Effective today, Mark Mobley has taken the reins as the new Executive Director for Center Point, a Gainesville-based agency dedicated to promoting the success of students and families through teaching and personal development.
Mobley, a former pastor and North Hall high school teacher takes the place of longtime director David Smith, who retired last month.
The announcement of Mobley's appointment came from Center Point's Board of Directors.
"It is an incredible honor and great opportunity to work with such an accomplished team," Mobley said in a press statement. "Center Point's services are critical to helping navigate the challenges that families and young people face in today's culture. I am excited about working together with the board and staff to transform lives and build a better future."
Mobley’s experience spans more than 20 years in professional roles that include service as a senior pastor, high school teacher, consultant and a nonprofit executive.
"He has significant expertise in community collaboration and partnerships, leading strategic planning efforts and navigating organizational growth and change,” said Kathie Futrell, Center Point’s board president and a member of its executive search committee.
Mobley’s work with youth and families in the Gainesville and Northeast Georgia area includes his role as Director of Strategy & Programs for Supporting Adoption & Foster Families Together (SAFFT), Executive Director at the Georgia CALLS assistance program for former inmates, Senior Pastor at the Living Word Worship Center in Jefferson and math teacher at North Hall High School. He also has served on the City of Jefferson City Council since 2012.
“David and the team have created an effective organization that enables students and families to succeed,” Mobley said. “I will be building on that momentum to help Center Point serve more people. We have an ambitious agenda and an excellent staff that can turn those goals into reality. I am especially delighted to be based in the Gainesville/Hall County area again. It feels like coming home.”
Center Point was founded in 1967 by four Gainesville-area churches with the mission to supplement and broaden religious studies for local youth. Today, the agency offers counseling for children and families, religious education through its release-time classes for Gainesville High School, mentoring, substance abuse prevention, and teen pregnancy intervention services.
