He succeeds Ronnie Millar, who has managed the center since 2011

The new year at the Rian Immigrant Center means a new executive director, Jacob Bombard, a Boston native who comes to Rian after four years of directing South Boston’s Laboure Center, a $5 million social services organization that serves vulnerable communities, including immigrants, through its comprehensive educational, behavioral and social service programs.

He was selected to succeed Rian’s longtime executive director, Ronnie Millar, after a months-long search that included input and feedback from a broad array of stakeholders. In its announcement of his appointment, Rian noted that through his work at the Laboure Center, a subsidiary of Catholic Charities, Bombard has a demonstrated track record of fundraising and financial management.

“We are fortunate to have found Jacob, who comes to us at a critical time for the work that Rian does supporting immigrants,” said Kim Borman, vice president of Rian’s board of directors and chair of the search committee.  “He is uniquely suited to build on the foundation that Ronnie Millar established with the dedicated team at Rian, combining a strong track record of fundraising, a passion for social justice, and a commitment to maximizing the impact that Rian can have for each person and family we serve.” 

Said Rian Board Chair Kevin Mawe: “The Rian Immigrant Center is unique in many ways: In its 33 years of existence, it has only had two executive directors – its founder, the incomparable Sister Lena Deevy, LSA, who served for 24 years, and Ronnie Millar since 2011.  Ronnie has ably continued and grown the mission of the Rian Immigrant Center while also becoming a leader and convener in the immigrant community, co-founding the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative and helping many other organizations join forces and work together.  We can’t thank Ronnie enough for his work.”