Alexandria, Va. – Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) has named Lisa Perkins, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, the recipient of the 2024 Management Excellence Award.
Each year, the CCUSA Management and Administration Community of Practice confers this honor on an exceptional manager or supervisor in the Catholic Charities network who leads his or her team in inspiring and engaging ways. The winner of the Management Excellence Award consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication in five categories: leadership, innovation, engagement, commitment and being data-driven.
Perkins, who joined Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh in 2008 as a regional director, has overseen a period of remarkable growth since becoming CEO in 2017. Under her leadership, the agency has doubled the number of families assisted each year and increased revenues by 40 percent. Highlights of Perkins’ tenure include groundbreaking projects like the Oak City Cares Multi-Service Center for Homeless Families; the development of the $1.7 million Durham Community Food Pantry; and participation in the Healthy Opportunities Pilot to improve health outcomes for families enrolled in Medicaid.
Beyond these impressive accomplishments, the selection committee chose to honor Perkins for the commitment she has demonstrated to developing and supporting her staff. She fosters a culture of learning through initiatives like the agency’s bimonthly Lunch and Learn webinars, which are taught by employees for employees and encourage the growth of the entire organization. Perkins also consistently has invested in individual staff attending valuable conferences and training programs from CCUSA, CLINIC, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and local organizations in Raleigh. She also has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and fairness in all aspects of the organization.
“Lisa Perkins exemplifies so many of the qualities that make an exceptional leader,” CCUSA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson said. “She is innovative, dedicated, compassionate and, perhaps most importantly, other-centered. Lisa’s commitment to her staff and her agency’s clients stands as a model for our entire network, and I’m thrilled that she is receiving this well-deserved honor.”
Throughout her career at Catholic Charities the Diocese of Raleigh, Perkins has not lost sight of the agency’s mission: serving its neighbors in need. When Hurricane Florence wrought havoc in 2018, Perkins traveled to impacted sites visiting with survivors, supporting staff and jumping in to distribute supplies. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the agency adapted its services and elderly volunteers were unable to serve, Perkins and members of her administrative office staffed the drive-through food lines at the agency’s two largest food pantries.
“I am honored to have been selected by CCUSA as the recipient of the 2024 Management Excellence Award,” Perkins said. “Fulfilling the mission of Catholic Charities by serving the most vulnerable in our communities allows me to put my faith into action. This recognition is a reflection of the compassionate care provided by our staff and volunteers, the support of our bishop and the generosity of our donors.
Perkins will be recognized and celebrated for her outstanding service at CCUSA’s 2024 Annual Gathering this fall.