Personal and Family Counseling Services Assistant Director Jamie Smith will begin her new role as executive director for the Tuscarawas County Senior Center December 2nd. 

DOVER (Tusco TV) - The Tuscarawas County Senior Center is welcoming a new leader as the woman who has headed up the organization for the last 13 years heads into retirement. 

Board Chairman Matt Kinsey says Personal and Family Counseling Services Assistant Director Jamie Smith has been hired to replace Pam Ferrell as the center’s new executive director. Kinsey says Smith’s more than two decades of experience leading local nonprofits including the Clinic for the Working Uninsured and the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters made her an ideal fit for the position.

"Every organization that Jamie’s been a part of she’s done a good job with. Big Brothers and Big Sisters is not an easy one because of all the different facets to it and so that held a lot of weight with us but also the amount of hats she’s had to wear at other positions that she’s had," he says. 

Smith says she’s excited to serve the county’s senior population, even though it’s bittersweet to be leaving PFCS behind.

"It’s hard to close the door. It’s hard to say goodbye to all of this knowledge and skill that I’ve gained and the people that I work with but it is exciting on the other end to be working in a membership-driven kind of an organization and to do the fun things, the fun side of nonprofits," she says.

Kinsey says Smith will step into her new role December 2nd with Farrell staying on through December 19th to ensure a smooth transition.  

"There will be some overlap there. We have Pam doing some on-site training and showing of the ropes and stuff like that so she gets familiar with the ins and outs of everyday operations," he says.

Kinsey says members are invited to stop by the senior center December 9th from 10 am to noon for an open house and meet-and-greet with the new director. 

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