Gregory Eddy brings a background in sales, marketing and quality assurance to a new position as director of the safe environment program for the archdiocese.

Eddy, 56, a parishioner of the Church of St. Benedict in Duluth, began his new role on Sept. 5. He is the first person in this new position and will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the full archdiocesan response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” compliance requirement.

Eddy spent much of the last decade working for Delta Connection Atlantic Southeast Airlines. As a marketing representative, a position he held from 1999 until his archdiocesan hiring, he had to collaborate with government and city officials to assist them with sponsorships and marketing campaigns. He also was responsible for establishing and maintaining positive relationships with airport officials.

Eddy holds a degree in business administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

As director of the safe environment program, Eddy will report to Chuck Thibaudeau, director of human resources, but will also be taking over some of the workload of Sue Stubbs, director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

Stubbs said that Eddy will concentrate a lot of his job on the safe environment paperwork and training for volunteers and archdiocesan and parish staff. Stubbs, in turn, will be able to do more outreach to those who have been victims of abuse by church personnel.

“We’re reaching out as much as we can, but this will help us to reach immensely more people,” Stubbs said.

Eddy, Stubbs said, will also be auditing the parishes on a regular basis to ensure they are in compliance with the Charter.

“It’s been challenging” to do both the safe environment work and victim outreach, Stubbs said, adding that they have done some outreach, mainly to people who were abused in other cities and states. “We haven’t had many victims in Atlanta, but we know they are out there, and we hope to be able to encourage them to come forward.”

Eddy, who has been married to his wife, Kathie, for 33 years, is also the father of two sons. His son Brian is a cadet at the Air Force Academy, and son Tom recently returned from Iraq where he served with the Army National Guard.

Eddy said that his Catholic faith greatly helped him while his son was in the line of fire.

“It was a tough experience,” he said. “But it’s great to know so many people out there were praying for him.”

Of his new job, Eddy said that it will be a “breath of fresh air.”

“I’ve played the political game and the corporate game,” he said. “It will be nice not to have those same pressures on me working in a faith-based environment.”

Most importantly, he said, he is hoping that through his work, he’ll be an aid to those who are most vulnerable.

“Children have a lot on their plate. If I can help keep them safe through this job, then I’m happy.”