Fresno EOC has a new leader and no answers for where millions of dollars have gone

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission has a new acting CEO and another CEO “on a leave of absence” – and “no additional information to share,” a spokesperson told Fresnoland late Tuesday.

Michelle Tutunjian, most recently the nonprofit’s chief operating officer, took over as acting CEO on Nov. 20, spokesperson Jose Moreno said in an email.

“To ensure clarity, Emilia Reyes remains the CEO of Fresno EOC, while Michelle Tutunjian serves as Acting CEO,” Moreno said. “Ms. Reyes is currently on a leave of absence, and I have no additional information to share.”

It’s unclear whether Reyes is still drawing a salary from Fresno EOC. Moreno has refused to answer questions about Reyes, citing personnel rules, including refusing to disclose copies of the nonprofit’s policies and procedures. He also declined to provide a timeline for when information would be released publicly.

The quiet leadership shakeup comes in the midst of a $3.2 million deficit at the nonprofit poverty-fighting organization. 

Fresnoland first made inquiries about Reyes’ role with Fresno EOC on Nov. 26, but didn’t get an answer back until Dec. 10, when Moreno said he couldn’t comment on personnel matters.

Moreno also said Tutunjian and Fresno EOC Board Chair Oliver Baines were not available for interviews “at this time.”

The Fresno EOC’s Dec. 16 board meeting had a sobering atmosphere, as the commission’s 24-member board learned the organization’s deficit rose from about $2.7 million in November to about $3.2 million this month. 

Commissioners asked Fresno EOC’s administrators a range of questions, with many not getting concrete responses. For example, Fresno EOC’s administrators did not have available a breakdown of each department’s funding sources for programs and positions. 

“Every department should have a flow chart that shows the organization’s funding sources that correspond.” Baines, the board chair, said at the Monday meeting. “That just seems like a good practice — apparently, we haven’t been doing that. It’s a very appropriate question, and it should be a standard practice.”

Commissioner Joaquin Arambula asked about the financials of the organization, based on attachments to the Dec. 16 agenda packet. 

“The total fund balance from ‘23 to ‘24 went down from 12.7 million to 7 million,” Arambula said. “Is that to suggest that we’ve lost $5.8 million this year?”

Chief Financial Officer Hemanta Mungur couldn’t answer the question Monday night. 

“I have to look into it further,” Mungur said.