Our Team
Staff
Executive Director
Leo Sarkissian has worked in the field of disabilities for 45 years. During that time, he directly assisted persons with disabilities, families, and staff, managed services and organizations; and advocated for progressive policies. As Executive Director, Leo has helped The Arc grow in education, outreach, and advocacy. He has exerted leadership not only in legislative and administrative advocacy, but within the judicial system too. A recipient of ten awards, Leo has served on eight state government, organization, or national committees. He is a licensed independent social worker, with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago.
sarkissian@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270
Maura Sullivan
Deputy Executive Director
Maura’s state advocacy work includes passing legislation such as Nicky’s Law (Abuser Registry) and Mandated Police Training in Autism. Her efforts are focused on disability policy and increasing the state budget for people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as managing a broad legislative platform. She is a national public speaker on health equity, with a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University. Maura is also the mother of three; her two sons have profound autism and intellectual disabilities.
sullivan@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x113
Katrin Aback
Director of Development
Katrin Aback joined The Arc of Massachusetts team as Director of Development in 2015. She oversees The Arc’s fundraising efforts including the annual fund, gala, corporate and agency sponsorships, and donor events. Her development experience in other mission-driven organizations includes the Appalachian Mountain Club and Union of Concerned Scientists. She earned a bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Clark University and American University respectively. Katrin enjoys traveling and the outdoors.
aback@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x105
Kalea Amundson
Development Operations Associate
As Development Operations Associate, Kalea Amundson assists in donor relations and event planning. Among her recent experience, she has run a parent-teacher organization, first as the Treasurer and now as a Member-At-Large, for more than four years.
kamundson@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x102
Katerina Daley
Director of Communications
Katerina joined The Arc of Massachusetts team in 2017 after graduating from Brandeis University with a Bachelor’s in English and Master’s in Comparative Humanities. She grew up in Cambridge, MA and thinks of herself as a disability advocate since kindergarten, due to her experiences with family members with disabilities. As Director of Communications, she manages all aspects of The Arc’s external communications, ranging from social media to e-newsletters to our quarterly print magazine. In addition to her work at The Arc, she has written extensively online about film and television, and has been featured on NPR.
daley@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x104
Jackie Doherty
Director of Education and Outreach
Jackie’s experience consists of decades of communications and advocacy work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Jackie’s commitment to improving the lives of children and individuals with disabilities includes 16 years as an elected member of the Lowell School Committee, 11 years as a teacher in higher education, and most recently four years supporting families in the Medically Complex Program at Incompass Human Services, a chapter of The Arc of Massachusetts. Jackie received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in communications from Emerson College.
jdoherty@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x109
Katie Driscoll
Pathways to Friendship Program Director
Katie is the current Director of Pathways to Friendship, which is a collaborative project between The Arc of Massachusetts and the Department of Developmental Services that advances inclusion by building opportunities for personal relationships and community connections in lives of people with disabilities in Massachusetts. She provides consultation, education, and leadership, working with people who receive services, their families, and staff, as well as citizens, to collaborate in enriching community life for all. Katie also currently serves as Community Director at BAMSI.
Charlie Fiske
Government Relations Specialist
Charlie is the Government Relations Specialist for The Arc and has served on the Government Affairs committee for years. Charlie has worked as an advocate and in executive capacities for a number of organizations including BAMSI. He also is well known for his civic and systems change work especially in the area of organ transplants. More recently, he completed a two year mid-career stint with the US Peace Corps in Malawi, Africa. His frequent articles from Malawi were published in the Brockton Enterprise, GateHouse Media publications, and via social media.
fiske@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x111
Sue FitzPatrick
Finance Director
Sue graduated cum laude from Northeastern University with a BSBA, Finance and Economics major; and Bentley Graduate School of Business with an MBA. Sue is also a Licensed Practical Nurse, having obtained her certification from Mass Bay Community College.
fitzpatrick@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x107
Dianne Huggon
Education and Outreach Consultant
Dianne is a SUPPORTbroker and Education and Outreach Consultant with The Arc of Massachusetts. Driven by firsthand experiences as a parent of a son with multiple disabilities, Dianne has made it her mission to instill hope in other families facing similar challenges. Her passion lies in helping families identify their loved one’s natural gifts and talents and using these insights to craft a vision for the future. She believes in the transformative power of such visions in advocacy.
Jose Lopez
Policy Officer
Drawing on his two decades of disability advocacy and three decades of business experience, José Lopez helps people navigate disability systems. Jose’ served on the planning committee which consulted on Bermuda’s National Plan for People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families 2022-2027. José is a veteran of the US Army and is a runner who has participated in the World Marathon Majors in 2023. He and his wife have three children including a son with an intellectual disability.
lopez@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270
Beth Rutledge
Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant
Beth was raised in Walpole, MA and received her B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and her Master’s in Library Science at Simmons. After graduating, she spent three life-changing months in Kenya. She worked in a graduate school library before moving with her husband and three-month-old son to Japan for four years. When her son was diagnosed with autism, she moved back to Massachusetts for services, and after a year and a half, she was introduced to The Arc of Massachusetts by her son’s caseworker. Beth started as a volunteer over the summer and has been working at The Arc since September 1994.
rutledge@arcmass.org
(781) 891-6270 x101
