Ozarks Profile

Chief executive officer, Red Cross Disaster and Safety Services, 1835 E. Chestnut Expwy. The local office of the Red Cross Disaster and Safety Services provides response to disasters in the form of relief, such as providing basic food, clothing and shelter to victims of disasters. Leek has been CEO for five years and has worked for the Red Cross in Springfield for 10 years. Leek's office works closely with the local fire departments in the roughly 18 counties it serves in the southwest Missouri area, providing assistance to people who lose their homes in fires. Another service of the Red Cross is that of service to military families, arranging for members of the military to make it home when a close relative dies or is very ill, or to get in touch with that person to get him or her family information. "Once in a while, we also get to inform someone of a joyous occasion, too, such as a birth, but unfortunately we're usually sending bad news," Leek said. The office also sends its volunteers on national disaster rescues