Rick Callahan

Rick joins Compass with 25 years senior leadership experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Prior to Compass, Rick was the Chief Operating Officer of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc-CCR), a private not for profit with an annual budget in excess of 40 million annually. While at The Arc-CCR, Rick assisted in increasing the agency’s budget from 3 million to 42 million and as well as increasing the number of individuals served to close to 900 individuals annually.

As the Chief Operating Officer, he developed a partnership with Project SEARCH, a nationwide business led program in which Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS), the local public school system, and employment service providers collaborate to work with a local business to create real life work opportunities for individuals with I/DD. This partnership led to the development of the only Project Search sites in Anne Arundel County. He also led the development of an adult based business led employment program called Helping Individuals Reach Employment Destinations (HIRED). Rick rebranded Chesapeake Neighbors (CN), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Arc-CCR. CN’s mission is to provide safe, affordable and quality homes to people of low income.

Rick is a graduate of three different Leadership programs; Leadership Anne Arundel, The Leadership Institute through The University of Delaware and The National Council of Executives Council through The Arc of the United States. Rick holds a bachelor’s degree in Individual and Family Studies with a Psychology minor from Penn State University. He was recognized as The Division of Rehabilitative Services Innovator of the Year, The Arc of Anne Arundel County Outstanding Employee of the Year and The Arc of Maryland Outstanding Employee of the Year. Rick has also been a member of Maryland Association of Community Service Public Policy, Employment First-Leadership, Rate Study Technical Work Group, Personal Support Work Group and Tier Standards Finance Committee.