HISTORIC HIRE

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has announced the appointment of Bonni H. Shippee, who currently serves as executive director of Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility, to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, effective July 12. The appointment comes after the Diocese conducted a national search to surface an experienced business leader to help guide the Diocese forward in a more efficient and effective way.

“Bonni is clearly someone who has the expertise to run the day-to-day operations of the diocesan Pastoral Center, take on the tough challenges across our 14 counties, and at the same time strategize for the future,” said Bishop Scharfenberger. “I see Bonni as an orchestra conductor, someone who will take a long view of our mission and our ministries and bring out the very best in each of the individual players and programs. It’s an exciting time for our Diocese.”

Bishop Scharfenberger has long promoted a vision of shared leadership among the laity and clergy in parishes. This new model will bring that same visionary approach to the diocesan level, allowing the Bishop and clergy in top leadership roles to focus more on the pastoral side of their ministry while entrusting the business operations to Shippee.

“I look forward to overseeing the business operations of the Pastoral Center and collaborating with Bishop Scharfenberger and the pastoral and program leaders to support the overall work and mission of the Diocese of Albany and the universal Church,” Shippee said.

A resident of Waterford, Shippee has a Master of Business Administration from Union College in Schenectady and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Russell Sage College in Troy. She has previously served as vice president of Regional Operations for St. Peter’s Health Partners — Continuing Care Division, and as chief operating officer for Capital Living and Rehabilitation Centres, Inc., among numerous other strategic leadership positions in health-care administration in New York, Maryland, and Missouri.