New Catholic Charities director prepares to take the reins

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Inc. is slated to have a new executive director in place by month's end.  

Ken Palermo, director of refugee services for Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, is scheduled to take over the Springfield leadership post on Jan. 30, according to a news release.  

A board search committee of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri and Bishop Edward Rice of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau announced Palermo's hiring last month. He'll succeed Maura Taylor, who retired from the nonprofit at the end of 2022.

"Palermo's expansive experience will build on the solid foundation established at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri by Maura and the staff," Rice said in the release.  

Palermo worked for nearly three decades at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, with roles including deputy director of the division of community and public health and state registrar for the state Bureau of Vital Records.

Catholic Charities in 2021 was recognized in Springfield Business Journal's Economic Impact Awards as the Charitable Nonprofit of the Year. Its broad scope of services covers disaster recovery and construction, homeless prevention, a crisis maternity home and supportive services for veterans, according to past reporting.

Catholic Charities ranked No. 12 on SBJ's list last year of the area's largest charitable nonprofits, with 65 employees. The nonprofit reported an operating budget of $10.2 million.