Growing Home Southeast hires Brennon Graham as CEO

COLUMBIA, SC – After an extensive executive search, Growing Home Southeast will appoint Brennon Graham as its Chief Executive Officer. Chosen by the Growing Home Southeast board, Brennon will move into the role full time on January 1, 2017.

Gayle Ricks, who has been the CEO of Growing Home Southeast since 2004, will be retiring.  She is pleased with the board’s decision and eager to welcome the arrival of Graham. “Brennon is coming at a time of tremendous change in the child welfare system. I am very confident that given Brennon’s leadership and determination he will be able to take the agency to the next level and continue our unwavering commitment to our mission of enabling at-risk children, youth and families to realize their potential and contribute to their community. I feel confident that he is the right person at the right time for the agency,” says Ricks.

Brennon Graham currently serves as Executive Director of The Relatives, Inc. in Charlotte N.C.  He has enjoyed a human services career that spans more than 20 years, serving at risk youth in the areas of homelessness, mental health/behavioral health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities.  Brennon has served at The Relatives for the past 11 years.  In this time, he has worked to build on the organization’s foundation as a shelter for runaway and homeless youth, creating a continuum of services to prepare youth and young adults to be healthy, productive, and engaged members of the community.  Today, The Relatives provides support to more than 5000 people each year.

“Throughout the process of choosing a new CEO, it was imperative we identified a candidate who not only understands the needs and challenges of our organization, but is prepared to take this agency to new heights,” said Jennifer MacLeod, Growing Home Southeast Board Chair. “Brennon’s human services and fundraising experience, along with his enthusiasm for the organization’s mission, made him a great fit for Growing Home.  We are so excited to continue our organization’s journey with Brennon leading the way.”

Brennon is married and has two young children.  He holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master in Health Administration degree from Pfeiffer University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.

Growing Home Southeast, Inc. is a family service agency providing an array of social services to at-risk children and families in South Carolina and southern Alabama.  The services are intended to strengthen lives to promote healthy families and communities. This is accomplished by offering various program services that include:

• Treatment Foster Care
• Medically Fragile Foster Care
• Community Training Homes
• Adoptions Recruitment
• Community-based Prevention Services
• Strengthening Families Program
• Supportive Housing
• Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Services

The services are accredited by the Council on Accreditation.  Growing Home Southeast is a member of the Family Focused Treatment Association, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, United Way of the Midlands, Palmetto Association for Children and Families and the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless.