Mary Lou Schussler Named Chief Executive Officer of West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Appleton City, MO — The Board of Directors of West Central Missouri Community Action Agency (West Central) is proud to announce the appointment of Mary Lou Schussler as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Schussler had been serving as Interim CEO since February, following the departure of former CEO Chris Thompson. Her appointment marks the continuation of an accomplished career spanning more than 30 years within the organization.
“Mary Lou has demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission and has played a critical role in shaping the agency’s operations and services,” said Fred Bunch, Chair of the West Central Board of Directors. “Her vision, experience, and steady leadership have earned the respect of our staff, board, and community partners. We are confident that West Central is in excellent hands.”
Over the course of her tenure, Schussler has held a series of progressive leadership roles, including Interim CEO, President, Chief Operating Officer, Operations Director, and Human Resources Director. She currently oversees all day-to-day operations of West Central and its 19 subsidiaries, managing a staff of 100 and an annual budget nearing $23 million.
As President from 2022 to 2025, Schussler guided strategic direction and supported senior leadership through key operational decisions. Previously, as Chief Operating Officer, she was instrumental in the implementation of a self-funded health care plan that reduced costs by over 15%. Her earlier leadership roles focused on improving financial and regulatory compliance, modernizing internal systems, and strengthening HR policy and practices.
“I am honored to continue leading this incredible organization and team,” Schussler said. “West Central has a legacy of service in our nine-county region, and I look forward to building on that foundation to meet the evolving needs of our communities.”
Schussler is only the fourth individual to serve as CEO in the agency’s 60-year history. West Central was founded in 1965 under the leadership of Charles Braithwait, who served until 1996 and helped establish the National Community Action Partnership. He was succeeded by Amos Jackson (1996–2014), followed by Chris Thompson (2014–2025).
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West Central Missouri Community Action Agency has served a nine-county region in west central Missouri since 1965. The organization’s mission, “West Central helps people and communities reach their fullest potential by cultivating and coordinating resources, building partnerships, and advocating for change,” is reflected in the wide range of programs and services offered. Each year, the agency provides housing assistance, emergency services, energy conservation, employment and training, transportation, and credit-building resources to over 10,500 individuals.
In addition to its core services, West Central’s community development corporation, New Growth, fosters entrepreneurship and small business development. The New Growth Women’s Business Center and the business acceleration network, Start Here, help entrepreneurs and small business owners thrive. The agency’s transportation initiative, New Growth Transit, utilizes a volunteer driver network to offer free rides to individuals for employment, medical appointments, shopping, and other needs.
West Central’s primary service area includes Cass, Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, St. Clair, and Vernon counties. Program expansions have extended services into Barton, Camden, Dade, Dallas, Howell, Jackson, Polk, and Bourbon and Crawford counties in Kansas.
Learn more at https://wcmcaa.org