FREELAND, Md., June 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Penn-Mar Human Services announces the leadership change of the nonprofit organization, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania. As of July 1, 2012, Gregory T. Miller, Penn-Mar's current President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Keith R. Peterson as Chief Executive Officer, who will remain on until the end of the year as a Senior Policy Advisor.
Greg Miller, 49, joined Penn-Mar 24 years ago, and from 2000 began serving the organization as Chief Operating Officer, becoming President and COO in 2011.
"I am succeeding a very successful CEO who has contributed greatly to the growth of this organization and provided outstanding leadership," says Miller. "We're going to continue to value, respect and honor what we've achieved and while enhancing our vision to be the provider of choice for people with disabilities and the employer of choice for people who want to work for a nationally recognized leader in the field."
As President and CEO, Miller's new role will focus on addressing the strategic issues of:
- Advancing Penn-Mar as thought leaders in the field of human services.
- Collaborating with other organizations in areas of best practices.
- Becoming the investment of choice for partners who want to support Penn-Mar's mission.
- Building the long-term sustainability and financial future of the organization.
Two years ago, Keith Peterson began to work with Penn-Mar's Board around his intention to retire at the end of 2012. In 2011, the Board and management team initiated a sustainability and succession planning process to facilitate a seamless transition. Since 1994, when Peterson joined Penn-Mar as COO, becoming CEO in 2000, the nonprofit has grown from a $5 million to a $23 million-plus agency serving more than 400 individuals with disabilities. Peterson has led the addition and growth of competent leadership and management teams whose expertise and capability have spurred Penn-Mar's physical and programmatic footprint, adding 42 residential properties and two major sites in Md. and Pa. Peterson has spent the past 42 years advocating for adults with intellectual and development disabilities and plans to be continually involved in contacting legislators and advocating for providers in serving this vulnerable population.
Penn-Mar's Board is strategically focused on the sustainability of the agency and recognizes its long tradition of outstanding leadership that is deeply committed to the individuals and families it serves. Says Mort Zifferer, Penn-Mar's Board chairman, and CEO of New Standard Corporation: "We have had the honor of building on Penn-Mar's leadership legacy and shepherding the agency successfully through many periods of change, including recent economic challenges. Greg has worked closely with Keith in building and leading Penn-Mar and is the logical and outstanding selection to continue a standard of excellence and service."
About Penn-Mar Human Services
Transforming Life to Living: Penn-Mar Human Services, founded in 1981, serves more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities through its residential, respite, educational, vocational and supported employment programs in northern Baltimore, Carroll and Harford Counties in Maryland, and in southern York County in Pennsylvania. www.penn-mar.org
The Penn-Mar Human Services logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13188