For more than a half-century, Carl Rosenkranz has worked to improve the lives of those in poverty in the Ozarks. He’s been with Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) for 51 years — 48 of those years, he served as OACAC’s executive director.
Rosenkranz, who is retiring later this month, called his time with OCAC a “privilege” and credited OACAC’s successes and growth to the combined efforts of his team, the board members, volunteers, donors and other community partners and organizations.
“My goal was just to make sure we had the programs, the staff and the money,” he said, “and just the desire to help people improve their quality of life. That was the overriding goal.”
OACAC is a nonprofit agency that works to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in the Ozarks. Along with its housing and utility assistance programs, the local OACAC office also operates Head Start, an early childhood program for qualifying families.
Agency serves 10 counties in the Ozarks
The agency has grown from a budget of $2 million when it was founded in 1965 to almost $40 million in 2021, according to information provided by OACAC. The Springfield office serves a 10-county region.
There are 19 Community Action Agencies within the Missouri Community Action Network. Springfield’s OACAC officer serves Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties. While it’s not the largest in the state geographically, the Springfield-based OACAC is the largest in terms of funding and programs, Rosenkranz said.
“We have a very high-quality agency. We have good, quality programs,” he said. “We work well with the community and all the aspects of it.”
Leslie Peck has known and worked with Rosenkranz for about 40 years. Peck first met him when she handled the employee benefits program for OACAC and Head Start.
Peck described Rosenkranz as a “gentle giant” with a “very dry wit.”
“When people meet him for the first time, sometimes you don’t know how to take him,” she said. “He is a leader, but he doesn’t micromanage. He leads and gets out of the way. And I’ve just always enjoyed working with him because he is just a gentleman.”
Peck believes Rosenkranz has stayed with OACAC for so many years because he is passionate about helping people.
“The community is a better place because of Carl,” she added.
During his tenure, Rosenkranz has helped establish and grow seven core programs: the Neighborhood and Community Centers, Family Planning, Foster Grandparent Program, Head Start, Housing Assistance, Weatherization and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).
“Rosenkranz has navigated OACAC through challenging years of flat funding and budget cuts through sequestration, steadfastly focused on the needs of low-income individuals and families,” a news release announcing his retirement said. “He has positively influenced the work of Community Action Agencies across the state through leadership roles with the Missouri Community Action Network, and as a mentor to other Executive Directors.”
Janet Dankert, executive director for Community Partnership of the Ozarks, counts herself among those he mentored.
CPO head surprised he is finally retiring
In fact, Rosenkranz played a major role in the creation of Community Partnerships of the Ozarks in 1998, and he’s served on CPO’s board since then, Dankert said.
Dankert has known and worked with Rosenkranz for 20 years.
“Being a board member (for CPO), Carl is what I would consider a true expert on governance and really how boards are supposed to operate,” Dankert said. “He’s someone I know I can call if I have a question about governance, about infrastructure, because he appreciates and understands how to do things the right way. And I do as well.
“He does have a passion for improvising lives for families, for sure,” she said, “because that’s what Community Action is all about. I think he loves the community and his team. And I think that he’s been committed to it. … He’s definitely changed the community for the better, and I hope he gets to enjoy retirement.
“I’m kind of actually surprised he’s retiring,” she added, laughing. “I thought he would probably stay forever because he has a love for it.”
Rosenkranz’s last official day with OACAC is Dec. 30, but he will continue to serve as a consultant for the interim executive director Jennifer Olson.
OACAC will continue to take applications for the position of executive director through Jan. 20, 2023.
