CASA co-director takes position with state organization

Matthew Evans, co-executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri, has announced he is resigning this month to take a position with the Missouri CASA Association.

Evans, who was named co-executive director of local CASA operations in October 2011 along with co-Director Pat Reiser, has accepted the position of deputy director for the state organization.

"This is not a decision I have come to lightly or that has any negative reflection on this fantastic organization or the phenomenal staff, board, volunteers and donors with whom I have had the honor of representing the children of our community," Evans wrote in a letter provided to Springfield Business Journal. "In fact, it is because of the great difference this organization makes that I am making this change."

On the statewide level, Evans said he'll be able to better advocate for CASA, which works on behalf of abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

"This position is an honor to have been selected for and will allow me to speak for more children across our great state and, Lord willing, be able to share with so many more what CASA is, what a positive difference we are making, and help our state as a whole reach our goal to provide a (an advocate in court) for every child who comes into care," Evans said in the letter.

Evans, who was among Springfield Business Journal's 2012 class of 40 Under 40, helped the local CASA organization move into 2012 with its best financial position in the past decade. After hearing that Greene County was pulling funding for the organization in 2012 - representing $18,000 - Evans used traditional and social media to spread word of the budget shortfall. In December 2011, when CASA had budgeted contributions of $10,000, the organization received more than $73,000 from community donations, according to SBJ archives.