On November 1, 2024, The Arc of Massachusetts had the distinct honor of having both our retiring Executive Director and incoming CEO recognized for their work advocating on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism.
At the 2024 National Convention of The Arc of the United States hosted in Columbus, OH, retiring Executive Director Leo Sarkissian was awarded the prestigious Exemplary Career Leadership award by The Arc’s National Conference of Executives (NCE). The award recognizes a retiring leader of one of The Arc’s more than 600 chapters, who has been a leader in the community and made significant contributions toward improving the lives of individuals with IDD and their families. Leo officially retired from his role as Executive Director of The Arc of Massachusetts on November 1 after 33 years of leadership.
At the same convention, The Arc’s new CEO, Maura Sullivan, was recognized with the NCE’s Executive Excellence award, which is given to a leader whose career exemplifies the highest degree of fulfillment of the mission, core values, and position statements of The Arc. After nearly a decade as Director of Government Affairs of The Arc of Massachusetts, Maura became the organization’s new CEO today, November 2. She is the first parent of children with IDD to lead the organization since our founding board chair Pearl Hurwitz in 1954.
“It is an incredible honor to have the organization’s exemplary leaders – past and future – recognized simultaneously on such a national scale,” said Janet Sweeney Rico, Ph.D., The Arc of Massachusetts President. “These awards say one thing clearly: Massachusetts is the heart of IDD advocacy in the country, and The Arc of Massachusetts is powerfully leading the charge to advance inclusion, self-determination, and equity across all aspects of society for the more than 200,000 individuals with IDD and autism living in the Commonwealth.”
To learn more about Maura Sullivan’s vision for the future of the organization, including her plans for her first 100 days as CEO, visit thearcofmass.org/maura.
