, Oberlander earned a master’s degree in social work from Yeshiva University in 1983.

Among his achievements are merging Trinity and the Arbor Hill Community Center that expanded access to Trinity’s services; launching the multi-tiered Family and Neighborhood Resource Center (FNRC), and helping create SNUG (GUNS spelled backward), an anti-violence program focused on reducing gun violence. Oberlander also spurred the creation of the Capital South Campus Center (CSCC), and the expansion of CDTA bus service into the South End, West Hill and Arbor Hill.

“Harris has been a visionary leader—not just for Trinity, but for the Capital Region,” Carey said. “His legacy will be felt for generations to come.”
Upon his retirement, Oberlander plans to remain involved with Trinity—in particular in raising funds for a multi-million-dollar rehabilitation and expansion of the agency’s 1928 Trinity Place Center headquarters at 15 Trinity Place in the South End.

“Trinity has been serving our community since 1912,” Oberlander said. “It is my hope and vision that we will continue to serve for another century and more.”