Pete Zevenbergen, CEO of Wyandot Inc. mental health center since 2000, on Thursday announced that he plans to retire on June 30.
Randy Callstrom, director of PACES, the Wyandot Center agency for children, adolescents and families, will assume the leadership role July 1. He has been with Wyandot Center since 1993.
Zevenbergen has been credited with expanding the community mental health center to include the PACES, Kim Wilson Housing and City Vision programs. Under his leadership, Wyandot’s budget grew to $31 million with 366 full-time and 189 part-time employees.
He also played a key role in the yearlong effort to convert Rainbow Mental Health Facility from an antiquated inpatient psychiatric unit to a much-needed crisis stabilization facility. The new facility, called Rainbow Services Inc., opened April 7.
“This is a bittersweet transition for our organization,” said the Rev. Ken Nettling, chair of the Wyandot governing board. “Pete has brought a unique and visionary leadership style to Wyandot Center and to Wyandotte County. He has expanded services significantly, cultivated strong community partnerships and enhanced our visibility locally, statewide and nationally – all in support of our mission to improve the quality of life of Wyandotte County residents.”
Nettling said Zevenbergen’s decision to retire was “accelerated” after his 20-year-old son, Robert, died in a car accident on March 20.
Zevenbergen is returning to his native Iowa, where he previously served as the executive director of two community mental health centers. The move will put him closer to his family.
While with Wyandot Center, Zevenbergen received several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (2006), the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Community Leadership Association (2006) and the the Chamberlain-Rapp Exemplary Leadership Award from the state’s mental health consumers (2008).
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