News

This month our Leadership Spotlight selection is our Chief Financial Officer, Jerry Dorris. Jerry has been an integral part of the team since the very start, as his parents founded EA Family Services (previously "Environmental Alternatives" in 1981). 

Read on to learn his advice to those interested in working with youth in foster care, how he spends his time away from work, and much more!

Can you tell us a little about how your parents decided to form EA? 

For as long as I can remember, my parents fostered children. When we moved to Quincy in 1971, two foster children moved with us. It was those children that created a relationship between my parents and Plumas County. I was seven at the time, so I don't know all the details exactly, but Plumas County approached my parents to open and run a county receiving home (County foster home). The county purchased a house and in 1973 started the receiving home and my experience of many foster brothers and sisters.

What experiences early in life contributed to your success with EA Family Services? 

The receiving home experience has contributed the most to my success. In 1981 my parents helped to start Environmental Alternatives, and in those early years I was an errand person for the group home. During that time I started reading some of the history of the clients and it became clear to me then, I was not a social worker; I couldn’t handle the stories. Because of that, I started down the road of accounting.

What advice would you offer to someone interested in working with youth in foster care? 

Don’t get discouraged by the system. The system is set up for most cases, but sometimes the one case you have is the exception where the system isn't perfect.  Focus instead on passing on the valuable knowledge you have to the young person you're working with. I rely on the idea that any advice given is absorbed, and stored by them for future use.

When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing?

I try to get out and about as much as possible; be it at the lake, riding quads, or camping. I also have a long-standing project to rebuild my old 1967 Mustang; twenty years and counting!

What's something about you that would surprise most people? 

Not sure if it would surprise most people, but I work well with my hands. I like working on cars, or working with lumber to either repair, or build something.

Anything else you'd like to add? 

This is a family business for me. I was there for the beginning and I am here for the continuation of this great agency. It's not only a business, but a family. I can only be successful if the team I work with is great. I am successful, and it's all due to the awesome EA team. As highlighted by our recent accreditation, our organization is changing the paths for the young people we work for.