Stegeman named new SOMO president, CEO

Susan Stegeman talks about some of her immediate plans after it was announced Wednesday that she'll be the new CEO and president of Special Olympics Missouri. She'll take over the role April 1 upon Mark Musso's retirement.
Susan Stegeman talks about some of her immediate plans after it was announced Wednesday that she'll be the new CEO and president of Special Olympics Missouri. She'll take over the role April 1 upon Mark Musso's retirement.

Special Olympics Missouri will have a new leader at the helm beginning next month.

Susan Stegeman will take over as SOMO president and CEO beginning April 1.

She will replace Mark Musso, who will retire after 27 and a half years with the organization.

Stegeman has worked for SOMO since 1990, most recently in partnership with Missouri's law enforcement community on the Law Enforcement Torch Run. She also helped establish some signature SOMO events, including the Polar Plunge.

"When I first began my career with Special Olympics (Missouri) 28 years ago, I never in my imagination thought those words would be issued," Stegeman said during a Wednesday news conference at SOMO's Training for Life Campus in Jefferson City.

Stegeman will lead a team of 40 Missouri professionals "who are addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation of people with intellectual disabilities by delivering the Special Olympics Missouri mission across all 115 counties," according to a Wednesday news release.

Stegeman said she wants to ensure staff has the tools they need to achieve the goals in SOMO's strategic plan. She added SOMO must collaborate with partners to help grow the organization and its athletes but to do that, the partners and staff must work together to share stories that represent SOMO.

"There are so many wonderful stories in Special Olympics about our athletes' amazing accomplishments," she said. "You all know them, but we don't share them enough. We need to share those stories so more people can get on board with Special Olympics."

One story Stegeman wanted to tell was of Training for Life Charter Class Athlete Grace Theroff, who is dual-enrolled at Helias Catholic and Jefferson City high schools. After receiving her letterman jacket Wednesday, Theroff bashfully smiled as she sported her new jacket. Theroff and her parents fundraised $5,000 for the Training for Life Campus.