John A. Berry has been named executive director of the Atlanta Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

In his new position, Berry is the Council’s senior staff member and reports directly to the Council president and board of directors. His responsibilities include supervising the Council’s daily operations and 20 staff members.

Berry has over 20 years of senior management experience in the commercial power and computer technology industries. He served as the leader of the training and human resources business units for both General Electric and Westinghouse Electric corporations. Most recently, he was a sales/management executive with CompUSA.

Berry said he is looking forward to his new role.

“I’m very excited about my new job,” Berry said. “The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a wonderful organization that has helped so many people here in Georgia and throughout the world. The Society has often gone unrecognized for its good works, so one of my goals is to increase its public awareness.”

Berry said he is committed to ensuring that the greater Atlanta community knows about the good done by SVdP.

“Along with the president and board members, my role will be as the face of the Society to the local community and to the supporters who help us do what we do,” Berry said. “I will work hard to make sure our story is told and that we receive the financial and other support necessary to allow us to continue and expand our support to the people we serve.”

Berry and his wife Debi have lived in Marietta for 14 years. They have three grown children: Christopher, 24, who works in Idaho; Sean, 22, who is in the U.S. Navy; and Katie, 20, who is a student at the University of Montana.

Berry and his wife are members of the Church of the Transfiguration in Marietta, where he is the current parish council president. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and also teaches in the church’s religious education program. Earlier, he developed and taught a computer basics class in conjunction with the Society’s conference at the church.

In 2001 Berry started a ministry at Transfiguration called CareerCare which provides spiritual support, job search skills training, networking and mentoring for people who are in job transition, unemployed or underemployed.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an international lay Catholic volunteer-based member organization that helps people in need, regardless of their race or religion. Since 1903 the Society’s Atlanta Council has offered a wide range of services: direct financial aid, education and training, free food and clothing, and temporary housing. In 2005 the Council was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award. This award honors organizations that exemplify a commitment to social justice, celebrate diversity, and are actively engaged in building a better future for all mankind.