Champion Athletes of the Ozarks appoints new executive director

SBJ file

Valerie Pister started this week as executive director of Champion Athletes of the Ozarks.

Champion Athletes of the Ozarks has hired a new executive director.

Valerie Pister said she started May 11 in the role. She joins Champion Athletes of the Ozarks after most recently working at Springfield Business Journal, where her titles included director of sales.

"I am very excited," Pister said this morning. "I think there's divine intervention in things."

As executive director, Pister now leads an organization with an operating budget of $396,968 and three employees. She succeeds Susan Miles, the nonprofit's founder, who is now in the role of program director.

Pister said she was referred to the job, and after studying the organization and the role, she put her hat in the ring.

"It was really amazing at how well my skill set fit the needs of the position," she said.

Champion Athletes of the Ozarks provides education, life skills and sports opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, according to a news release. The organization currently serves roughly 500 athletes in southwest Missouri.