Joe Riley, GEC’s CEO/Executive Director recently received the Inter Agency Council (IAC) Leadership Award “in grateful recognition of extraordinary contributions to improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families”. This came as a bit of a surprise to Joe, as he was not aware that he had been nominated for this prestigious award. The nomination came from industry peers outside of GEC, who cited Joe’s “long history working with both the IDD and SED industries, his caring, generosity, and willingness to share his experience and ideas with his peers”. They also mentioned his outspoken advocacy for the field and “highly strategic approach to managing programs that benefit the agency’s population.”
Joe is very grateful for the award but, in humble fashion, insists that it is really an acknowledgement of the entire leadership team at GEC, who all occupy important roles in planning, decision making, and implementation and of the Board and families, who maintain such an open relationship with the leadership team. Congratulations to Joe on this well deserved honor.