Agnes Saenz, Executive Director of Community Reach of Montgomery County, Steps Down After 30 Years of Service

After more than 30 years of dedicated service to what was Community Ministries of Rockville, and is now Community Reach of Montgomery County, and 15 years as the Executive Director, Agnes Saenz is stepping down in early September 2023. Originally from Costa Rica, Agnes joined CMR (now Community Reach of Montgomery County) in 1991 as a volunteer accountant and soon became a full-time employee charged with updating CMR’s accounting system. She proposed and founded CMR’s Language Outreach Program (originally Latino Outreach), directing that program until 1998 when she was promoted to Managing Director. In that position, she was responsible for oversight of all direct service programs and administration, as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization. In 2008, Agnes was named Executive Director of CMR. Since 2013, Agnes has also served as the Executive Director of Reach’s subsidiary, Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic.

Agnes is fluent in both Spanish and English, knowledgeable in Latino/Hispanic culture issues and serves on several boards and commissions. She has been a member of the Latin American Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Executive, Montgomery Cares Advisory Board, Health Centers Leadership Council for Montgomery County Clinics, and the Human Services Advisory Commission for the City of Rockville. She is a graduate of the 1998 class of Leadership Montgomery. Agnes holds a BS Degree in Business Administration with a major in Management and Accounting from the University of Lima, Peru. She received her Master’s Degree in Human Resources from the University of Maryland University College. She was honored by the Maryland Hispanic Business Conference (MDHBC) as the 2014 Latina Powerhouse Award winner. Agnes is close to her extended family, who also live in Rockville and strongly support Reach and the Clinic.

During Agnes’ time with Reach, the organization has substantially changed and grown. When she first joined the organization, her initial role was to digitize and rework the accounting records and office. The budget has grown from less than $200K when Agnes joined to almost $4 million today. During her tenure, she oversaw the creation of the Language Outreach Program (LOP) in 1993 and served as its first director, responding to changing community needs as more non-English speaking immigrants arrived and faced difficulties with communication. When promoted to Managing Director in 1998, she oversaw all of our housing programs, which at that time included Chase House, Sophia House, Hope Housing and Jefferson House. Agnes was also heavily involved with the creation of the Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic and has served as its Executive Director since 2009. Many other developments have taken place under Agnes’ skillful guidance, including the opening of Rockland House in 2014. She will be greatly missed, but as with any great leader, Agnes has prepared Reach to continue to thrive and grow after she leaves.

Agnes in her own words: “It has been a wonderful journey of almost 32 years! Having been part of the CMR family earlier on and now the REACH and Kaseman Clinic family has been a great ministry and service to our community that I feel very proud of. We have grown so much, and I leave in a time that the organization is stable and will continue to grow. Like anything in life, there are ups and downs, and a moment and a reason for everything and it is my time to move on. I love this organization and will always be a friend and a donor and will continue to support and attend our
events. Thanks to the Board and Staff of all these 32 years for allowing me to serve.”

Ms. Saenz participated in multiple City of Rockville Commissions, Committees and Task Forces:

• Served on the Human Services Commission from1997 to 2017.
• In the 1990’s served on the Imagine The Future of Rockville Retreat
• Served and Chair the Diversity Task Force after Imagine the Future of Rockville
• Served on The Spirit of Rockville Committee planning the annual events in late 1990s and early 2000s.
• Chair the Rockville Caregivers Coalition from 2009 to 2019. (The coalition’s work was suspended due to the pandemic in 2020)

•  Served on Mayor’s Susan Hoffman Inaugurating Committee
• Served on the Caregiver’s Funding Task Force from 2017 to 2019
• Served as Interpreter and Coached families displaced after fire in Blandford Apartments in 1996. 

Courtesy of the City of Rockville