The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) in Detroit has appointed of Katrina McCree as its new CEO.
McCree’s appointment is more than a professional milestone; it is a personal homecoming.
Years ago, McCree’s own family relied on THAW’s assistance to keep their home warm during a time of hardship. That experience shaped her career in advocacy and fueled her desire to return to the organization that once provided her family with stability.
“THAW is more than emergency assistance, it’s a bridge to stability and dignity,” says McCree. “I know firsthand what it means when that support shows up at the right moment. My goal is to ensure every family in Michigan has access to that same lifeline and a pathway forward. Many individuals and families we help return to us as donors at a later date fueled by deep gratitude for the support we provided during a time of struggle.”
McCree brings three decades of executive experience in healthcare, housing and community development. Most recently, she served as chief community impact officer at Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), where she secured critical funding, raising more than $8 million and secured many new grant funders to support vulnerable populations. She also spearheaded a campaign to close the funding gap for the final phase of Detroit’s $22 million Healthy Housing Campus.
Under McCree’s leadership, THAW is expected to expand its comprehensive service model recognizing that utility crises are often tied to broader life challenges, such as job loss, medical crises, or disability. THAW will continue to scale home repair and weatherization programs, strengthen strategic energy efficiency partnerships to lower long-term energy burdens and connect families to wraparound supports including employment resources, health services and maternal care.
“Katrina’s unique blend of executive expertise and lived experience makes her the ideal leader to guide THAW today and in the future,” says Cedric Flowers, board chair of THAW. “She understands how a single spike in utility costs can unravel months of careful financial management for those on fixed incomes and is committed to building programs and partnerships that provide support for Michigan families.”
