The County of Summit Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD) Superintendent, Tom Armstrong, announced his plans to retire later this year and the Agency’s seven-member Board has begun the search for his replacement.
“Tom has done a tremendous job in leading the Agency to create innovative services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in our communities,” said Randy Briggs, board president. “Under his leadership the Agency has more than doubled the number of people that it has served while improving satisfaction from persons served, parents and guardians, and the public.”
The Board will utilize the services of The Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACBDD) to assist with the search for its new superintendent. OACBDD is accepting applications through mid-April with the first round of interviews conducted by a screening committee by late spring. The entire Board will participate in the selection process that they wish to have completed by late summer.
“The Board is committed to remaining focused on its mission of providing services and supports to eligible individuals during this transition,” Briggs said. “The Board’s priority is to ensure a seamless transition. Tom will continue his service to the Agency until his successor has been selected.”
The future direction of the Agency has been set by the 2013-2015 Long Range Plan and Summit DD’s board members will be looking for a candidate who can carry out those objectives while continuing the successes of innovation, customer service, and financial planning that has led the Agency to its accomplishments over the past decade.
Armstrong began his tenure at Summit DD in September 2000, when the Agency served around 2,000 adults and children and had more than two hundred adults waiting for both residential and day program services. In 2006, the Agency passed an increase in its operating levy, promising to serve more individuals and eliminate waiting lists by 2012.
Today the Agency serves more than 4,000 adults and children and currently maintains no waiting list for day programs or residential services. Armstrong led the Agency’s efforts to redesign services to capitalize on non-local funding sources to help subsidize the cost of services, which increased the percentage of adults who receive funding from sources other than local tax dollars by 36 percent. It was the success of those efforts that helped Summit DD pass a renewal of its operating levy in 2012 with more than 70 percent support of Summit County’s residents.
“I’ve been privileged to serve the individuals and families at the Summit DD,” said Armstrong. “We’ve been fortunate to have a tremendous amount of support from Summit County elected officials and its residents. Our communities are more inclusive communities today and I am honored to have worked with a staff committed to ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to work, live and learn as equal citizens in their communities.”
