Jim Dezzutti has stepped down as president of Our PLACE Adult Day Center — marking nearly five years of hard work and dedication to the nonprofit organization.
Rob McCoy will take his place as president with Shawn Tallant as vice chair.
The vision for Our PLACE began in early 2019. Sue Newman along with a group of five other women in Tellico Village were taking their husbands to an adult day center out of the county and grew fatigued with traveling 45 minutes one way.
The question was raised — Why can’t we do that here?
In January of 2020, the Our PLACE board was formed.
As the word spread about this immense need in the community, Dezzutti was eager to help. Although he wasn’t initially on the board, he was helping from the church perspective — along with the Rev. Charlie Barnard, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Tellico Village from 2005 to 2022.
Tellico Community Foundation approached the board and offered property to build a facility if $200,000 could be raised within three years. The money was raised in four months.
The original proposal for the building was $495,000, but by the time the actual building was ready to start, the price had increased to nearly $980,000.
NEVER QUIT, NEVER STOP
“[COVID-19) hit and that put a damper on a lot of things,” Dezzutti recalled, “but (not our efforts). We were the only show in town that never quit, never stopped.
“I feel that God had his hand in this project because there were so many obstacles,” he said. “But every time we hit one, something seemed to work out.
“Inside that building, every 2x4 has some sort of quote or religious saying from Scripture — from everyone who had a hand in building it. It’s all written inside the walls of that place.”
“Never quit, never stop” can also be said about Dezzutti. His fellow board members and employees said that he had a hand in every single step of getting Our PLACE to where it is today.
“Jim is Our PLACE,” McCoy said. “He is certainly woven into the fabric of Our PLACE.
“Jim was part of the original team,” McCoy added. “This whole idea about having Our Place came together just before (COVID-19]. Throughout COVID, the business plans were developed, the funds were raised, the building was built … and, as (the COVID-19 pandemic) ended, we opened a business up.”
A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN
“The work that Jim has done just in terms of the organization — from the structure of the business to the fundraising to the day-to-day operation — has been amazing,” McCoy said. “He’s had an incredible board around him, as well, but Jim has led that.
“As I said, he is woven in the fabric of Our PLACE, and we’re indebted for all the work he’s done over the years.”
Our PLACE Executive Director Sarah Martin, along with Fundraising and Event Chair Ginny Ranck, McCoy and Tallant, spoke highly of Dezzutti’s commitment to the organization following a Thursday, March 21, board meeting held in Tellico Village. Each had special memories to share with the outgoing board chair — stories of how he has touched each of their lives and impacted the nonprofit.
“I’m so thankful to him,” Martin said. “I’ve always had a really good relationship with Jim. He’s always been willing to help with anything that I’ve needed.
“I’ve always been able to come to him with anything — and he’s listened.
“I’m just thankful,” she said. “I’m thankful Jim was that vessel and that person to go and not be afraid to take on such a daunting task that maybe somebody else might have steered away from.”
TAKE A HIKE
Dezzutti’s decision to step down as president didn’t come quickly and wasn’t taken lightly. He said that for the past few years his family hasn’t been his No. 1 priority and he is looking forward to making that change.
In his newfound free time, Dezzutti does plan to return to Our PLACE as a volunteer when needed, but he is also looking forward to spending more time hiking in the mountains — he already has a few trips planned to hike parts of the Appalachian Trail, as well as the Alps in Europe.
While reminiscing about the beginnings of Our PLACE, Dezzutti continually spoke on how it was a community effort from Day 1 until now. He’s never taken the credit for the immense growth the nonprofit has had, but he did say he has contributed whatever and whenever necessary — including mowing the grass or painting.
He truly has been a pillar of community outreach, service and dedication for Tellico Village; and while he will be missed, his legacy lives on through McCoy and Tallant … because it takes two men to fill his shoes, according to Ranck.
Information on upcoming events and fundraisers — like the Our PLACE Capital Campaign Fundraiser & Gala on May 19 — can be found at www.ourplacetn.org.
