Hilltop Community Resources announced Will Hays was selected by the Hilltop Board of Directors to become its next chief executive officer.

Hilltop said in a June 29 news release that final transition details are in progress, and it will share additional information about timing and next steps soon.

The news release said Hays brings a deep understanding of Hilltop, its mission and the people it serves. Throughout the search process, Hays demonstrated “a genuine commitment to Hilltop’s values, a clear vision for the future and a passion for building on the strong foundation Hilltop has created.”

According to the news release, Hays’ selection follows months of evaluation and interviews to determine a successor to current Hilltop CEO Mike Stahl. Stahl will transition into an advisory role through the end of his tenure and will work closely with the board of directors and Hays to ensure a smooth transition.

Hays has spent more than 30 years working to build connections in communities, first as a direct-care provider and for the past 27 years as a leader at Hilltop.

The news release said Hays leads with a people-first philosophy and the belief that organizations succeed when they invest in their people with the same intention they invest in their services.

Hilltop Community Resources is a local nonprofit organization that for more than 75 years has provided support on the Western Slope to thousands of community members annually.