The Jefferson City Housing Authority has hired a new executive director.
The Board of Commissioners announced Cynthia Quetsch has been selected to replace outgoing director Allen Pollock, who is retiring at the end of February after nearly 30 years as director.
Quetsch currently works as legal counsel for the Office of Special Education in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Larry Vincent, chair of the Board of Commissioners, said Quetsch also has been involved with the United Way, the Samaritan Center and the Food 4 Kids program.
Quetsch said she was planning to retire from the state and has been taking classes for the past year in not-for-profit management because she had decided that was what she wanted to do after retiring. Seeing the opening for the director position at the Housing Authority was nothing more than perfect timing, she said.
"This was sort of the perfect opportunity at the perfect time," Quetsch said.
Vincent said the board made the unanimous decision to hire Quetsch on Nov. 19. He said the Housing Authority used an outside firm to receive resumes and narrow the list down, and he was unsure of the total number of initial applicants. From the narrowed down list provided to the board, Vincent said four were chosen to be interviewed over the phone or through Skype and two were chosen for in-person interviews held Nov. 6.
Vincent said of the four interviewed, one lived within Jefferson City, while the other three lived within a 30-mile radius.
Vincent said Quetsch's experience as well as her master's degree in social work made her stand out from the other candidates.
"The board knew it would be hard to find anyone that could just walk in and replace (Pollock)," Vincent said.
"We wanted to find someone that we felt could be a good leader, be compassionate about our mission, learn quickly and represent the Housing Authority on a professional level."
Quetsch said she's looking forward to working with Pollock before he retires and learning all she needs to know about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She said Pollock has told her that department also is undergoing transitions in procedures, which she said may be a benefit for her as she's never learned the old ways.
"I think it will be a little bit easier for me because I don't have any history," Quetsch said.