New director of FISH builds on strong foundation

The board of directors of Friends In Service Helping, known as FISH, has selected Jim Peckham to take over as executive director of the organization.

"Jim has a strong organizational background, he is a proven turnaround agent and he demonstrated a heart for the needy in our community," said Darcy Houghton, board president. "Jim has in his professional and personal life demonstrated the qualities that will lead FISH into its next generation."

Peckham officially took over on Aug. 1, succeeding interim director Jeff Fast, who remains a member of the management team.

"Now that we have our management team in place, we are ready to build on the heritage of the past, and meet the needs of the community in the future," Fast said.

Fast ran FISH since February 2008, after the retirement of his father Monte Fast, the longtime head of the nonprofit organization that supplies food and shelter to those in need.

"We have a very solid foundation here," Peckham said. "The whole team here makes it easy. I just come in and try to help do some fine-tuning to make it just that much better, to take it to the next level."

Peckham came to Carson City seven years ago with Harley Davidson Financial Services. Two years ago, he took over as executive director of the Northern Nevada Children's Museum, and continues in that role. He also has a consulting business and teaches in the MBA program at University of Phoenix in Reno.

Most of FISH's revenue comes from the three thrift stores in Carson City, Dayton and Gardnerville.

"Most of the other resell stores around, the money doesn't stay in the community," Peckham said. "With FISH, last year alone we served more than 144,000 meals, we have housing for 75 people, we provide for medical needs."

The help that FISH provides is not meant as a permanent means of support, Peckham said.

"We try to give people a boost so that they can have a future," Peckham said. "We are here to help them over a bump. It's not welfare, we have limited time frames they can use our services with the goal that we can help them through this difficult time so they can have a future."

Peckham's focus has been on getting participation from the employees and volunteers who work closely with the public to find areas of improvement, to reduce costs while increasing customer service and revenue.

He also wants to find ways to improve the shopping experience, possibly including updating the main FISH store in Carson City. It's all part of looking for opportunities to make good impressions on new customers, Peckham said.

"When people want to go shopping, we want them to think of FISH, because we have the best parking, or we have the best displays, or the best music, whatever it is that would make people want to shop here more. We want people to make this their first stop, not their last."

Peckham said that they have very few employees, but a lot of volunteers who keep the operation going.

"We have a tremendous number of volunteers who are making things happen, and we are always looking for more who can help out," Peckham said.