Randy Callstrom assumed his new role today as president-CEO of the Wyandot Inc. family of organizations.
Callstrom most recently was executive director of PACES, the Wyandot Inc. agency serving children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral issues, and their families.
Other Wyandot Inc. agencies include Wyandot Center, providing mental health services for adults; Kim Wilson Housing, creating innovative housing solutions; Rainbow Services Inc., providing 24/7 crisis stabilization services; and City Vision, developing urban Kansas City, Kan.
The Wyandot Inc. agencies have a combined annual budget of $31.2 million and 555 employees, full- and part-time. Based in Wyandotte County, the organization dates its founding to 1953. It was subsequently designated the county’s community mental health center in the late 1960s. In 2010, restructuring into different agencies occurred under the umbrella of Wyandot, Inc., to better meet diverse needs of the community.
Callstrom succeeds Pete Zevenbergen who led the organization for the past 14 years. Zevenbergen is consulting on special Wyandot initiatives during the leadership transition through August.
Callstrom joined Wyandot in 1993 as a therapist and advanced into management roles with increased responsibilities. From 2001 through 2010, he was director of Community-Based Services, the precursor to PACES. Callstrom has his master’s degree in social welfare from the University of Kansas and his bachelor’s in communications from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
He is a graduate of the Leadership 2000 program and an active member of the Kiwanis Club, KCK West, and the KU School of Social Welfare Advisory Board. He is past chair of both the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board and the Wyandotte Children’s Coordinating Council.
– Story from Therese Horvat, director of communications, Wyandot Inc.