Chatham-Kent Hospice appoints Jessica Smith as full-time executive director
The Chatham-Kent Hospice Board of Directors is pleased to announce Jessica Smith's appointment as the full-time Executive Director, effective July 22, 2024.
"Jessica, through the cooperation of St. Andrew's Residence, has been providing Executive Director services for Hospice since its inception and now, with this appointment, she will be solely dedicated to leading our organization into the future," shared Graham Kemble, Chair of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Board.
Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, Jessica Smith has nearly 25 years of experience in healthcare. Her career began as a student dishwasher at St. Andrew's Residence during high school, where she discovered a passion for caring for people at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. This experience inspired her to obtain Social Work and Gerontology degrees from McMaster University. Jessica was involved in the early planning stages of establishing a residential hospice in Chatham-Kent and has been serving as the shared Executive Director for St. Andrew's Residence and Chatham-Kent Hospice since 2014.
Jessica and her husband, Greg, are proud parents of three children, ages 2, 7, and 9. They enjoy spending their free time at baseball diamonds, hockey arenas, and tennis courts and exploring provincial parks.
"I've had the privilege of being involved in the history of Chatham-Kent Hospice since it was a grassroots volunteer campaign. I can remember when the conversation of building a residential hospice in this community was just a whisper. I am incredibly honored for this opportunity to deepen my role at Hospice and to build on this history," commented Jessica. "Together with Jodi Maroney and the Foundation team, donors, and external partners, we will continue to create a community where the best possible end-of-life care and grief support are available."
This appointment follows a thorough selection process led by the executive recruitment firm Logic Executive Search and Workplace Solutions.
Shazia Nazir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
