Our House Celebrates Georgia Mjartan’s Tenth Anniversary as Executive Director

Featured, News / April 28, 2020

 

September 1, 2015, marked Georgia Mjartan’s Tenth Anniversary as Executive Director of Our House.
_
On September 1, 2005, Ms. Mjartan assumed the Executive Director role at age 25, taking the reins from founding director Joseph Flaherty who retired after 17 years in the role.
 _
In the ensuing years, Our House has enjoyed dramatic growth in its programs, budget, staff, facilities, client volume, and mission impact. Highlights of this growth are included below.
 _
“I have had the pleasure of seeing literally thousands of people from our community connect with the Our House mission and help us lift families out of homelessness,” Ms. Mjartan said. “Nothing we have accomplished would have been possible without the passion and energy of these volunteers, donors, meal servers, partners, and board members.”
 _
Ms. Mjartan recently led a process to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for Our House’s next five years, with the goal of building on this momentum and increasing Our House’s impact.
 _
“I am excited to work with our staff and board to carry out this plan and make a positive impact in the lives of thousands of people,” Ms. Mjartan said.
Highlights of Georgia Mjartan’s Ten Years as Our House Executive Director
 Budget Growth
Our House has grown five-fold over the past ten years, from a $500,000/year budget for many years prior to 2006, to a $2.5 million/year budget in 2015.
Facilities Expansion
Ms. Mjartan oversaw a successful 10-year, $10 million campus master plan that unified all Our House programs onto one campus. A big highlight is the 2014 opening of a new Children’s Center.
Improved Capacity
Our House has experienced 500% growth in the number of clients served on a daily basis, with new programs for children and families the biggest driver of this growth.
New Programs
Ms. Mjartan oversaw the launch of significant new programs, including an out-of-school-time youth program, a quality-rated early childhood education center, and a homelessness prevention program.

Measurable Impact
Our House diligently tracks data to assess program effectiveness and impact in clients’ lives. These data help to optimize program performance and attract funders seeking a clear return on their investment.
Personnel Growth
The Our House team has grown in size five-fold, to now include 76 full-time personnel, and has also grown in professional qualifications, now with eight staff members holding post-graduate degrees in relevant fields.
Statewide Awards
Ms. Mjartan was named “Nonprofit Executive of the Year” in 2011, and Our House was named “Nonprofit Organization of the Year” in 2015, both awards through the Arkansas Business of the Year Awards.
National Profile
Our House is increasingly recognized as a model program, contributing to national conversations around homelessness, garnering national news coverage, and attracting investments from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and many other out-of-state funders.