Longtime executive at Our Piece of the Pie (OPP) is ideally suited to lead Greater Hartford youth services organization forward
Hector Rivera, who has served in key leadership capacities for Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. (OPP) for more than 20 years and is highly respected among staff, donors and supporters, has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1st, 2021. OPP is a Hartford-based organization which empowers youth to succeed in education and employment, having helped thousands of urban youth aged 14-24 to successfully navigate their way
through high school, college and into the workforce over the past two decades.
Mr. Rivera has served in numerous capacities at OPP over the years, most recently as Interim CEO this year and Chief Operating Officer for the past several years. OPP Board of Directors Chair Smitesh Davé said Mr. Rivera has been an excellent steward of OPP’s mission and staff for more than two decades and is well-positioned to guide OPP forward for many years to come.
Mr. Rivera’s ascension to CEO comes with unanimous support from the Board.
“Hector is the person for the job—I can’t think of anyone who has been more committed to OPP or our mission for as long as Hector has. Our donors value and respect him, and he is well-liked by our impressive staff—the Board of Directors saw only one choice for this role, and we are grateful Hector Rivera has accepted,” Mr. Davé said. “OPP plays a leadership role in education, workforce development and in teaching young people the life skills they need to succeed, and Hector has been at the center of that for 21 years now. We are thrilled to begin this new chapter with him.”
“Leading this amazing organization has indeed been a longtime aspiration of mine, but to me, this is all about creating opportunities and better lives for the young people we serve,” Mr. Rivera said. “We have a staff that is second to none, and it has been my great privilege to help lead and guide them over theyears and, together, find ways to reach more and more young people in need of our services. And the support we have been given by so many of our wonderful partners and donors — starting with the City of Hartford, Dalio Education and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving — has given us the resources we need to carry out our critical mission every day. It is my sincere honor to lead OPP into a great future.”
“I have tremendous respect for Hector and can’t think of anyone better to lead Our Piece of the Pie, which is one of the most effective and important organizations working with young people in Hartford,” said Mayor Luke Bronin. “Hector has a deep and personal commitment OPP’s mission of engaging, supporting, educating, and mentoring young people who need that support, and I’m personally grateful for Hector’s work and for his partnership. When we established the Hartford Youth Service Corps, which provides paid jobs and intensive skill-building and support to hundreds of young Hartford residents, we asked OPP to lead that work in large part because we trusted Hector’s leadership – and it has been a success in large part because of his leadership. Congratulations to Hector, to the Board, and to the entire team at OPP.”
OPP’s largest and most loyal financial supporters are enthusiastic about Mr. Rivera’s well-earned appointment as CEO.
“I’m thrilled that OPP’s board has decided to make Hector the permanent CEO,” said Barbara Dalio, Founder and Director of Dalio Education. “He’s earned the confidence the Board is showing in him. Helping the young people that OPP serves is not an easy job; it takes an enormous amount of energy, spirit, and commitment. Hector has all those attributes, and more. I can’t think of a better person to lead this organization in these challenging times.”
“The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has worked closely with Our Piece of the Pie for many years,” said Hartford Foundation Vice President of Community Impact Elysa Gordon. “Our recent investment in OPP’s work with opportunity youth in Hartford recognizes the important role the organization plays to better serve young people in Hartford. We look forward to working with Hector Rivera in his new role in leading OPP’s efforts to expand opportunities for Hartford youth.”