Rasmussen settles into Crisis Center executive director role

After officially stepping into the role of Executive Director of the Graham Crisis Center at the beginning of June, Janna Rasmussen has said operations are running smoothly at the umbrella organization also encompassing The Food Pantry, Harry’s House women’s shelter and The Nifty Thrifty thrift store.

The Graham Crisis Center board announced in March that Rasmussen would be stepping into the role as executive director over the nonprofit organization. Rasmussen followed former executive director Cathy Partridge, who after joining the center in February 2020, and serving as the organization’s executive director since September 2020, became the CEO of the Graham Chamber of Commerce and Graham Convention and Visitors Bureau officially Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Rasmussen has lived in Graham for a little over a year with her husband Dan, who serves as the pastor at HighRidge Church in Graham. She previously worked as a teacher at Mineral Wells High School. In the past she also worked as a director for First Steps Preschool at First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, a private violin teacher at Arlington ISD and Rasmussen Studio, and as a social studies teacher at Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD.

Along with her work, Rasmussen has done community outreach through Meals on Wheels of Palo Pinto County, the Salvation Army Advisory Council, Center of Life in Mineral Wells, Center of Hope in Weatherford, Mission Arlington, and as a worship team and group leader at HighRidge Church. She said the transition to her new position has been a simple process.

“I did several days before June (where) I trained with Cathy (Partridge). She had everything going very well so it was easy to step into it. I know when I came officially (on) June 1, I know she was ready, because she’s been pulling double duty with her new job (at the Graham Chamber of Commerce) and this. So she was definitely ready to pass the torch, but it’s been going well,” Rasmussen said. “We’ve had a couple of staff changes, but not (anything) crazy. Our house manager at the (women’s) shelter is going great, and we’ve had (...) a few come in and go out. We’ve been full a couple of times. We have one spot available right now.”

For the full story, see the Wednesday, July 6 edition of The Graham Leader.