Union Gospel Mission, one of Salem’s largest homeless service organizations, will welcome new executive director Craig Smith at the end of April.

Smith, a Salem resident and agribusiness executive, was hired to the position a week ago and will start the job May 1, a Monday press release said. He has been a regular volunteer with UGM.

Smith is currently executive director of Far West Agribusiness Association, an advocacy and education organization for agricultural businesses in the Pacific Northwest. He will continue that position until the end of April, according to the release.

Smith will replace Dan Clem, who has been the executive director for eight years. In January 2024, Clem announced he planned to retire once a successor was chosen.

When he takes on the role in May, Smith plans to focus on continuing the organization’s connections within the Salem community and strengthening its local presence as a ministry, according to community engagement director Mark Hunter.

United Gospel Mission’s main office and men’s mission is in downtown Salem and within blocks of other social service organizations, including the ARCHES Project and Bridgeway Community Health. The organization also operates Simonka Place, a shelter for women and children in Keizer.

“I think he brings a great deal of experience, not only professionally or in nonprofit business, but he’s worked in ministry type work before, including a church plant,” Hunter said.

Smith and his wife previously founded and ran New Beginnings Baby Boutique, a religious ministry that helped women and children in Salem and has since closed.

“Through that ministry we took many women to Simonka Place and truly learned to love the women’s and children’s ministry there,” Smith said in a staff announcement about his appointment.

Clem’s involvement in the organization once Smith steps in is unknown, Hunter said.

During his time as executive director, Clem led the capital campaign to build a men’s mission on Northeast Commercial Street, which is also the organization’s administrative office. Before coming to the Union Gospel Mission, Clem was the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive officer and was a city councilor for West Salem.

“His heart will always be with UGM, to me, there’s no doubt,” he said of Clem.

For most of the last year, Hunter said, the organization has been in the search process for a new leader.

“I think the board did an amazing job getting Craig to the table, and we’re excited that it’s Craig Smith,” Hunter said.

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

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