HUTCHINSON, Kan. – After 25-years working as the President of Interfaith Housing Services, John Scott will be retiring September 2.
Scott who is 66, joined IHS after spending 13 years with his wife as missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). During his time there, he designed and built hospitals, roads, bridges, airfields, schools, churches and houses.
He and his family moved to Hutchinson in 1990 to help with the development of IHS in response to a need for affordable housing in Reno County. Over the past 25 years under John’s leadership, Interfaith Housing Services has established six housing programs helping hundreds of people enjoy a better quality of life by meeting their housing needs and helping them achieve financial stability. John is certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.
In 2014, John graduated from the Achieving Excellence Program an initiative of the Executive Leadership Program developed in partnership between NeighborWorks America and the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University. He holds a degree in Business from Bethel College in Newton, Kansas.
John’s influence reaches beyond IHS. He assisted and consulted with other organizations regarding board and executive director development, housing development strategies and fund raising. John has served on Hutchinson Housing Commission and Wichita Association of Fund raising Professionals (AFP) Board. He developed and administered the “Youth Build” Program through IHS from 1994 to 1997. John helped Dodge City create an “Abandoned Housing” Program, and he established the first USDA Off-Farm Housing Project in Kansas.
“My biggest achievement at IHS to date is the brilliant, dedicated and compassionate group of employees I have built the organization around. Without these people by my side, IHS would not have been able to change people’s lives or impact the community in the way it has,” proclaims John.
“We appreciate John’s 25 years of devotion and service to the organization. The board knows it is going to be a challenge to find someone to replace him,” states Mike Smith, board chair.
The Board of Directors is committed to finding the best candidate for the job. The person who is chosen will become the 2nd CEO in the non-profit’s 25-year history.
A farewell reception for Scott will be held at Interfaith Housing Services’ offices 1326 E. Avenue A, Thursday, September 1, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.