Hector Batista officially joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City as its Executive Director on October 13, 2010. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he has spent the last five years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vocational Foundation, Inc. (formerly known as The Way To Work) which provides economically and educationally disadvantaged young adults in New York City the tools they need to achieve financial independence through academic and occupational training, counseling, and job placement and retention.
Mr. Batista has devoted most of his life to public service. He is a long time civic and charitable leader. He has served as a leader of large government departments as well as non-profit and private organizations, and as an advocate for the public.
Mr. Batista began his career in the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office and was appointed by former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to serve as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Prior to that, Mr. Batista was the Executive Vice President of the New York Metropolitan Region of the American Cancer Society. In this position, he provided strategic and operational leadership through nearly 200 employees, 2000 volunteers and 12 offices throughout New York City. Prior to the American Cancer Society, Mr. Batista was the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Jeffrey M. Brown Associates, Builders and Construction Managers. He was responsible for projects in eighteen states and an operating budget of $450 million.
Mr. Batista’s commitment to youth is exemplified by his serving on the boards of St. Francis College, East Harlem School at Exodus House, Bishop Loughlin High School and City Lights Youth Theatre. He also sits on the Community Advisory Board for the Spanish language newspaper, El Diario/La Prensa.