Credit: Rob Parsons / Fresnoland

What's at stake:

Fresno EOC's leadership shakeup continues as questions about its finances linger.

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission appointed Brian Angus as its new interim Chief Executive Officer on Monday, two months after Michelle Tutunjian stepped into the interim role.

Additionally, the Fresno EOCโ€™s board did not renew Emilia Reyesโ€™ contract, marking the end of her nearly five-year tenure as CEO of the nonprofit poverty-fighting organization. 

Chief Operating Officer Michelle Tutunjian stepped into the interim CEO role in November 2024. Angus assumed the interim CEO role on Jan. 6, according to Fresno EOC spokesperson Jose Moreno. 

Angus previously served as Fresno EOCโ€™s CEO from 2010 to 2019, leading the organization right before Reyes. 

“Fresno EOC has always been a vital resource and advocate for our community,โ€ Angus said in a public statement. โ€œI am honored to return during this transition to help ensure the agency remains strong, focused, and committed to delivering impactful services. Together, we will continue empowering individuals, supporting families, and working toward fighting poverty in Fresno County.โ€ 

Fresno EOCโ€™s Board of Commissioners will move forward with a CEO search. Whoever seeks the permanent role would take the reins of an organization with a $3.2 million deficit, per a December snapshot.ย 

The leadership shakeup comes as the agency remains publicly silent on serious financial questions raised by EOC board members. At a December board meeting, Fresno EOCโ€™s Chief Financial Officer Hemanta Mungur was unable to explain to a board member whether the organization lost $5 million in 2023.

Additionally, board members have called for a forensic audit of the organization to get a clear picture of its finances. As of Tuesday, it wasnโ€™t immediately clear when the forensic audit could be completed or released to the public. 

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Omar S. Rashad was formerly the investigative reporter and assistant editor at Fresnoland. His coverage areas included public spending, Fresno city and county government, campaign finance and election-related...

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