Caritas Communities board of directors names Connell as executive director

Braintree, MA According to the board of directors of Caritas Communities, Frank Connell, formerly interim executive director of the independent, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization, has been named executive director, and Gregory Rittchen, previously director of real estate and interim chief financial officer, is now permanently appointed to both of those roles.

The board of directors of Caritas named Connell and Rittchen to the interim positions in September, upon the departure of Karin Cassell Mitterando, who resigned as executive director in September after about 10 years with the organization.

Caritas Communities operates a portfolio of 34 properties in an organization founded in the 1970s by real estate developer P. Leo Corcoran and provides housing to about 900 men and women in need in the Greater Boston area.

“We welcome Frank and Greg in their important new permanent roles,” said Ruby Cherfils, chair of the Caritas Board, speaking on behalf of the board. “Both of them achieved a lot in their previous positions at Caritas, and we look forward to continued growth and success as we assist them in supporting our residents in the homes we provide.” 

Connell and Rittchen, leading a staff of about 50 dedicated Caritas Communities professionals, assumed their interim roles in September just as preparations ramped up for Caritas Communities’ 38^th annual Housing for All fundraising gala. The event, held at the Westin Waterfront hotel and attended by about 500 people, raised more than $1 million for the Caritas mission.

Before becoming interim executive director, Connell had been director of strategic initiatives at Caritas since February 2022. “It is an honor to be given the solemn duty of leading this team in an important transition for Caritas Communities,” Connell said at the time.

Rittchen had served as director of development since 2021 and assumed additional duties as interim chief financial officer in September. “I am thrilled to lead Caritas Communities’ real estate and finance teams towards the next generation of permanent supportive housing in Greater Boston,” Rittchen said at the time.

This year’s gala honored Thomas O’Brien, managing partner and chief executive officer of the HYM Investment Group, LLC, and Rev. Jeffrey Brown, co-founder of My City at Peace and associate pastor at the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury.

Caritas Communities, an independent, non-sectarian, nonprofit housing provider, for almost 40 years has worked to prevent homelessness by providing very low-income single men and women with permanent housing, support, a sense of community and expanded opportunities. 

Caritas Communities continues to grow and serve men and women in the Greater Boston area who cannot afford homes in this high-cost area. 

Connell joined Caritas Communities in October 2018. He held various positions at Caritas culminating in his appointment director of strategic initiatives. In every role, Connell has brought significant systems process improvements to leasing, fundraising, partnerships, and housing operations. 

Previously he was self-employed as a keynote speaker and retreat leader beginning in May 2006. He served as director of Evangelization of Saint Mary of the Hills Parish in Milton, Mass., from Feb. 2016 to September 2018 and youth minister from 2005 to September 2018, and he volunteered in fund raising with the Archdiocese of Boston.

Connell has bachelor of arts in Psychology from Curry College in Milton and a master of business administration from Curry College.

Rittchen started at Caritas Communities as director of real estate assets in June 2021 and continues in that role, leading the asset management team, overseeing the financials and strategy for the organization’s housing portfolio, and completing more than $1.5 million in rehabilitation and renovation of properties.

Previously he was employed by TCAM Real Estate of Boston as a consultant, managing a portfolio of under-construction low income housing tax credit projects on behalf of investor clients. He was a senior analyst at Wells Fargo and was co-founder of Third Estate Ventures of New York. 

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Film and Media Studies at Colgate University, in Hamilton, NY.