Executive director steps down from SPARCC

When a victim of domestic violence shows up on the doorstep of the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center after business hours, Olivia Thomas doesn’t turn them away.

If Thomas is the only person left in the office and the doors have been locked, she drives them herself to the 24-hour emergency shelter.

“I always tell people that it’s not a sad place to work because we don’t focus on the sad aspects of the situations that bring people here,” Thomas said. “We focus on how lucky we are to have the services we provide to help lift these people into a better place.”

The nonprofit agency provides free programs and services as the only state-certified center for domestic violence and sexual assault victims in Sarasota and Desoto counties. Following seven years at the helm as executive director, Thomas recently announced to the SPARCC board of directors that she was stepping down at the end of the year. Thomas joined the SPARCC board in the early ‘90s while she was still working for an insurance company; she remained on the board until 2003. SPARCC asked Thomas to return in 2007 and take over as director following the sudden death of Executive Director Stephanie Woods in 2006.

As a survivor of domestic abuse herself, Thomas know firsthand the importance of the services SPARCC offers to the community.

“I’m lucky just to be able to be the face of the organization,” Thomas said. “I think that it’s been such an honor to work here and to have led this group. We’ve built an amazing team of people who work here that are really incredibly passionate and dedicated to what we do.”

Although an exact final day hasn’t been given, Thomas says she is willing to stay on as long as it takes to find a replacement. The board of directors has started the process to fill the position with a search committee.

Thomas has two pieces of advice she gives to young adults: Live in a foreign country and live in a big city while you’re young. She admits that she hasn’t followed her own advice but she’s looking to change that as she prepares to step down from her position at SPARCC and move to Dallas with her husband, Pat.

“I’ve never lived in a major city, and I’m always giving advice to young people that you need to live in a big city … “ Thomas said.

Born in Odessa, Texas, Thomas is excited to return to her home state where her husband has relocated for his position with Hewlett-Packard. She has no immediate plans for employment opportunities but she can include on her list of accomplishments recipient of the “She Knows Where She’s Going” award from Girls Inc. of Sarasota County. Thomas has also served on several boards of directors of charitable groups, including serving as president of the Junior League of Sarasota.

“My focus right now is on making sure there is a smooth transition with me leaving,” Thomas said. “I’m really just focused right now on doing everything I can to get this position finished up the best I can once the board hires someone.”