Warrior for Good Takes the Helm at The Hub on Smith

The Hub on Smith has made more than half a million dollars in budget cuts over the past year. In November 2025, Dustin Stephens took the reins as executive director, and as Sheridan’s aging population continues to grow, he is working to maintain services with fewer resources.

Stephens is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a longtime church missionary who spent five years living in Haiti with his family helping build churches and schools. He has also worked with Volunteers of America, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges nonprofit organizations face and the critical role 501(c)(3)s play in their communities.

However, Stephens said he did not fully understand the scope of services the Hub provides to Sheridan’s aging population until stepping into the role. While appearing on Public Pulse, Stephens said the last few months have been eye-opening.

D. Stephens

Despite a significantly reduced budget, demand for services at the Hub continues to grow, and as the Baby Boomer generation ages, that demand is expected to increase further.

D. Stephens

More than 3,400 Sheridan County seniors rely on the center’s services, including meals and transportation. Each year, the Hub provides more than 107,000 meals and nearly 60,000 transit rides through Goose Creek Transit, services that have become critical for many older adults.

Even after the cuts, the Hub is facing an approximately $120,000 budget shortfall heading into the year. To help close that gap, the organization is operating the Holiday Spirit Campaign, a fundraising effort aimed at ensuring services continue for Sheridan County seniors.

Stephens said community members can help in several ways, starting with learning more about the services the Hub provides and gaining a better understanding of the growing senior population that depends on them.

D. Stephens

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