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Senior Staff


Community Works has dedicated staff and mental heath professionals that are passionate about helping victims of domestic violence and their families and dedicated to the mission of our agency. The nearly 130 staff members are experienced non-profit professionals, who excel in directing and implementing the innovative ideas and strategies to strengthen our programs.


Dan Murphy, President/CEO For the past 12 years, prior to his arrival at Community Works in November, 2007 was the Director for the Marion County Children and Families Commission and Department. He led programs, personnel, and fiscal operations-focused on data-driven, strategic community and organizational priorities. Priorities included innovative community mobilization and empowerment, service coordination and integration through many partnerships. Dan's leadership was responsible for a reinvention of the Commission such that it is a high level gatekeeper for education, health care, faith community, government and business to effect positive change for children, youth and families, with an immediate focus upon those who are meth-affected. Dan fostered broad-based involvement of migrant populations, immigrant Eastern European communities, and Hispanic business and faith community leaders in all aspects of this work, including efforts to increase student achievement and high school completion in a highly diverse area in the Salem-Keizer public school district.

Dan's organization received awards from the National Association of Counties for excellence in fostering community planning and decision making. He is celebrated for his effectiveness in shaping staff culture from discrete jobs and functions to a team model, balancing individual accountability with collective effort and responsibility. Willamette University is interested in developing a "case study" drawn upon the Commission's transformation and best practices. Dan's personal honors include Marion County's Humanitarian of the Year, Salem Leadership Foundation's Government Leader of the Year, and Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments' award for exemplary partner.

Before coming to Oregon, Dan was Manager of Kenosha County Prevention Services in Wisconsin for 5 1/2 years. He administered a 13-agency effort to provide integrated case management, outreach and incentive services to vulnerable families, such as those with children and youth at risk of school failure, and young adults with barriers to completing the JOBS Program. They secured $2.1M in new funding and won the National Association of Counties award for "Excellence in Management of Collaboration." He served as Assistant Director for Childhood Programs of the Social Development Commission in Milwaukee following his early career in western Kentucky where he coordinated Disability Services for nine Head Start Programs and later served as Director of Human Resources and Communications for a non-profit.

Dan’s education includes Master of Science in Administrative Leadership (Univ. of Wisconsin), Bachelor of Arts in English/German (Univ. of Illinois), and Fulbright-Hayes Fellow in German Literature and Theater at the University of Vienna. He did graduate work in Family Living and Child Development at the Western Kentucky University and is certified as a Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations.

Dan and his family are drawn to live and work in Jackson County having visited the natural beauty and performing arts since 1996; and daughter Maire started at SOU this fall.


Connie Eidson-Smith, CPA, Business Director (Finance and Operations), graduated from the University of Alaska in 1984 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree. She has been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant since 1988. Connie has over 15 years of financial management experience with non profit agencies. She also worked five years as a legislative auditor with the State of Alaska. Connie joined the agency in November 2000 as the Director of Accounting. In August 2001, she agreed to oversee the Operations and Information Technology functions for the agency.


Anna D'Amato, MS, Managing Director of Victim Services is the former executive director of Habitat for Humanity here in the Rogue Valley, where she was responsible for grant writing, fiscal oversight, Board development, and fundraising. Prior to her work with Habitat, she held several management positions with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, most recently as Housing Operations Manager. She also served briefly as the AIDS Foundation Acting Director. Anna has a background in counseling in alcohol/drug treatment, and extensive experience in respite and residence management. Prior to receiving her MS - Counseling from San Francisco State University, she completed a BA - Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies from Buffalo State College, State University of New York.


Colleen A. Potter, SPHR, Director of Human Resources, is a 1984 graduate of the University of Redlands in California with a Bachelor of Arts in Management. She is a seasoned business partner with diversified experience in the for-profit sector and has provided consulting services to privately held and non-profit businesses. Prior to relocating to the Rogue Valley in 1998, she served as Director of Human Resources for the Los Angeles Economic Unit of McGladrey & Pullen, a public accounting and professional services firm. Colleen is a 2000 graduate of the Leadership Medford/Jackson County group and has held the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), from the Human Resource Certification Institute, since 1996.


Lauri Hunner, MSW, LCSW, Director of Educational & Residential Services (Lithia Springs Programs), earned her B.S. in Education (Certified K-12) from Western Oregon State, was certified as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor by the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, and completed her Master of Social work at California State University - Sacramento. She joined Community Works in April 2010 after serving Siskiyou County Behavioral Health Services (Yreka, CA) for 26 years in varying capacities, most recently as its Director. Lauri is the past vice chair of Siskiyou First Five Commission and Chair of the Community Services Council. She also maintains a private counseling practice, provides consultation for Madrone Hospice, and is an adjunct faculty instructor at College of the Siskiyous.