Paul Medeiros was voted by the Easter Seals Massachusetts Board of Directors as its next president and chief executive offer, effective November 1, 2015. He will succeed Kirk Joslin, who has held the position for 19 years.
With a staff of nearly 300, Easter Seals Massachusetts serves more than 26,000 children and adults with disabilities, their families, teachers and employers.
In his 13-year tenure with Easter Seals, Paul has held positions of expanding responsibility, including occupational therapist, clinical director and currently vice president of rehabilitation services. He is continuing a family tradition of dedication to Easter Seals begun by his father, Michael Medeiros, whose volunteer work at the organization dates back to the 1970s.
“From our comprehensive search process involving a deep pool of candidates, Paul emerged as the right leader at the right time,” said Peter Mahoney, chairman of the Easter Seals Board of Directors and Search Committee. “Paul already has a proven track record of strong leadership at Easter Seals. The entire board is looking forward to supporting Paul as he leads the organization to deliver on its mission.”
“This is an exciting step for me, but also humbling,” Paul, said. “Through my background in occupational therapy and my experience with a variety of clients, I feel strongly that every part of life is important – not just what we have to do, but what we want to do recreationally. I’m committed to ensuring that people with disabilities continue to have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.”
Kirk, who announced his planned retirement two years ago, said he “could not be more pleased” with the transition committee’s selection of Paul, one of several emerging leaders in the organization with whom he has steadily worked throughout the search process.
“The CEO of an effective, mission-driven nonprofit must understand the tug and pull between the needs of the organization and the promise of the mission,” Kirk said. “Paul’s understanding of this dynamic, coupled with his passion for Easter Seals and our mission, makes him uniquely qualified to lead the organization successfully into the future.”