Red Cross welcomes new director

Chasity Wood

After being with a local director for nearly three months, the American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter Putnam County Unit now has a new leader.

On Thursday, the local unit welcomed Chasity Wood as its new development director. Wood replaces Christine Klinger, who left the position in January.

Wood, a 1997 Greencastle High School graduate, has a background in real estate. Currently, she is President-elect of the Putnam County Board of Realtors. On Thursday, she said she took the Red Cross position because of a desire to give back to the community.

"I thought this could be a way I could," Wood said. "This will be new."

Red Cross Leadership Council member Ginger Scott said the local unit is pleased to have Wood on board.

"I think it's great," Scott said. "The leadership council looks forward to working with her to serve Putnam County residents."

Wood -- who took office on April 16 -- said she wants to continue moving the local unit forward, with hopes of gaining more Disaster Action Team (DAT) members in addition to adding more training programs for the area unit in the future. She said she also has a desire to bring some of the current training programs to local high schools.

"In the future, hopefully we can bring in some new training," Wood said.

On Thursday, American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter Executive Director Carol Stevens said the local unit conducted a handful of interviews before choosing Wood as its director.

"We're real excited to have (Wood) join our Red Cross family," Stevens said.

Wood said although she has taken the position, she will continue to work in real estate.

The Wabash Valley Chapter serves Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.

For more information, call the Wabash Valley Chapter Putnam County Unit, which is housed in the Putnam County Courthouse Annex, at 653-4614.