Marty Ford appointed Senior Advisor, Julie Ward appointed Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy

After more than 34 years with The Arc’s public policy team (and a total of 40 years in The Arc network), Marty Ford is transitioning from Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy, a position she has held for 8 years, to a new part-time position of Senior Advisor. Marty is a well respected nationwide expert on many public policy issues, including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, Long Term Supports and Services, and trusts and financial planning approaches. During her tenure as the Senior Executive Officer, Marty led the policy team through a rigorous defense of the Medicaid program, implementation and defense of the Affordable Care Act, enactment of the ABLE Act, and many other significant advances. Marty served three years as Chairperson of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a coalition of over 100 national organizations. The Arc deeply appreciates Marty’s work and leadership in these areas and is fortunate that she will continue in her new staff role to support the Policy and Positions Committee of the Board of Directors, advise the Federal Policy Advocacy team, continue to represent The Arc in various external leadership positions, and work closely with the Chief Executive Officer on special projects.

The Arc is also pleased to announce that Julie Ward, the Deputy Executive Officer for Public Policy, has been promoted to the position of Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy. In addition to her new responsibilities, Julie will continue her leadership positions related to health care policy and planning the Disability Policy Seminar. Julie has over 30 years of experience representing people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities before Congress, the federal agencies, and state legislatures. Prior to holding the deputy executive officer position, she was the Director of Health Policy. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in policies related to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, private health insurance, medical research, drug development, and public health issues. Previously, Julie represented The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy for seven years as part of the Disability Policy Collaboration (DPC). In that role, she had primary responsibility for budget and appropriations,
employment, TANF, Medicare Part D, and transportation issues. She spent 18 years with the Epilepsy Foundation, the last ten years as the Senior Director of Government Affairs, overseeing the Foundation’s federal and state advocacy program.

Trudy Jacobson appointed Senior Advisor, Casey Nitsch and Laura Rahman to Lead Fundraising Programs

After nearly 10 years with The Arc’s development team, Trudy Jacobson is transitioning from the Senior Executive Officer for Development & Partnerships to a new part-time position of Senior Advisor. Trudy is a well-respected professional in the areas of development and marketing and during her tenure as SEO she led the organization through its rebranding and the growth of its individual, corporate, and foundation support programs including the development of several major corporate partnerships and a national partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal. Trudy has contributed significantly to the growth of The Arc’s overall revenue, and the development of its fundraising program for the future, since joining the staff. The Arc deeply appreciates Trudy’s work and leadership in these areas and is pleased that she will continue in her new staff role to advise the organization in areas of her expertise. She will continue working closely with members of The Arc’s Board of Directors and its Resource Development Committee, represent The Arc to a portfolio of funders, and work with the Chief Executive Officer on other projects.

The Arc is also pleased to announce that Laura Rahman, Director of Individual Philanthropy, and Casey Nitsch, Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Support will be taking on additional leadership responsibility at The Arc as part of this transition. Laura joined The Arc in 2011 as a Development Associate and has been promoted twice, assuming her current position during June 2016. She is taking on responsibility for leading The Arc’s fundraising from individuals. Casey joined The Arc in 2011 as a Research Associate and has been promoted twice, assuming her current position during 2016. She is taking on responsibility for leading The Arc’s fundraising from foundations, corporations, and government.