Ray Raisor, Executive Director of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville, has announced his upcoming retirement after nearly 34 years of leading the nonprofit organization at a time when it significantly expanded the range of services it provides for tri-state residents with disabilities.
The Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors has named Kelly Schneider to succeed Raisor as executive director. Schneider is currently Senior Vice President of Operations for the center and will be only the fifth executive director in the organization’s history. Schneider will assume chief executive responsibilities on June 1.
Schneider was named to her new position following a vote of the board of directors during a meeting on Jan. 29.
“The center owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Ray Raisor for his tireless work on behalf of tri-state residents with disabilities, and the board is excited about the center’s future under Kelly’s leadership,” said Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center’s board chairman, Jon Goldman.
In more than three decades as executive director, Raisor’s leadership and commitment helped grow the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center from 33 employees and an annual budget of $750,000 in 1982, to 341 employees and an annual budget of $17.5 million today. Raisor is well known for his passionate presentations to area businesses explaining and promoting the center’s work.
“I have been privileged to be CEO of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center,” Raisor remarked. “I have worked with and learned from staff, board, clients and volunteers and I am deeply thankful for that. I leave knowing the center is in excellent hands and will continue its mission to provide quality services, based on ability to pay, to tri-state citizens with disabilities.”
Schneider takes the helm of the organization after 26 years with the center. A Henderson, KY, native, Schneider earned a B.A. in psychology and criminal justice from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern Indiana.
“Being asked to carry on the amazing legacy Ray Raisor has created is an honor,” Schneider said. “I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. We have a great team in place to carry on our mission and I am excited to work with all of our staff and supporters in this new role.”
The Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with 17 locations in Vanderburgh, Posey and Warrick counties in southwestern Indiana. Its headquarters is located in Evansville. The center provides services to people with disabilities in 30 counties in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. Many services are provided regardless of clients’ ability to pay. The Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center’s services include a wide array of therapies for people of all ages, group homes, inclusive child care, adult day services, employment services and durable medical equipment evaluations and sales.
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Easter Seals Southwestern Indiana
3701 Bellemeade Ave.
Evansville, IN 47714
812-479-1411