WE ARE HORIZON HEARTS

Founder and Executive Director

The Founder and Executive Director of Horizon Hearts, Victor Seltzer, Ph.D. has over 20 years of experience in health and human services. He has management and service delivery experience as an executive director and has held senior management positions in HIV/AIDS organizations, homeless services and housing agencies. Dr. Seltzer’s experience is multifaceted, ranging from direct client services work to overseeing all aspects of programmatic and fiscal operations including program design, project implementation, coordination, quality assurance, supervision and mentoring staff. In his career, he has opened and operated five different shelters in NYC, all of which are still in operations today.

The work included every step from planning through implementation and on-going operations, including identifying and securing sites, preparing the sites by bringing them up to code, recruiting and training staff, implementing programs and procedures and responsibly managing the finances to ensure long-term sustainability. Dr. Seltzer also has depth of experience in related areas of social work. Under HOPWA funding, he implemented programs in Brooklyn and Queens providing supportive services and case management to people living with HIV.

His work included developing referral agreements and networks to ensure provision of health, mental health, housing, and legal assistance. One of the most important qualities he brings is his ability to initiate and build strategic alliances with other agencies, community groups and coalitions to maximize positive outcomes for clients.

Finance & Development for Horizon Hearts

Tommy Thomson, MSW, MPH, brings over 20 years of experience including social work in community and hospital settings, program development, evaluation and research, strategic planning, management and supervision. As the assistant for health and social services to the Director of the Family Emergency Assistance Program (NYC family shelter system) she developed and implemented systems to ensure appropriate placement of clients with medical issues, and to document and track immunization status of all family shelter residents, as well as addressing environmental issues within all tier I shelters. For multiple non-profit agencies, she has provided recruitment, development and training strategies in such areas as fiscal responsibility, fund raising, program accountability, strategic planning, community relations and governance. Assessed compliance with program and fiscal regulations, developed fiscal tracking and grant management standards, and developed enhanced management systems to meet federal and state audit standards.