Job Point announced the appointment of Scalise as its new President and Chief Executive Officer after an extensive, months-long search that included applicants from across the nation. Scalise will replace Steve Smith, who announced his retirement in January.
Columbia, MO – Job Point’s Board of Directors announced last week that after an extensive search, they have appointed John Scalise as the organizations new President and Chief Executive Officer effective July 15, 2024. Scalise has served in the Rehabilitation Services unit at Job Point for nine years, most recently as Director before his appointment as CEO. Scalise will begin the transition process effective immediately, working closely with the retiring Smith over the coming weeks and months to ensure a smooth changing of the guard at Job Point’s helm.
“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,” Lauren Karr, Board Chair said.
A Columbia native, Scalise graduated from Hickman High School and attended the University of Missouri. He has a degree in Recreation Therapy from Central Missouri State University. For over 30 years, Scalise has held a variety of positions within the behavioral health system. Early in his career, he worked at Fulton State Hospital, University Psychiatric Center, and University Behavioral Health. In 2004, he moved to North Carolina and began to focus primarily on Crisis Stabilization. He worked for Pitt County in the Crisis Stabilization Program, and then became the Director of Crisis Stabilization for Eastern Carolina Case Management.
He was a partner involved with the creation and development of Bridges of Hope, which provided outpatient 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 also helped developed a transitional housing program for people with severe and persistent mental health challenges.
Scalise volunteered for several years in a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program to assist law enforcement in learning about various diagnosis and crisis resolution techniques. In 2012, Scalise became the Crisis Interventions Team Training and Disaster Response Coordinator for 19 counties in eastern North Carolina; helping plan, develop, and implement 40-hour trainings for Police, Sheriff’s Department, and School Resource Officers, VA Military Police, and Detention Center officers.
When Scalise returned to Columbia in 2015, he began working at Job Point as an Advisor, and was promoted to Rehabilitation Services Manager six months later. He was Employee of the Year in 2016, Administrator of the Year in 2023 from the Missouri Rehabilitation Association and received the Point of Light Award in 2023 from the Missouri Brain Injury Association. He was promoted to the Director of Rehabilitation Services in 2019. Since 2015, he has overseen a tremendous amount of financial growth in the Rehabilitation Services department; not only increasing earnings, but expanding services including Ticket to Work, Department of Mental Health Waivered services, The Summer Work Experience, and the STEP Program to provide more opportunities for success to residents of Central Missouri.
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.
From Steve Smith, Job Point’s retiring President & CEO of 9 years:
“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. I am excited to see the great things that will happen at Job Point and the people who will find success and opportunity to thrive under his leadership,” Steven A. Smith said. “With John’s skill set and what he brings to the table, along with the management team in place, I know that Job Point can continue to prosper and grow.”
From John Scalise, Job Point’s incoming President & CEO:
“I truly love working for Job Point and believe we have an honorable mission. I am looking forward to growing our organization,” Scalise said. “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. 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 said.
From Lauren Karr, Job Point’s Board Chair:
“For fifty-nine years, Job Point has been dedicated to helping people from across the community gain the necessary skills to find and maintain employment and overcome their barriers to success. Through employment services, job readiness training, skilled trades training programs, affordable housing initiatives and youth-focused programs like, YouthBuild and Boone County Builds Youth, the Job Point Dream Team staff, under John’s leadership will continue to seek out more ways to say “Yes, Job Point can help,” Karr said.
About Job Point:
Job Point is Missouri’s premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Since 1965, we have been linking people and jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. We specialize in preparing individuals to enter the workforce, while meeting a critical need of the business community. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with services extending to Moberly, Boonville and the surrounding communities. Since 2003, Job Point’s YouthBuild program has helped over 1,100 youth and young adults reclaim their education and build the skills they need for life-long learning, leadership and personal and professional success.
For additional information, please contact John Scalise, Job Point’s President and CEO by calling (573) 777-1533 or via email at johns@jobpoint.org.
