We’re excited to announce the addition of a new member to the Empowerment Center Board of Directors: Cristyn Russo! Russo is Commissions Supervisor at TriNet, a cloud-based Human Resources solutions company, where her role is a hybrid of operations and accounting.
She’s been a part of Northern Nevada’s philanthropic community for many years and we know she’ll be a fantastic addition to all that we do.
Getting to Know Cristyn Russo
Cristyn is originally from Oregon and moved to Reno in 2008. At the University of Nevada, Reno, she started out studying nursing – before switching to their Business Administration program and earning her BS in Accounting. After graduating, she began her career at Bosma Group, a local accounting firm. She continued to establish her life in Reno, engaging in community groups and starting a family. With young children at home, Russo decided that a switch to corporate accounting would create better balance in her lifestyle, so she switched to working at TriNet in 2014. She’s been with the company ever since, taking on a variety of roles, from Accountant, to Analyst, to Commissions Supervisor.
Getting Involved at The Empowerment Center
Early in her career, Cristyn attended networking groups, EDAWN events, and local fundraisers. One of her first impressions? She remembers, “it was very enlightening to see all the philanthropy happening in Northern Nevada, and how big the community is on giving back.”
Today, her children are 22, 19, and 13 and Russo’s once again found more time to engage with community. Now that her kids are older, she’s looking forward to working on projects that serve others and bring meaning to her life – including joining the TEC Board!
“As a single mom in my young adult life, I know what it’s like to struggle to get on your feet and find the resources that will help you not just get by, but thrive,” Russo explains. “The Empowerment Center is very near and dear to my heart. I’ve had family members with substance abuse problems and see how TEC does an amazing job at helping people through really difficult times.”
Cristyn Russo & Her Family
Cristyn Russo describes herself and her family as “big outdoor people.” They spend their weekends hiking around Tahoe, both on their own and with a group of families they’re close with. They hike around Monkey Rock, Eagle Lake, and other local favorites with their Rottweiler. Russo’s family has always considered race cars to be a part of their lives – so much so that Cristyn’s dad gave her the middle name “Ferrari.” Cristyn continued the tradition with her son’s middle name, “Enzo.”
Looking Forward
Looking towards the future of The Empowerment Center, Russo is most excited about TEC2, the 80-bed treatment facility we’ll soon be breaking ground on. She sees the project through the lens of her college-job in construction, as well as through her membership at Grace Church, a contributor to the project. She notes, “it’s very excited to see everything come together and to get to be a part of it!”
We’re looking forward to having Russo on our Board too. Roxanne DeCarlo, TEC Executive Director, notes “I’m thrilled to welcome Cristyn to the Board of Directors! Her experience in finance and connections within the community will be invaluable as we continue to expand the services we provide to at-risk women. I look forward to collaborating with Cristyn and leveraging her insights to drive our mission forward.”