Job Point has a new president and CEO. Here's who the board selected

Job Point after a roughly six-month search has a president and CEO.

John Scalise was appointed to the role July 15 by the Job Point board. While Scalise took on the role on this date, this also means Job Point is in a transition period as former president and CEO Steve Smith officially retires in September.

Scalise is a familiar face at Job Point. He had served as the Rehabilitation Services unit director for nine years.

“We are confident John Scalise will do an outstanding job leading Job Point into the future. John has been working in the Social Service field for 32 years. He has dedicated himself to assisting members of his community who struggle with various life challenges. John has served in a variety of leadership roles over his career and is ideal for this position,” said Lauren Karr, board chair.

Scalise looks forward to continuing Job Point's growth.

"I am humbled and honored to be given this opportunity. I’ve been able to watch our great leader, Steve Smith, guide the organization through some challenging times. I’ve been allowed to work with the best coworkers, who deeply care about improving the lives of others," he said. "I look forward to the future and believe Job Point will continue to be a leader in our community. We are a strong organization and I am so grateful to be a part of this work family."

Scalise's skill set and the management team already in place means that Job Point can prosper and grow, Smith said.

"I am pleased to see that after careful consideration, the Board of Directors has recognized the incredible talent of our existing team at Job Point and decided to promote from within. John has been a stable and dedicated leader, a champion of growth in his department, and passionate about serving this community in many ways," he said.

Scalise is a Columbia native, graduated from Hickman High School, attended the University of Missouri, and has a degree in recreation therapy from the University of Central Missouri. His more than 30-year career spans a variety of skills, including behavioral health services that included psychiatrist services, case management, therapy for individuals and groups, assertive community treatment, intensive in-home services for youth, and crisis response.

He has worked for the state hospital in Fulton, University Psychiatric Center, and University Behavioral Health and between 2004 and 2015 lived in eastern North Carolina for Pitt County's Crisis Stabilization Program. He returned to Columbia in 2015, joining the Job Point staff.

Scalise has begun working alongside Smith to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Scalise will continue to work with the Rehabilitation Services department and Ticket to Work program to ensure continuity of services until his replacement has been hired, Job Point said.

More: 'This job found me': Job Point CEO Steve Smith plans September retirement

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Job Point has a new president and CEO. Here's who the board selected