Sam Schaeffer is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a New York-based nonprofit that provides employment services to men and women with criminal convictions. CEO was created by the Vera Institute of Justice in the late 1970s and has been operating as an independent organization since 1996.  Mr. Schaeffer joined CEO in 2009 to replicate the program in jurisdictions beyond New York City. During his tenure, CEO has expanded to 11 cities across California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York. Prior to joining CEO, Mr. Schaeffer served as Director of Economic Development for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. In that position, he oversaw all job creation and retention efforts, transportation, and infrastructure policy as well as social policy. Sam graduated with a B.A. from Reed College, Phi Beta Kappa.