Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless & Hungry, operators of GRACE Marketplace, announced the resignation of CEO Jon DeCarmine on Wednesday.
DeCarmine has served as CEO since 2017 and will step down on Dec. 31, 2024. He will continue to work closely with the organization through February 2025, according to a press release.
The Board of Directors selected John Thomas, vice president of advancement, to fill the role until a comprehensive search for the next CEO.
Kevin Spellicy, chair of the Board of Directors, called DeCarmine a transformative leader for the homeless shelter.
“Under his stewardship, the organization has flourished, improving the lives of our neighbors experiencing homelessness,” Spellicy said in the release. “We are immensely grateful for his vision, passion, and commitment to our mission and wish him nothing but the best.”
While leading the nonprofit, DeCarmine oversaw 3,100 people move off the streets and into permanent housing—adding to a 47% reduction in Alachua County homelessness according to GRACE Marketplace.
Thomas has been at GRACE Marketplace since 2019, and he worked at Peaceful Paths before that as director of development.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to serve as Interim CEO,” Thomas said. “I look forward to collaborating with our board, team, donors, and stakeholders to provide continuity of the nationally recognized programs and services that our community has come to know and trust.”