Albertina Kerr is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Allison V. Stark as the seventh chief executive officer of the 115-year-old nonprofit offering children’s mental health services and programs for people experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). With experience in government and nonprofit sectors, Stark has dedicated her entire career to serving individuals with I/DD. She will assume her new role on July 18, 2022.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Allison’s caliber and experience to continue Kerr’s caring legacy,” said David Lake, chair of Kerr’s Board of Directors. “As a champion for the most vulnerable, she has a proven record as an extraordinary leader.”
Most recently, Stark has served as the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) at the Illinois Department of Human Services, where she led the DDD’s seven state operated developmental centers, three home & community-based waivers (serving close to 30,000 individuals), the private Intermediate Care Facilities system and over two-dozen grant-funded programs. Known as a transformative trailblazer, during her tenure she enacted historic financial investments in the community-based service system and public policy changes that strengthened the service system.
“I am honored to join this well-loved organization,” said Stark. “I’m excited for the opportunity to build upon Kerr’s high-quality services, community impact, and advocacy.”
Mary Ann (Miki) Herman will step down as Interim CEO and be an advisor to Stark until August 31, 2022, before returning to retirement and community and state advocacy work. “It has been a tremendous honor serving as Kerr’s Interim CEO while the Board completed a national search.” said Herman. “As Kerr moves toward another chapter in its storied history, Allison is the right leader to continue our critical work.”
Stark’s previous experience includes President and CEO of Orchard Village, a Chicago area nonprofit providing an array of community-based services to individuals experiencing I/DD. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Chicago’s North Park University.
ABOUT ALBERTINA KERR
Since 1907, Albertina Kerr has been reaching out to, protecting, and caring for Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens. As one of the largest and oldest human services providers in the Pacific Northwest, Kerr offers short-term crisis psychiatric care and community-based outpatient mental health services for children and teens struggling with life’s challenges. Kerr also provides safe, supportive 24-hour residential care for children, teens, and adults experiencing I/DD, and employment training and follow-along coaching for adults with I/DD. For more information, visit AlbertinaKerr.org.