Boston, MA, March 07, 2019.
Interise today announced that its board of directors has appointed Darrell Byers as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Byers will assume day-to-day leadership of Interise and succeeds John Belchers, Interim Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Jean Horstman held the position of CEO of Interise.
Byers comes to Interise from Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco where he was Chief Advancement Officer. Previously, Byers held leadership roles at Easterseals Bay Area and Earthjustice. He started his career in Boston working for such institutions as public media stations WGBH and WBUR, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and UMass Boston. He was the recipient of the Eleanor Collier Award from educational organization CASE District 1 for his contribution to his profession.
“Interise knows how to unlock the growth potential of established businesses to change lives and create jobs where they’re needed most. The organization is poised to develop its vision of an economy that works for all and build on the tremendous momentum of the past fifteen years, creating jobs in underserved communities,” Byers said. “I look forward to using my skills and network to expand Interise’s impact, and make a positive difference in historically disadvantaged and low-to-moderate-income communities.”
“We are thrilled to have Darrell lead us in this stage of our organization’s growth,” said Joe Wadlinger, Interise Board Chairman. “Darrell’s expertise in working across sectors and with diverse stakeholders is the perfect fit for Interise as we deepen partnerships with a national network of foundations, government agencies, and business associations.”
Byers’ hiring comes as the organization implements a strategic growth plan that includes expanded partnerships, new product development, as well as an ambitious research agenda.
To date, over 6,000 small businesses have taken Interise’s StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program in 75+ cities nationwide. In 2017, Interise businesses created jobs at 11x the rate of the private sector, with an average starting salary of $10k above the national average.
With funding from the Kauffman Foundation, Interise will be piloting its signature StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program with a Latino focus in a number of cities. In 2019, Interise will also be launching Leadership in Equitable Anchor Procurement (LEAP), an action-research initiative to increase B2B contracts with minority-owned businesses as well as piloting a new program, Grow My People, focused on helping CEOs of small businesses develop their employees’ skills.