Longtime Stanislaus Red Cross official leaves

The American Red Cross in Stanislaus County is starting the new year without one of its key employees, Rebecca Ciszek.

She served as the nonprofit organization’s Stanislaus County regional manager for eight years before resigning Dec. 31 as part of a reorganization of the Red Cross’ Sacramento-based Gold Country Region, whose 24 counties include Stanislaus.

The reorganization included eliminating five regional manager positions and creating the position of major gifts officer for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties and the Mother Lode. The Red Cross appointed former San Joaquin County Regional Manager Liza Cruz as the major gifts officer.

Before the reorganization, regional managers ran their offices and raised money and the profile of the Red Cross. The office duties now are done by lower-level staff. The Gold Country Region was the only one in the nation with regional managers, and eliminating the positions allows the region to be more efficient and effective, said Jordan Scott, Gold Country’s regional communications director.

Ciszek, 60, said it was difficult to decide to be laid off and not apply for the position of major gifts officer. She volunteered at the Red Cross for 18 years before going to work for the organization in 2006.

“I felt this was a good time to move on to another chapter in my life,” said Ciszek, who has 30 years of experience with local nonprofits, including 15 years with the United Way of Stanislaus County. She left the United Way in 2006 as its vice president of community impact to join the Red Cross.

“We really consider her to be a treasure,” said pastor Mike Douglass, who operates Modesto-based Advancing Vibrant Communities, which helps people with home repairs, rides to medical appointments and in other ways. Douglass worked closely with Ciszek over the years.

“She has the knowledge (of the local nonprofit scene) and a servant’s heart,” he said. “She has a sense of the importance of collaboration. You never get a sense that she is in competition or not willing to do everything to help you succeed. ... That kind of giving spirit to help others succeed is really a hallmark of who she is and what she does.”

Ciszek said her layoff included a severance package. Her husband, Ed, is retiring in September, but Ciszek said she’s not sure she is ready to retire.

She said her future includes volunteering with the Red Cross. “It’s a fabulous organization,” she said.

This story was originally published January 7, 2015 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Longtime Stanislaus Red Cross official leaves."