‘Emotional for me to come back’: New top executive named for Youth Opportunities Unlimited

The organization announced Andrea Topham as the new CEO of the organization after Steve Cordes’ 35-year career. CTV London’s Gerry Dewan has more.

A new top executive has been named to lead Youth Opportunities Unlimited. It’s a new face but one with long ties to the organization.

Steve Cordes has been Executive Director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) for more than 35 years. One of his final tasks has been preparing a report to help with the leadership transition.

“As I was writing that and reminding myself of those milestones, it becomes really emotional for me. I was telling the management team earlier this week when we talked about vulnerability, when you bring your vulnerability to work. And I said, ‘I’m getting used to crying in public now,’” said Cordes.

Having Andrea Topham named as his successor has given Cordes confidence the organization is in good hands. “I am retiring more easily knowing that it’s somebody who understands the culture so welcoming it.”

Topham’s fingerprints are already on the YOU operations. She was with the organization as they launched the Cornerstone Project in 2011. It was a bold initiative that established geared youth supportive housing in the Cornerstone building at York and Richmond.

“I learned so much, and I’ve taken so much of what I’ve learned from Steve with me, for sure. It’s emotional for me to come back. I’m excited to come back. And really, really honored that I get to build on the legacy that Steve created here.”

Youth Opportunities Unlimited has changed dramatically in the time that Steve Cordes has been at the helm, going from a youth employment consultation service to offering a wide range of opportunities for young people.

That includes skills training young people to start working in the YOU Cafe. More recently they added transitional housing that’s part of Joan’s Place. It’s geared to young women who are pregnant, young mothers and young families. Topham is hoping to build on the work done under Cordes’ leadership.

“For me, it’s really about learning from me and the staff who has been working at these opportunities are the experts in this work. And I think that my job is really to work alongside and support them. And then together, we’ll look at where we’re going to go next.”

YOU board chair Terry Gillis says there were more than 100 candidates for the executive director position, but he’s gratified that the successful candidate was someone with strong ties to the community and the organization.

“The coming home. She knows the organization so well. She knows the sector so well. We really feel it’s going to be seamless.”

Topham is currently CEO of the Community Services Coordination Network, which supports children and youth with developmental disabilities. She’ll assume her new role with YOU on August 18th.