Smith Celebrates a Legacy of Advocacy, Action and Opportunity
Job Point announced today that Steven A. Smith, President and CEO, has informed the Board of Directors and staff of his intention to retire from Job Point effective September 30, 2024. Smith plans to continue his efforts to ensure a strong and stable future for Job Point and work with leadership throughout the year, laying the groundwork for a smooth transition in leadership.
“This job found me. I was on the board, went to two board meetings and I was asked to come on for six months to help in the interim after my predecessor resigned. That was nine years ago,” Smith said. “I am a firm believer in opportunities. When I accepted this position, I looked at it as an opportunity. And I have to say, the highlight of my career has been here.”
Steven A. Smith began as Job Point’s Interim President in 2014
Job Point’s Board of Directors selected Smith as President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 28, 2015. Prior to coming to Job Point, Steve worked in the banking industry for 37 years. In addition to his work in the private sector, Smith had also served numerous organizations, including on the Boards of Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Heart of Missouri United Way; he also served on several committees with Columbia Public Schools.
Putting his belief in opportunity into action, Smith continued to serve on committees, roundtables and advocacy groups throughout the community and beyond. He has been a member of the Boone County Upward Mobility Committee, Columbia Source Summit Roundtable, Minority Men’s Network, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Reinventing our Communities (2023), Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation/Community Rehabilitation Program Coordination Team, and Starling (formerly known as Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities) Employment Division member.
Steve was recognized with the 2019 MoDOT Outstanding Community Champion of the Year and the Metro Rotary 2021 Vocational Service Award. He was the 2019 Columbia Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, and under Steve’s leadership, Job Point was selected as the 2020 Columbia Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.
It has never been enough for Smith to simply “do the job,” he has spent the last nine years putting in nights and weekends, attending council and committee meetings, and more. Any opportunity to advocate on behalf of Job Point and the individuals they serve, Smith has found a way to be there and make their needs and voices heard.
In 2019, he oversaw the purchase of their current headquarters at 400 Wilkes Boulevard. He led the charge in converting the organization’s client database system to a cloud-based platform and guided Job Point through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Brenda Overkamp, Job Point’s Executive Vice President said, “Steve has been a tremendous asset to the Job Point team – in many ways, he IS Job Point. His focus on creating a stable and thriving path for Job Point has led our team into a new era of opportunity for our students and job seekers, and creating a positive and encouraging culture where our staff can also thrive. He will be greatly missed, but we are excited for his upcoming promotion to full-time grandpa.”
Job Point’s board of directors will convene a search committee led by Chair, Lauren Karr, of Veterans United Home Loans.
“During my time on the board, Steve has impressed me with his passion for the mission, his knowledge of so many important aspects of this work and his heart to serve. We are so grateful to Steve for the many years he has dedicated to Job Point, its staff and the people they serve. He’s going to be a tough act to follow, but I am confident that because he has left this organization better than he found it, Job Point’s future is bright.”
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.
