On behalf of the Board of Directors, James Island Outreach (JIO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Gordon as incoming Executive Director, effective June 15, 2023.

Jeff is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and following a 23-year naval career joined General Electric in 2006 where he served in multiple manufacturing staff and leadership roles before joining TE Connectivity in 2017. Jeff completed his business career at the end of 2021 after serving as Global Operations Leader for TE Connectivity’s relay manufacturing business. He has most recently served with the Charleston affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, training and leading volunteers to complete home construction projects for the underserved community.

Mr. Gordon brings extensive organizational leadership experience and a servant’s heart to James Island Outreach. Jeff will continue the mission of reaching the underserved local community with food assistance and other basic necessities as well as provide strategic direction for the organization as it prepares to celebrate 35 years of community support on James Island.

Jeff commented, “I have reached a point in my career where giving back and helping those most in need at a local level outweighs any other work I could do. I am excited to join JIO as its next servant leader and to explore what more we can do to help those in the greatest need in our community. One of the key initiatives I look forward to working with is the growth of the HART (Home Accessibility Repairs Team) initiative recently established by my predecessor Scott Graule”.

Jeff replaces former Executive Director Scott Graule who served from 2018 and departed JIO earlier this spring to accept a ministry call with Harborview Presbyterian Church. During the transition from Scott’s leadership, Elizabeth Hamilton has served as interim Executive Director stepping in from her Administrative Officer role.

Al Simmons, Board Chair noted with Mr. Gordon’s appointment, “We are thankful for Scott Graule’s five years of service at JIO, and the excellent work Elizabeth Hamilton has done as interim Executive Director to provide continuity in the leadership of JIO and most importantly, service to our clients. We would not have been able to conduct such a deliberate search process without Elizabeth’s leadership and commitment to service as well as that of all of our volunteers and staff. Scott and Elizabeth have been instrumental in evolving and expanding JIO’s reach during the unprecedented times of COVID and normalizing our capabilities post-COVID to ensure those in greatest need in our community get essential support.”