Read the original article published on The Inside Passage.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau is pleased to announce the appointment of David Ringle as our next General Manager. Ringle will lead the organization in our mission to provide material and spiritual charity and work for social justice for all. St. Vincent de Paul is known as the “landlord with a heart” managing low-income housing for seniors, families and individuals. Additionally, we have partnered with the CBJ to operate the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter for the homeless, which operation has been extended into the summer as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We provide direct aid to the homeless and vulnerable in our community and operate a thrift store as both a source of revenue and a place to shop for those with limited resources.
Ringle comes to St. Vincent de Paul as a long-time community member who has recently retired with a 30+ year teaching career primarily at the middle school level. While one wouldn’t think of this as a foundation to lead a charitable non-profit, as it turns out, it is the perfect background. Ringle had been serving his first term on the Board of Directors when he stepped up to serve as the interim general manager and then answered the call to apply for the permanent position.
Ringle shared that when he was named interim general manager, he didn’t plan on applying for the permanent position. Still, after seeing the impact the organization’s staff and volunteers made in the community, he felt called to apply. He said he learned during an ACTS retreat that, “God doesn’t call the prepared, he prepares those he calls,” and that God was preparing him to lead this organization.
Ringle brings his classroom management skills to play in working with the board, staff, community partners and the friends we serve. In his short time as interim general manager, Ringle said he has seen how St. Vincent de Paul has helped its clients move from shelters to permanent housing. He said he wants to “continue to have success with our guests and our clients.”
Ringle has demonstrated servant leadership with his long history of community involvement in a wide array of groups including being an ACTS Retreat team member and ACTS Missions Retreat Board member, Juneau Freewheelers bicycling club member, volunteer coach for parks and recreation soccer and basketball, recently serving as Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, and as a past board member for the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay.
Dave and his wife Val, also a retired teacher, have raised their family in Juneau and are now proud grandparents.