Thursday, 14 March 2013 00:00

Former Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School president Mike Burrus has been named executive director of Wichita’s Catholic Charities. The announcement was made March 5 by the diocesan ministry’s board of directors and Bishop Michael O. Jackels.
Burrus, who will leave KMC at the end of the school year, will take over Catholic Charities on Sept. 3. Until then, interim director Melissa Grelinger will continue to lead the agency. Grelinger took the place of Cynthia Colbert, who this past December became the president/CEO of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Burrus, president of KMC for 12 years, said he initially intended to retire at the end of the school year, but he realized he was being led in another direction.
“I feel a calling to continue working within the Catholic Church,” Burrus said. “My new position with Catholic Charities provides a great opportunity to serve the people in Wichita and the south central and southeast parts of the state who are struggling.”
Catholic Charities Board Chairman Steve Feilmeier said Burrus was the perfect candidate to fulfill the leadership and strategic planning goals of the agency.
“Mike has great skills gained from his time as a practicing CPA, helping as president to grow Multimedia Cablevision before its sale, and then helping to advance the vision and mission of Kapaun. These same skills will help Catholic Charities carry out its mission to serve those in need,” Feilmeier said. “He has been heavily involved in the community and cares deeply about the people in it.”
Monsignor Robert Hemberger, vicar general for the Diocese of Wichita, said Burrus’ collaborative style of leadership will be an asset for Catholic Charities. “Mike will work with the staff, pastors, and people of the parishes and community to extend Christ’s love.”
Burrus graduated from Wichita State University in 1977. Prior to his work at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, he had a career in the business world, beginning in accounting and finance and then in executive management positions. He has served on various boards and committees throughout the Wichita area for the past 35 years, including chairing the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Wichita State University Foundation.
In 2004, Burrus was awarded the WSU Alumni Achievement Award, and he was named Fundraising Executive of the Year in 2007 by the Wichita Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He and his wife, Kathy, have four children, and three grandchildren, with another due in April.