Wood pegged at CEO of CICS region

Russell Wood recently received an opportunity to further his involvement with people in the area who live with disabilities.

Wood, the Hampton mayor, was named the CEO of Central Iowa Community Services, an 11 county mental health and disabilities service region. Wood currently serves as planning officer with CICS and has been with the regional organization since its inception in 2013.

CICS provides funding, coordination and development of services for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, brain injuries and mental illness.

In his current role, Wood said he identifies gaps in services and develops services to meet those needs in the region. As CEO, Wood said he will oversee all aspects of the region, as well as other functions, such as finance and budgeting.

Wood said as CEO, he will be responsible to make sure the rest of the staff has the resources available to effectively conduct his or her duties.

“So, whoever the new planning person will be, I won’t do the planning but it will be my job to make sure that person knows what the state is requiring us to plan, to try to make sure that person has financial and staff resources to do the planning,” he said.

Wood’s appointment will become effective July 1 and he will replace current CEO Jody Eaton, who is retiring.

Wood said the opportunity to step in as CEO is a great opportunity, as he has been part of CICS since the region was formed. He said he feels fortunate to be able to lead the region’s causes and further its mission along the 11-county area.

“I am very pleased with the fact that they selected me,” he said. There were other applicants and I think that says the governing board has faith in my leadership skills and I am excited about being able to continue to be in a leadership position in the regional system of care.”

Wood added that his appointment reflects the CICS governing board’s mission to adequately service all people in the region and not just those in the most populous areas.

“Franklin County is the second smallest county in the region but the governing board is embracing the concept that we are a region and not individual counties,” he said. “I don’t think it ever entered anybody’s mind that we have to have a particular county in charge.”

When his appointment becomes effective, Wood said he plans on meeting with the team members to “ensure we all have the same mission and goals in mind” and plan how the most qualified workers can effectively reach the most people.

“We want to make sure that we all feel like the duties that need to be performed are being performed by the most qualified people,” he said. “The biggest part is making sure you’re aware of where everybody’s at, where your goals and your missions are and empowering people to do their job.”

He continued that he feels fortunate to continue to work with many of the same faces he has for the past few years, as that consistency will provide a sense of ease has he transitions roles.

“Most people like to have that background, that institutional knowledge you can rely on and I think our region has some really talented and experienced individuals that work for us,” he said. “Coming in and having a good team is key to making sure that we are able to serve the people that we serve.

“It’s not about us, it’s about the people we serve,” he added. “We are public servants and having the team that’s been there since we started for the most part is a good thing because we all are continuing the mission the governing board has put before us.”