| Sam
Sipes named new CEO
of Lutheran Services Florida
July 11, 2007 AUSTIN,
Texas - Sam Sipes, President and Chief Operating Officer of Austin-based Lutheran
Social Services of the South (LSS), has accepted the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer of Tampa-based Lutheran Services Florida (LSF). "I
have had great joy serving those in need through LSS," Sipes said. "And
I look forward to taking the lessons I've learned during my time here to Lutheran
Services Florida, where hopefully I can continue making a difference." Sipes
came to LSS in 1992 from the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
where he shared responsibility for implementing statewide programs and helped
to develop state policies and procedures for people with mental illness and developmental
disabilities. He serves on the boards of the
New York-based Council on Accreditation of Child and Family Services, the Dallas-based
Texas Mezzanine Fund and the Austin-based Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.
Sipes also served as a graduate field instructor for the University of Texas School
of Social Work. During Sipes' tenure, LSS has
grown to be the largest provider of children's residential services in Texas with
an annual operating budget of more than $100 million. The LSS foster care program
has grown from serving 13 children in 1996 to nearly 3,000 children in 2006. Under
Sipes' leadership, LSS opened four residential centers for children with special
needs. Those centers now care for more than 650 children and adolescents each
year. Sipes was also instrumental in the transformation of LSS' services to senior
citizens as well as the expansion of LSS Disaster Response across Texas, Louisiana
and Mississippi. "Sam Sipes dedicated 15
years of his life to expanding the ministries of LSS and he will be missed as
a leader, colleague and friend," said Kurt Senske, chief executive officer
of Lutheran Social Services. "His selection as CEO is another example of
the reputation that LSS has nationally as an innovative leader in social services.
While we will miss Sam, we also share in his excitement as he accepts another
opportunity to serve those in need."
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