Karen Seggi, leader of Second Harvest Food Bank since 2001, has plans to retire

Karen Seggi, who was hired by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania as an accountant in 1990 and has served as CEO since 2001, has announced plans to step down from that role.

Seggi, 57, said she plans to retire in February of 2025.

“Karen's commitment to Second Harvest and the community it serves cannot be overstated," Doug Starr, president of Second Harvest's board of directors, said in a statement. "Her passion and commitment are as strong today as it was when she first started working at the food bank 34 years ago."

At that time, Second Harvest had 270 member agencies, 16 employees and distributed 7.3 million pounds of food. Today, the organization has grown to 376 member agencies, 45 employees and is on track this year to deliver 13 million pounds of food.

"I am leaving Second Harvest poised for a successful future," Seggi said in a statement. "There is more work to be done to help those who are food insecure, and I am confident that the organization will continue to grow under new leadership.”

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The organization's board plans to begin a national search for a new CEO in May and expects to have a new leader in place by February.

Seggi was a founding member and is current treasurer of the statewide association Feeding Pennsylvania, served as president of Hunger Free PA, and leader of the Emergency Food and Shelter Board in Erie County.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie-based Second Harvest Food Bank to begin search for new CEO