2020 “New Beginnings” Gala Honorary Chairs Joye & Pierre Morrisseau

We are thrilled to have Joye and Pierre Morrisseau serve as our 2020 Gala Honorary Chairs and appreciate their decades of service and unwavering commitment and support of Vera House!

Joye grew up in Sterling, NY and earned a BFA in illustration from Syracuse University. After graduating from Syracuse University and moving to Boston, Joye worked for a computer software company and eventually went on to work as a freelance graphic designer. Joye and Pierre lived in Boston for three years and returned to Syracuse in 1989. It was during those early years when Pierre had joined the Vera House Board of Directors that Joye volunteered to layout, design and coordinate the Vera House Auction program.

Pierre grew up in Fair Haven, NY and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He began his career working in the insurance industry as a Safety Engineer for Wausau Insurance.  Through three companies, his career migrated from technical disciplines, organizational development and culture, risk management consulting, sales, management, and currently as CEO of OneGroup.  For the past 17 years, he has worked with his teammates at OneGroup to grow the firm from 35 people and 6 offices in Central New York to over 200 people and 19 offices throughout New York State and Pennsylvania. 

Pierre started his not-for-profit experience with Vera House over 26 years ago as a volunteer on the White Ribbon Campaign Steering Committee.  Through the years, he has continued to be an avid supporter of Vera House.  His past positions at the agency include Board Vice President, Board President, and White Ribbon Campaign Steering Committee Chair.  He is currently a Vera House Foundation Trustee. 

Pierre and Joye have been married 35 years and have two children, Erin and Colin.  Pierre spends his free time with a diverse range of hobbies – golf, skiing, car racing, flying radio control airplanes, handyman to a 90-year-old house, and eating ice cream (whenever he can get away with it). He is a big cheerleader for the community and has engaged in supporting the ever-growing local entrepreneurial efforts. Joye spends most of her time practicing Tae Kwon Do as a 3rd degree black belt, taking line dance classes, fitness classes, vegetable gardening, landscaping, arts and crafts of all kinds, walking her grand dog Albert, and the biggest responsibility of all—taking care of Pierre.