New Executive Director of Catholic Charities—Diocese of Covington announced

Contact: Tim Fitzgerald, Communications Office
tfitzgerald@covdio.org, C: (859) 802-8352

Bishop Roger Foys has announced the appointment of Alan B. Pickett as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities—Diocese of Covington. Mr. Pickett will succeed William (Bill) Jones who died in November 2013.

Catholic Charities is the local Catholic Church’s social service agency whose mission is to “promote healing, restore hope and affirm human potential through services that empower, voices that speak for justice, and partnerships that strengthen communities.” The agency offers a wide range of services including adoption services; housing, counseling and financial literacy; mental health services; school-based counseling; Parish Kitchen; pregnancy counseling; substance abuse services; and jail ministry.

Mr. Pickett has a master’s degree in lay pastoral ministry completed at the Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati in 2010. He has undertaken volunteer work in the Diocese of Covington and in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and has been an involved parishioner in both (arch)dioceses. He has a 37-year career in corporate positions, most recently (since 2006) as Executive Director of Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a large regional law firm based in Cincinnati. He was responsible for all business operations and administration, including human resources and benefits, finance and accounting, risk management, facilities and information technology.

“I hope to share my faith in some way that will make a difference,” Mr. Pickett said. “I hope Catholic Charities can be noticed by the ministries we provide, regardless of faith, so that we are just not Catholics serving Catholics but that we are reaching out to all God’s people, whether at the soup kitchen or pregnancy counseling or in the jails, wherever it is that can shine a light.”

“I have been preparing for a challenge and have been preparing to serve.”

Mr. Pickett and his wife Donna live in Cold Spring and are parishioners at St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring.

Bishop Foys said that Mr. Pickett has a “tremendous love for the Church and is enthusiastic about wanting to give back to the Lord the gifts and talents that he has received from the Lord. He has a heart for the poor. He is already involved in different aspects of Church ministry through his parish.”

Bishop Foys complimented Ms. Shannon Braun who has served as interim director since Mr. Jones’ death. “She stepped up into a very difficult situation. She has done more than keeping the ‘ship afloat’ and has led the organization forward.