CRC: Baker transitions into senior director role while maintaining services
It was a role Stephanie Baker was ready take, but not one she expected so soon and certainly not the way it happened.
Baker was named senior director of Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center (CRC) following the resignation – some say unexpected – of Bill Owens April 18.
Owens was executive director of the CRC for more than 25 years, but didn’t leave a public message as to his decision. CRC officials remain mum on the matter; attempts to reach Owens have been unsuccessful.
Baker said the primary concern through all of the confusion was to make sure that service went uninterrupted for CRC clients.
“This work is incredibly difficult in the field,” Baker said. “We have stuff that happens all the time.”
She wouldn’t say whether she knew Owens was resigning, so his departure remains somewhat of a mystery for the public at large.
“I wish nothing but the best for Bill,” she said.
And it was time to move on – and quickly – to meet the needs of those who rely on the CRC, which serves 10,000 people annually.
“In terms of overarching goals, it’s ensuring that all of our great programs we’re doing are preserved,” Baker said.
“It was something that I found that I could do,” she said. “I really wanted to do a good job because this place is so important.
She started with the CRC 15 years ago as youth programming manager, got her master’s degree in social work and was associate director, essentially the center’s No. 2 position, for 10 years.
She watched the CRC go from a modest building at 14 W. Lakeview Ave., which the center still owns, to a 4,000-square-foot facility at 3222 N. High St. A rented annex, 3230 N. High St., is used for meetings, events and storage.
Baker, 39, is responsible for balancing an annual budget of $4.7 million and overseeing nine areas, such as the food pantry, transportation and senior and youth programs.
Robin Brown, senior services director for the center, said she welcomes several events returning after two years of COVID-related cancellations.
The “breakfast club” is to begin 11 a.m. June 9 at the main building. To sign up, seniors need to call the center in advance at 614-268-3539.
“We haven’t had a large gathering like that since the beginning of the pandemic,” Brown said.
The “choice” food pantry on West Lakeview Road has opened back up, meaning guests can go inside and pick out their own groceries, as opposed to picking up a pre-selected bag at the door.
Third Thursdays are also back from 5 to 9 p.m. every month at the main building, where there are food trucks, bands, beer and children’s activities.
Brown said the CRC is needing bus drivers and drivers to transport seniors to medical appointments.
She said she’s pleased the center’s board named Baker as senior director, which essentially is the same function as executive director.
“I know that we were concerned – I was concerned – that we were going to choose someone else,” Brown said. “Stephanie seemed like an obvious choice.”
gseman@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekGary
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Baker transitions into senior director role while maintaining services
