(LISTEN): Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole appears on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable"

The Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) was founded in 1956. Its mission is to provide safe, healthy and affordable housing to low-income Columbia/Boone County residents and families. That includes vulnerable residents. It also includes elderly residents who live at Oak Towers and elsewhere. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour this weekend on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Cole grew up in western Missouri’s Liberty, which is a Kansas City suburb. He also spent time in Kearney and Smithville and earned a baseball scholarship to Graceland College in Iowa. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mizzou. Mr. Cole has held numerous jobs in his career, including a stint in then-Columbia city manager Ray Beck’s office. He also managed weatherization and low-income energy assistance for Central Missouri Community Action. Mr. Cole tells listeners that he grew to love Columbia and has stayed here. The Columbia Housing Authority currently serves about 2,000 households and about 4,000 residents. Mr. Cole emphasizes that the Columbia Housing Authority provides supportive services to residents. “We do everything from case management … families seeking to move on and up out of poverty to case management of elderly and disabled persons are going to be with us for an extended period of time or through the end of their life,” Mr. Cole tells listeners. He also touts the 20th anniversary of the “Moving ahead” program, that involves young people. Mr. Cole tells Mr. Parry that it’s a sophisticated operation. The Columbia Housing Authority transports the students from school to the Blind Boone Center and feeds them and tutors them. They also take the students on field trips. The Columbia Housing Authority has about 75 employees. The CHA is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by Columbia’s mayor: