BRC Board Names Kelly Quirk as Next President and CEO

Chief Operating Officer to Succeed Muzzy Rosenblatt on September 1.

New York, NY — The Board of Directors of the Bowery Residents’ Committee, Inc., (more familiarly known as BRC), one of New York City’s largest and most effective housing and social services nonprofits, today announced the appointment of Kelly Quirk as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026.

Quirk, currently BRC’s Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Muzzy Rosenblatt, who earlier this year informed the Board of his decision to step down after 26 years of transformational leadership as BRC’s CEO. Rosenblatt will continue to serve BRC in an advisory role.

The Board’s selection follows an extensive search process focused on identifying a leader who could build on BRC’s strong foundation while advancing its mission and impact for years to come.

“Kelly, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been an indispensable leader during a period of significant growth and impact,” said Julie Salamon, Chair of BRC’s Board of Directors. “She brings deep operational knowledge, an unwavering commitment to our mission, and a profound understanding of the communities we serve. Kelly will lead BRC into its next chapter while building on the extraordinary legacy that Muzzy and our dedicated staff have created.”

Quirk brings a unique combination of frontline experience, clinical expertise, operational acumen, and nuanced institutional knowledge to the role. She has also emerged as a thought leader in innovative person-centered practices serving individuals experiencing homelessness and living in supportive housing.

Quirk began her career at BRC in 2007 and has grown through the organization, serving in increasingly senior leadership roles, including her current role as Chief Operating Officer. Her journey from direct service to executive leadership gives her a distinctive perspective — grounded both in the lived realities of the individuals BRC serves and in the complex systems required to deliver effective, compassionate care. Throughout her career, she has been a committed mentor to emerging leaders within BRC and the field of social work, helping cultivate the next generation of mission-driven professionals.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her Master of Social Work from New York University.

Quirk said she is honored to assume the role. “Nineteen years ago, I walked through the door of BRC’s Reception Center program as a frontline staff member and found a creative, ethical, and innovative organization dedicated to quality care of our clients,” said Quirk. “I have been proud every day since then of what my colleagues and I have been able to accomplish together. I am thankful to lead an organization that is thriving thanks to Muzzy’s leadership.”

“Building on our history of innovating to meet our clients’ needs, serving as BRC’s next CEO will be the professional honor of a lifetime.,” Quirk said. “I also will ensure that BRC continues to deepen our relationship with our partners across the government and provider community, and to grow as a professional home for the staff who dedicate so much of themselves to advancing our mission and upholding the dignity and respect of our clients.”

Quirk’s appointment reflects both continuity and confidence in BRC’s future.

“I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of working with and learning from Kelly for nearly two decades,” said Muzzy Rosenblatt. “She is guided by passion, professionalism and a principled commitment to the work we do for the people BRC serves. With the Board’s decision to make Kelly CEO, I could not be more optimistic or excited about BRC’s future, nor more proud of and happy for my colleague.”

About BRC

For more than fifty years BRC has been a trusted partner to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, by providing housing, health services and the support needed to rebuild lives with dignity. The organization has contributed innovative models of care to the field, such as the Safe Haven and Stabilization programs as well the broad availability of the overdose-reversal drug Narcan. BRC has also created new models for the financing and design of nonprofit owned and operated purpose-built homeless shelters and other solutions to the housing affordability crisis, including its current endeavor to build a modern SRO.