Acts Hires Chief Executive Officer

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA – ACTS, Inc. (Action in Community Through Service of Prince William County, Inc.), a non-profit organization serving neighbors in crisis since its founding in 1969, proudly announces the hire of new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stanley B. Jones.Jones is slated to begin in his role as ACTS CEO on September 5^th, 2023, at ACTS' main campus in Dumfries, Virginia.

Jones comes to ACTS from an impressive career in Virginia's public school system, spanning roles as an educator and administrator throughout the Commonwealth.He leaves his most recent post as Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer with Stafford County Public Schools, retiring from a 39-year career serving the students, families, teachers and administration of numerous K-12 school systems and lecturing at Virginia universities including Averett University, The College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, Lynchburg College and Radford University.

ACTS is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3), serving those in Greater Prince William and Manassas facing hunger, homelessness and interpersonal violence through its far-reaching programs.ACTS' programs in food and emergency assistance, housing, and help to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, are critical in creating a safe and welcoming community that helps residents address these crises and achieve self-sufficiency.

Dr. Jones' acceptance of the position of ACTS CEO is, without question, a career shift – a transition that both he and the ACTS Board of Directors embrace wholeheartedly."The search process was long and arduous, and we examined several qualified candidates from different backgrounds, but our committee and staff leadership were willing to invest the hours and manpower to make a selection that will take ACTS into a bright future, worthy of its history of leadership and accomplishments," said Amelia May, immediate past board president and chair of the CEO Search Committee.She continued, "Stan's integrity, collaborative leadership style, and proven team-building approach shined through in his meetings with our board and ACTS' officers and his list of references.He is an enthusiastic and effective communicator, which we expect will be an inspiration both to clients and staff."

Dr. Jones is driven by a desire to get back to the reasons that led him to his profession as an educator, which brought him face-to-face with the young people and parents, often in low-income communities, who struggled with basic human needs underpinning their ability to learn and participate in the school community.

Jones explains, "ACTS' mission is perfectly aligned with my personal mission to make the world better than I found it by serving children and families by actively serving the community. As a long-time public servant, I am fully committed to fostering hope and promoting self-sufficiency in our community. Joining ACTS allows me to serve the community directly. For me, it will be less like a transition and more like the true fulfillment of my life's purpose, first defined by my parents, and validated by life and lived experiences."

He adds, "My leadership style is servant leadership. I intend to listen, learn, and lead by example. While hierarchy exists in every organizational structure, service and leadership are everyone's responsibility and can only be accomplished by connecting with those who serve and those who receive service. This is life-changing work for our staff and Greater Prince William, so I intend to work alongside and directly in the community as a partner."

"Finally," Jones asserts, "I like challenges. ACTS has an incredible history of addressing the community's greatest challenges by transforming lives through service. I accept this challenge because it embodies who I am. The ACTS team, including our volunteers, collectively transform our community by meeting the needs, providing support, and stabilizing families. This will continue and grow – and it is my goal that the community will join us in this effort in greater numbers as I become fully a part."

The ACTS Board of Directors began the search for Dr. Jones in July of 2022, when former CEO Steven Liga announced his departure from the organization.Liga led ACTS for nearly eight years, grew the organization substantially and even after the added challenges to a human service organization during the COVID pandemic, left ACTS in a position of financial stability and programmatic success.ACTS hired former Board Member, President and dedicated volunteer, David Strand, to serve as an exceptional Interim CEO while the organization determined its next Chief Executive Officer.ACTS looks forward to Dr. Stan Jones building on the hard work and dedication of prior leaders and an amazing staff as together, we write the organization's next chapter for Greater Prince William County and Manassas.