While the Green River-based Southwestern Wyoming Recovery Access Programs is undergoing an administrative change, its services to its clients won’t change according to its interim CEO.
Last week, Cathie Hughes, CEO and founder of SW-WRAP, resigned from her position. The board then selected former Green River resident Gene Smith to fill in as the organization’s temporary CEO until a new hire can be made. While the organization is making administrative changes, Smith said the services it offers won’t be impacted.
“The changes are internal, they should be absolutely invisible to our clients,” he said.
Smith was a 32-year employee at FMC, working in supervisory and managerial roles.
Hughes said she plans to focus more on family and personal goals. Having grown SW-WRAP from a small organization focused on helping people in Sweetwater County to one administering services for veterans across multiple offices in Wyoming and Nebraska, Hughes said she wants to focus her attention on some health issues her family is dealing with, as well as take a break and work on other projects.
“I felt I needed to make this change for awhile,” Hughes said. “As the founder of the organization, it’s an honor to have seen this grow from our passion for vulnerable people. It’s worth all the sacrifices because (SW-WRAP) is about helping people.”
A number of rumors have circulated regarding the need for a security company to stand watch over SW-WRAP’s offices at City Hall. Smith said a number of keys were checked out to former employees, necessitating temporary security until the locks could be changed.
Linda Roosa, chairwoman of SW-WRAP’s board of directors, said the board hopes to hire a permanent CEO in June. Smith also reiterated that his services are temporary.
“I have no intention to be here permanently,” Smith said. “I’m retired and I like it that way.”
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