Shepherd's Gate welcomes new CEO

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Livermore-based Christian nonprofit Shepherd’s Gate announced this week that Carol Patterson has been hired as its new chief executive officer.

Patterson, who has years of experience as a nonprofit executive and before that in the software industry, brings a wide-ranging skill set to the organization that works to help women and children escape the cycles of abuse, addiction and homelessness, according to Alan Cerro, Shepherd’s Gate board president.

“Carol is a visionary leader with a deep understanding of homelessness, poverty and addiction facing the Bay Area,” Cerro said. “She brings a wealth of proven experience to this role, and has the ideal skill-set and knowledge to lead Shepherd’s Gate wisely into the future. We’re thrilled to have her serve as our new CEO.”

Patterson is eager to take on the leadership role helping women and children affected by addiction and domestic violence, saying their struggles “weigh heavily on my heart.”

“I’m thrilled to lead a ministry that is on the forefront of combating these issues,” Patterson said. “I’m eager to connect with volunteers, donors and local organizations to partner together fighting abuse, addiction, poverty and homelessness here in the Bay Area.”

Patterson joins Shepherd’s Gate after serving for more than 17 years as a senior executive with family-support nonprofit Cityteam at its corporate headquarters in San Jose. There, she developed experience with nonprofit operations, ministry, management, finance, operations and fundraising.

Prior to that, she worked for 23 years in the software industry including senior executive roles where she successfully assisted in leading two IPOs and one product acquisition with Oracle.

Patterson, who also has previous experience sitting on nonprofit boards focused on homelessness and education, is a graduate of California State University, East Bay with additional certificates from Santa Clara University and The Wharton School.

“Carol is a strategic leader and a passionate national spokesperson for women and children. But the greatest asset she brings to Shepherd’s Gate is her deep commitment to Christ and a vision for advancing our programs that are furthering God’s Kingdom each day,” Cerro added.

Based out of its Livermore campus at 1660 Portola Ave., Shepherd’s Gate has helped more than 11,000 women and children since being founded as a ministry in a small home in Livermore in 1984. The nonprofit now also operates a thrift store at 4014 East Ave. in Livermore, in addition to a campus in Brentwood. For more information, visit www.shepherdsgate.org.