Some might pale from taking over a program whose former director allegedly embezzled $1 million and then died several months before his trial, but Robert Turberville is not afraid of a challenge.
Brought in on Oct. 1 by high-ranking national Red Cross executives to run the medium-size chapter in Jersey City, Turberville succeeded Joseph Lecowitch after it was discovered by an internal audit that Lecowitch and his bookkeeper, Catalina Escoto, allegedly embezzled $1 million of the chapter’s funds. Lecowitch died of a heart attack two weeks ago.
“I admit it was a messy environment coming in, but I saw the potential here,” Turberville said during an interview in his renovated office last week. “At first I didn’t want to be here. But after talking with my wife, and looking at the situation as an opportunity to help, I accepted the job.”
In December, after the audit, Lecowitch and Escoto were charged by Hudson County prosecutors with issuing checks payable to themselves between January 1999 and March 2001. If convicted, Escoto could face 10 years in prison, according to First Assistant Prosecutor Terrence Hull.
“They were charged with misappropriation of funds,” Hull said.
Despite all the controversy surrounding the chapter and the public relations nightmare Turberville is dealing with, he is focused on moving on and establishing the local chapter as an important part of the community.
After meeting with an initially leery eight-person staff, Turberville said he won their trust and has committed himself to renovating the approximately 10,000 square foot building on Greenville Avenue, formerly a funeral home. The Red Cross has been in that facility since 1990, he said.
“We have been painting and putting up new doors and windows,” he said. “Compared to they way it was, this is night and day.”
On his “to-do” list with a $1.1 million annual operating budget, he wants to create a local fundraising program in the chapter, begin an aggressive volunteer recruitment campaign in the area, and stack up on supplies for their disaster assistance unit.
“There was a successful annual fundraiser here, but we want to raise money throughout the year,” Turberville said. “With some hard work and commitment we’ll be able to get back on our feet.”
Born and raised in Birmingham, Ala., Turberville currently lives with his wife in Weehawken. He is an expert on turning “down-on-their-luck” agencies into functional and successful institutions. During his more than 10-year tenure with the United Way in Baltimore, Md., he took a local dying chapter and recruited volunteers and raised money to help the community.
Turberville brought his Southern charm and successful track record to the Jersey City chapter, one of the 1,034 chapters nationwide. He lets his staff know when he needs to be assertive with them.
“I know people in Jersey are known for their attitude. Southerners can get an attitude too if need be,” he said.
Under a microscope
The branch is currently under a microscope by the Red Cross national Board of Directors, as well as members of the community, according to Turberville. His main job is to win back the people’s trust and confidence in his organization, he said.
“We want to show them we’re out there ready to help them,” he said. “It’s bad what happened with Lecowitch, but now we have to move forward and do things right.”
The functions of the Red Cross are to provide immediate help to fire victims, store and distribute blood donations, and respond to disasters, said Turberville. Since Sept. 11, the local chapter has been stretching their duties providing financial aid to those affected and issuing referrals to other agencies.
Immediately after the attacks, the local chapter was inundated with calls and walk-ins, Turberville said. At first, the personnel at the branch referred the people to Liberty State Park and other locations that were providing immediate help.
The local chapter also has helped out fire victims with temporary housing numerous times.
The American Red Cross, founded more than a century ago by Clara Barton, is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and is guided by its congressional chapter, according to Turberville. The fundamental principles of the international Red Cross movement is to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
The Hudson County Red Cross chapter is located on 26 Greenville Ave. Anyone interested in volunteering may call (201) 433-3100.