Tina Zerbian

Tina Zerbian, MSEd has devoted her life to improving the well-being of others. 

Ms. Zerbian is Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Communities in Action (CCA), a role she has held since 1984. Under her leadership, CCA became the first not-for-profit weatherization agency in New York State to manage the weatherization programs of four counties. Its leadership led to the agency’s designation as a test program for the entire State.

As a college student, she envisioned becoming an educator like her grandmother, sister, and brother. While a graduate student, she taught at a camp for troubled youth, an experience that opened her eyes to greater needs in the community.

She recalls thinking that she was working with kids who needed more than an education; they were coping with serious challenges related to poverty and other adversities. Ms. Zerbian realized she could make more of an impact by helping them address those fundamental needs. That recognition led to a four-decade career devoted to helping others improve their lives.

Ms. Zerbian is a member of multiple boards, including the New York State Weatherization Policy Advisory Council, the Community Services Block Grant Advisory Council, and the New York State Community Action Association.

During her tenure, Ms. Zerbian has administered several low-income housing tax credit projects and served as a consultant with TRC Companies, assisting with the launch of the Multifamily Performance Program. Her work has led to several well-deserved awards, including Woman of the Year by the Enchanted Mountain Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1990, and the Alumnus of the Year for Leadership Cattaraugus in 2008.

Ms. Zerbian received the New York State Community Action Association’s Administrator of the Year Award in 2000, and the Friends of Civil Legal Services Award from the New York State Unified Court System (2004). In 2019, she was inducted into the Notable Women in Human Services Hall of Fame.

Ms. Zerbian lives in Ellicottville, New York with her husband, Tom. They celebrated their 34th anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day. They have two adult sons, and are expecting their first grandchild later this year.