FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Talon J. Sachs
Vice President of Strategic Communication for The Arc
410.384.4942 | tsachs@thearcccr.org

 

Severn, MD. (December 8, 2021) – The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) congratulates the Leadership Maryland Class of 2021 who completed the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders.

“Leadership Maryland provides a profound experience for leaders across all sectors. As the CEO of an organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I found my time with Leadership Maryland invaluable to furthering our mission,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc and Leadership Maryland Class of 2013 graduate. “I hope that the Class of 2021 had a similar experience, one that has empowered them to make a significant impact within their communities.”

Among the graduates this year is The Arc’s Director of Engagement Deena Deese Kilmon. Deena was one of 49 applicants chosen by committee to complete Leadership Maryland’s eight-month hands-on learning program. The class participated in an orientation and closing retreat that bookended five, two-day sessions focused on Maryland’s five main geographic regions and the most vital issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. Originally selected to be the Class of 2020, the cohort was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the events of the past two years, our communities greatly need connectedness, shared vision, and resilient leadership, which makes our mission of empowering a diverse network of local leaders more important than ever,” said Renée M. Winsky ‘05, president and Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Maryland. “With the understanding, connections, and clarity of purpose gained from their program experience, the 49 members of the Class of 2021 are now better poised to make a positive impact, and we look forward to seeing all they’ll accomplish for our state.”

Leadership Maryland honored Deena and the entire Class of 2021 at its 28th annual graduation ceremony held December 7 at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc provides an innovative, person-directed approach across the arc of a person’s life with a focus on equity and self-determination. Visit www.thearcccr.org

About Leadership Maryland
Leadership Maryland is a professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Each year, as many as 52 diverse and accomplished executives from Maryland’s public and private sectors are selected to come together as a class for an eight-month hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. The first Leadership Maryland class graduated in 1993, and the organization’s alumni network now consists of more than 1,300 leaders from all industries and regions of the state. To learn more, please call Leadership Maryland at 410-841-2101 or visit www.LeadershipMD.org

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving in my family is a time to reflect on the past year. While last year may not have been the year we hoped for, we remained steadfast in our commitment and now, nearly twenty-one months into the pandemic, we begin to see hope for a more vibrant post-pandemic world.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, there have been a number of opportunities. The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) continues to grow, meeting our mission in new and dynamic ways. Through the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our employees, and the trust of the people we support, The Arc continues to provide person-centered supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, learn, and connect with their communities.

No one achieves success without the support of others. I am thankful for the opportunity to lead a community of changemakers who encourage each other, rise to meet challenges, think critically, care deeply, and strive to do better together. I also am grateful for our donors and partners who believe in our mission. Together, we are building a shared future where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are active and fully included members of their communities, have access to the resources and supports they need and strive to live self-determined lives.

Thank you for your trust and commitment to The Arc. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

With gratitude,

Jonathon Rondeau
President & CEO

In this Eye On Annapolis podcast, President & CEO Jonathon Rondeau sits down with host John Frenaye to talk about The Arc, its mission, culture, and why it’s such a great place to work!

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Media Contact: Ross Benincasa
Rivers and Roads Consulting
443.720.0080 | ross@riversandroads.com

 

THE ARC CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE REGION HOSTS A COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT FUTURE PLANS FOR PORT STREET COMMONS

WHAT: The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) will host a Community Meeting to introduce its development plans for Port Street Commons. This is an opportunity for community members and grassroots organizations to meet Arc leadership and the project planning team to learn about The Arc’s future plans in Easton at the site. The public is encouraged to attend.

“The Arc has had a presence in Easton for the last 17 years and we are committed to continuing that,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “Though we currently have an office and Community Hub in Easton, the next phase of our vision will extend our existing model of support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while creating mixed-used space for the entire community.”

After a brief presentation on the development, community members will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session, facilitated by Rivers and Roads Consulting, to ask questions and engage in focused discussions about the project. The Arc’s Chesapeake Community Development is the developer of the project in partnership with general contractors BGC and architects, OTJ Architects.

WHO: Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc, OTJ Architects, River and Roads Consulting (Discussion Facilitator)

WHEN: Thursday, December 9, 2021, 5:30PM

WHERE: Eastern Shore Conservation Center, 114 S. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601. Street is available, as well as a parking lot at the rear of the building that is accessible from Washington Street.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) is a dynamic, regional organization providing person-centered supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, learn, and connect with their communities. We advocate for equity and access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live self-determined lives and foster opportunities towards self-sufficiency. To learn more, visit www.thearcccr.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Talon J. Sachs, Vice President of Strategic Communication for The Arc
410.384.4942 | tsachs@thearcccr.org
 

THE ARC CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE REGION WELCOMES BRET MINARIK TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SEVERN, MD, (November 4, 2021)—The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and Laura Austin, Board Chair, are pleased to welcome Bret Minarik to The Arc’s Board of Directors.

Bret possesses over 30 years of financial management experience in nonprofit and private organizations that will be a welcome addition to The Arc’s current advocacy efforts to increase access and opportunity for people with I/DD.

“We are excited to welcome Bret to our Board,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “His extensive experience in supporting nonprofit leadership, spearheading financial initiatives, and understanding the modern healthcare landscape will be instrumental to The Arc and those we support.”

Committed to delivering effective and equitable care for all, Bret has supported organizations in the health care sphere for years with his robust financial acumen. Currently, he is the Chief Financial Officer of Bay Community Health (BCH), a federally qualified medical care and behavioral health services center in southern Anne Arundel County. Prior to BCH, Bret was the Chief Financial Officer at HealthCare Access Maryland and supervised all financial operations for the multi-million dollar nonprofit organization.

“I look forward to contributing to The Arc’s ongoing commitment to address the diverse needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Bret.

Bret is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a Bachelor of Economics and an accounting certificate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is also a parent of an adult with disabilities who receives supports funded through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc provides an innovative, person-directed approach across the arc of a person’s life with a focus on equity and self-determination. www.thearcccr.org

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Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC): According to your website, “The Arc’s mission is to serve children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore by creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live, work, and play where and how they choose.” What would you add to that?

Jonathon Rondeau (JR): It’s also important to note that each Arc in Maryland is separately run and incorporated. So, for the last 17 years, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region has been providing services mainly in the Mid Shore region. Since 2018, we have expanded the number of people we serve by 82%. So, part of our strategy now is how to have a greater physical presence as well.

EEDC: And how are you doing that?

JR: We have had a presence in Easton for the last 17 years and are committed to continuing that. Over the last year and a half, we’ve been exploring locations to develop an Eastern Shore headquarters in Easton. Late spring of this year, we identified a lot on Port Street within the Port Street Redevelopment Plan, and we’ve purchased that property. It’s our vision that this would not only be our Eastern Shore headquarters but also create a community hub, which is where people with disabilities and their families could get resources, participate in support groups, that sort of thing. We’re also creating a mixed-use model where there would be eight affordable housing units. The Arc has a housing subsidiary called Chesapeake Neighbors that will be managing these units.

EEDC: How interesting. How far along are you with the housing plan?

JR: We are in the concept phase of that, which will be done in the next couple of weeks. And then, we will be going out to key community members to get people’s input. Our ultimate goal is to break ground and start construction sometime in 2023.

EEDC: How will The Arc be soliciting the community’s response?

JR: This fall, we will have some listening sessions to share our plans with the community and get their feedback. We haven’t scheduled those dates yet, but they’ll be more than one opportunity to give their opinion.

EEDC: How can people find out when these will be?

JR: People can reach out if they’re interested in participating in one of those sessions by emailing me at:  jrondeau@thearcccr.org

EEDC: So, what attracted you to the Port Street Redevelopment area?

JR: The property we purchased is right on the Rails-to-Trails that’s being developed. Initially, we were looking and wanted to be downtown. And so this location has the beauty and the flexibility of not only the Easton Parkway because our services are multi-jurisdictional, but also the fact that you can easily walk from this location downtown. It’s sort of the best of both worlds.

I also think that it’s huge that, while the Port Street Redevelopment plan has been in development for many years, our research shows that a lot of developers are also looking at that location. So it seems to be the right location and right time for us to be doing the same.

EEDC: How large is this new headquarter going to be?

JR: It will be about 24,000 square feet, which includes the eight affordable housing units.

EEDC: How many people are currently employed at The Arc?

JR: The Arc as a whole organization has about 400 employees, and we have 30 employees that work directly on the Eastern Shore.

EEDC: What about you, Jonathon? Are you from the area?

JR: I’ve lived in Maryland since 2003 and currently live in Baltimore County. I’ve been with The Arc for a little over four years.

For more information about EEDC, visit https://eastonedc.com/

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) is hosting an Open House for our downtown Easton Regional Office & Community Hub on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, from 4-6:00PM at 18 N. Hanson Street, Easton, MD 21601. Community members will have the opportunity to meet organizational leadership, learn more about our programs and services, and hear about our future plans in Easton.

“We are happy to offer a place where people we support and their families can attend educational opportunities, host support groups, and receive family navigation services all within easy walking distance of downtown’s amenities and services,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “In addition to our current programs, it is our intention to collaborate in this space with like-minded organizations whose missions align to our focus on equity and access for people with disabilities.”

The Arc currently supports over 50 people on the Eastern Shore with an array of services supporting children and adults with disabilities. Representatives of these programs and organizational leadership will be on hand to discuss plans for the expansion of these services in the Mid-Shore region. Families are welcome to attend; accessible parking is available on site.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc provides an innovative, person-directed approach across the arc of a person’s life with a focus on equity and self-determination. www.thearcccr.org

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SEVERN, MD, (October 12, 2021) – The Daily Record has named Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), one of Maryland’s 2021 Most Admired CEOs.

The Daily Record created the Most Admired CEOs awards program to recognize talented business CEOs and nonprofit executive directors throughout Maryland whose leadership and vision are admired by those around them. The winners were selected by an outside panel of judges based on professional accomplishments, community service and letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community leaders showcasing the CEO’s leadership and vision.

Jonathon joined The Arc in 2017 and has overseen the expansion of its mission, creating greater access and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Anne Arundel County and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“We are humbled and proud of Jonathon for receiving this award,” said Laura Austin, chair of the board of directors for The Arc. “His passion for creating a better, more inclusive community for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is one of the many attributes that make him a fantastic leader.”

“This year’s Most Admired CEOs display leadership and vision that is admired by those around them. These individuals were selected for the honor for several reasons, including letters of reference from those with whom they work each day and from staff from nonprofits where they donate their time and talent,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher of The Daily Record. “They demonstrate innovation, a clarity of vision and a selfless approach to building teams, which makes them admired by many. We at The Daily Record congratulate them for their achievements.”

The winners will be honored on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at noon at an online celebration. Each of the honorees will be celebrated for their achievements through video storytelling. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in the program with their congratulations and cheers using social media platforms from their homes or offices.

For a complete list of winners, visit https://thedailyrecord.com/most_admired_ceos/winners/.

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About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc utilizes an innovative, person-directed approach across the arc of a person’s life with a focus on equity and self-determination. Visit www.thearcccr.org to learn more.

About The Daily Record
Celebrating 133 years of journalistic excellence, The Daily Record is a multimedia news source that publishes a print and online edition five days a week and breaks news daily on its website, TheDailyRecord.com. In addition, The Daily Record publishes more than 30 special products a year including Women Who Lead, Doing Business in Maryland, Way to Be and Expanding Opportunities. The Daily Record also honors leading Marylanders through nine annual awards events including Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Influential Marylanders, and Most Admired CEOs. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting, email marketing, and more. The Daily Record is part of BridgeTower Media, one of the country’s leading business-to-business media companies with more than 40 print and digital publications in more than 25 U.S. markets.

SEVERN, MD, (September 28, 2021) – Chesapeake Neighbors, an Arc Central Chesapeake Region company committed to providing safe, accessible, and affordable housing in Maryland, and Board Chair Laura Carr, are pleased to welcome Judi Olinger as Executive Director, effective October 4, and Andrew Masters to its board of directors.

“We are excited to welcome Judi and Andy to our team,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. “Judi and Andy possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be essential in furthering the mission of Chesapeake Neighbors to expand and strengthen the availability of affordable housing for people who would otherwise not have access or options in communities where they choose to live.”

Judi Olinger possesses over 30 years of experience in human services, housing development, property management, and operational oversight of a wide array of multi-million-dollar programs committed to supporting the needs of people with disabilities. She founded and served as president of iHomes, Inc., a development and management company for affordable housing.

Judi also served as the vice president of Humanim, Inc., overseeing various programs, including disability services and corporate compliance. She currently serves as the president of the board of directors for Columbia Housing Corporation and is also a member of the Maryland Housing Inclusive Howard County Advisory Board.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to lead Chesapeake Neighbors,” said Judi Olinger. “People with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the same access to quality, affordable housing as anyone else, and we will continue to expand the care and mission of the organization.”

Judi earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salisbury University. She also received an advanced certificate in the financing of affordable housing from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a graduate of Leadership Maryland.

Andy Masters possesses over a decade of experience in education, public health, and strategic planning in Baltimore City schools and nonprofits. Recently, he was named the Executive Director of Columbia Housing Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting racial and ethnic integration and diversity in Columbia, Maryland, through housing advisory services and educational programming.

Prior to that, Andy was the Strategic Partnerships Manager at Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit that brings together cross-sector data, community engagement, partnership, and evaluation tools for communities across the country. He also led the launch and implementation of a bold cross-sector Youth Health and Wellness Strategy out of the Baltimore City Health Department.

“I am excited and thrilled to join the Chesapeake Neighbors board of directors,” said Andy. “Creating stronger communities is a passion of mine that aligns perfectly with Chesapeake Neighbors’ core mission of providing access to safe, affordable, accessible housing.”

Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies and a master’s degree in counselor education from The Pennsylvania State University. He lives in the Columbia, Maryland area and has two children.

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About Chesapeake Neighbors
Chesapeake Neighbors was founded in 2007 by The Arc Central Chesapeake Region to provide, promote and support safe, affordable, and accessible housing for people and families in need. What started with one house in Anne Arundel County has grown to over 50 owned and managed, affordable, accessible single and multifamily units across Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Learn more at https://chesapeakeneighbors.org/.

SEVERN, MD (September 15, 2021) – The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) announces the launch of Project Learn, a new initiative funded by the Developmental Disabilities Council of Maryland that will focus on supporting parents and the students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to understand the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and become strong self-advocates.

The project, in partnership with Education Team Allies, is made possible by a grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.

Additionally, this program will assist families in developing a plan for their child as it pertains to their further education, employment, and independent living.

“We are proud to partner with Education Team Allies and thankful for funding support from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council to make this happen,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “Each student has unique educational needs, and Project Learn aims to provide students with plans and tools for their continued success.”

Project Learn consists of three components designed to ensure that parents and their children are involved in the process together, creating a plan that is best suited to their needs. These components include:

• Family Consultations
• Leadership Academy
• Resource Materials

“Parents and students face a myriad of decisions when faced with the IEP process,” said Beth Nolan, Co-Founder & Principal of Education Team Allies. “Our outreach has indicated that they need resources that are free, easily accessible, individualized, and specific to their school systems to support them in making these important decisions in relation to the impact it will have on the student’s life after high school.”

Project Learn is open to families and students with IDD who attend public school and reside in the following Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Dorchester.

Enrollment for Project Learn Family Consultations is currently open. To apply, fill out the form here.

Applications for the Project Learn Leadership Academy will open for students in late October 2021. Project Learn Resource Materials are county-specific and will be available online beginning in spring 2022.

For information about Project Learn, please contact Deena Kilmon, Director of Engagement, at resources@thearcccr.org or 410.353.1137 or visit www.thearcccr.org/projectlearn/.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc provides an innovative, person-directed approach across the arc of a person’s life with a focus on equity and self-determination. www.thearcccr.org

About Education Team Allies
Education Team Allies was founded in 2019 to help parents navigate the special education system. They assist families in developing an IEP or 504 for their child that includes a meaningful vision as it pertains to further education, employment, and independent living in addition to advocating for and fostering a culture of inclusion for all. Visit https://educationteamallies.com/ to learn more.