Pete Zevenbergen, who has expanded the scope and services of Wyandotte County’s community mental health center into a family of organizations to address a broader range of client needs, has announced that he will retire from his role as president and CEO of Wyandot Inc., effective June 30, 2014.
Randy Callstrom, current executive director of PACES, the Wyandot, Inc. agency that serves children, adolescents and families, will assume the leadership role of Wyandot Inc. on July 1. Callstrom has been with Wyandot Inc. related agencies since 1993.
The Rev. Ken Nettling, Wyandot Inc. board chair, said that Zevenbergen accelerated his retirement plans following the March 20 car accident that claimed the life of his 20-year-old son Robert.
“This is a bittersweet transition for our organization,” Nettling said. “Pete has brought a unique and visionary leadership style to Wyandot Inc. and Wyandotte County. He has expanded services significantly, cultivated strong community partnerships and enhanced our visibility locally, statewide and nationally – all in support of our mission to improve the quality of life of Wyandotte County residents.”
Zevenbergen plans to return to his native Iowa where he previously served as executive director of two community mental health centers.
“This will place Pete and his wife Cindy close to their families,” Nettling said.
Zevenbergen joined Wyandot Center in 2000 as executive director of the community mental health center. In 2010, he restructured the organization. Wyandot Inc. is the parent company of four nonprofit agencies: Wyandot Center, serving mental health needs of adults; PACES, providing services for children, adolescents and families; Kim Wilson Housing, developing innovative solutions to housing challenges; and City Vision, developing urban Kansas City, Kan.
Zevenbergen has grown the organization to a $31 million budget with 366 full-time and 189 part-time employees serving in multiple Wyandotte County locations and providing extensive community-based services.
For his local, state and national leadership in the mental health field, Zevenbergen received multiple awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare at its annual meeting in 2006. He was also recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award from The Community Leadership Association (2006); the Jackson-Scroggins Distinguished Service Award from Friends of Yates for promoting a “safety net” for domestic violence victims; the Chamberlain-Rapp Exemplary Leadership Award by Kansas consumers (2008); and the Kansas NAMI Provider of the Year recognition.
“Pete and Randy will work together to help ensure a smooth leadership transition across our organization and with community and statewide partners,” Nettling said. “This will include naming the new executive director for PACES.”
– Story from Wyandot Inc.