Chief Executive Officer

Katherine Wibby, Esq.
(508) 255-4581

Driven by a passion to serve her community, Katie joined LCOC in January 2022. She first assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer, but shortly thereafter was promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Katie has dedicated her professional career to serving underrepresented communities. Before taking on her role at LCOC, Katie practiced public interest law for 10 years. Her legal career began in the Public Defender’s office in Barnstable County, until she moved on to South Coastal Counties Legal Services Hyannis Office. Katie spent six years with Legal Services, where she worked primarily with low-income individuals and families, providing representation in the areas of housing and governmental benefits. During her time at SCCLS, Katie was a member of several boards and committees, which gives her significant experience with other social service providers in the area. Katie left SCCLS as the Senior Attorney managing the Elder Law Project. As the CEO of LCOC, Katie continues to collaborate with other local non-profits to better serve the needs of our community. Currently, she serves on the boards of Wellfleet Preservation Hall and The Orleans After School Program, Inc.

Director of Operations

Karen Ross
(774) 722-9784

Karen is a Native Cape Codder with deep ancestral roots in the sandy Cape Cod soil. As a graduate of Boston University, she was well prepared for a career in banking which she enjoyed until becoming an at-home mom for a dozen years. Prior to joining LCOC in May 2021, she was employed by the Friends Food Pantry in Bourne. Managing the Bourne pantry for over ten years was a rewarding and enjoyable job. Last spring when it was time for a new and greater career challenge, she made the move to LCOC. When not working, she can be found cooking for and hanging out with her family, at the theatre in Boston, or in the garden coaxing that sandy soil to produce something of beauty.

Director of Development

Gerry Desautels, MEd, CFRE
(774) 684-2153

Gerry has lived on Cape Cod since 1999, beckoned by the region’s natural beauty and strong sense of community. Since then, he has assisted in raising millions of dollars for regional nonprofits in the healthcare, environmental, education, and social service sectors. Prior to joining LCOC, he served as Senior Development and Communications Officer with Outer Cape Health Services, helping to guide the federally qualified community health center through Covid. Born and raised in Northeastern Connecticut, Gerry attended Boston University on scholarship to earn a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He then worked in marketing positions before returning to B.U. to earn a master’s in education with a concentration in Media and Technology which launched him into the high-tech public relations world.

Upon settling on the Cape, Gerry quickly realized he could transfer all his for-profit experience to serve the greater good in nonprofit endeavors. Gerry is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a 2021 nonprofit management certificate graduate of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP). A former co-chair of Philanthropy Day on Cape Cod and a director on the Philanthropy Partners of the Cape and Islands board, he continues to serve as a director of the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund (formerly Needy Fund)—a longtime LCOC nonprofit partner. At LCOC, Gerry is leading a capital campaign to transform the organization’s Orleans headquarters, which includes the tripling in size of the ground floor main food pantry and expansion and remodeling of Katy’s Korner. In his spare time, Gerry is a film and photography fanatic and enjoys spending adventurous times with friends and family.

Manager of Client Services

Andy O’Dell, LCSW
(774) 801-8188

With broad professional experience in the fields of government, education, and human services, Andy comes to LCOC after establishing and building the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) in Barnstable County. As the Regional Coordinator for TPP, Andy worked with clients across the Cape who were facing major housing crises and assisted in the stabilization of at-risk tenancies. Additionally, he has developed partnerships with many of the same service providers that LCOC currently coordinates with and he looks forward to building on those relationships to better serve the people of the Lower and Outer Cape. Prior to entering the field of social work, Andy began his career as a policy advisor in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, taught history and political theory, and found his way to the Cape through his work on addressing the opioid and substance use crises. A resident of the Outer Cape since 2009, Andy now serves his community by volunteering his time to youth engagement programs, local recreation departments, and youth sports programs; he current serves on the Board of Directors for the Lower Cape’s largest youth sports organization – Coastal Cape Baseball. By joining the team at LCOC, Andy hopes to make an impact closer to home by focusing his work on the Lower and Outer Cape and helping to develop closer relationships amongst the various service providers in the region.

Data and Marketing Manager

Laura Hunt
(508) 255-0271

Laura spent summers on Cape Cod working for local restaurants and shops during her teenage and young adult years. Upon retiring as a longtime high-tech, international marketing executive in the Boston area, she became a year-round Lower Cape resident in 2015. Laura joined LCOC to share her skills, knowledge, and background in support of its community-based mission to provide assistance for basic human needs while encouraging greater self-sufficiency.

Laura volunteers with Cape Abilities and WE CAN. When not at work or volunteering, you’ll find Laura on the beach or in the garden with her family and friends. A self-described yogi, lover of books and knitting, and a “closet” chef, she considers Julia Child as one of her life-inspiring heroes.

Bookkeeper

Rose Bokavich
(508) 240-0694

Rose arrived on the Cape as a vacationer in 1983 and became a permanent Codder several years later. As a graduate of Bentley School of Accounting, Rose worked for many years as a Comptroller of a large South Shore dealership. Upon retiring she started and maintains a virtual accounting practice and joined Lower Cape Outreach Council as a part-timer in February 2022. Any free time is spent with the grandkids and family including two whoodles named Bo and Poppy.

Food Program Supervisor

Stacey Raczek
(508) 240-0694

After many happy summer trips with family, Stacey moved to Orleans in 2020. In previous work, she studied the impact of programs designed to support children, families, and communities, most recently as Associate Director of Research and Evaluation for the Center for Thriving Children at Boston College. Her career included more than 30 years of educational and health policy research, designing tools and assessments to collect information, and studying how to apply what the latest research from psychology, education, and health tells us about effective strategies for improving the lives of children and families.

She also has written and directed grant proposals leading to millions of dollars in federal and philanthropic funding. Stacey is so excited to do the hands-on work of overseeing LCOC’s food distribution program and driving the iconic red LCOC truck! She relishes opportunities to connect with volunteers, vendors, clients, and staff. In her spare time, Stacey enjoys cooking, gardening, and visiting her children off Cape when not playing with her dogs and pet tortoise.

Food Program Manager

Howard Thomas
(508) 240-0694

Howard is one staff member who needs no introduction! Howard has been with LCOC since 2015. He was born in Jamaica and came to Cape Cod in 2014, after a brief time in Florida. He started at LCOC as a volunteer while working for Fancy’s Produce and soon joined LCOC as an employee. He is our go-to person behind the scenes who ensures that there is food at our pantries, toys under our clients’ Christmas trees, and that the day-to-day needs at the office are met. He responds to our clients’ needs when unexpected issues arise or last-minute requests for assistance pop up. Howard takes care of all of this, and so much more.