Mark Klaus

As a senior level executive with over 35 years of expertise and proven success in the human service industry he immediately brings the working knowledge, proficiency and gravitas to lead the largest nonprofit in San Diego and Imperial Counties. His formative leadership role as chief executive occurred in two organizations in Illinois. Most recently Mr. Klaus served as the President and CEO of the Home of Guiding Hands and led the agency to impressive growth and through challenging times, particularly during the pandemic. Mr. Klaus assumed a leadership role within the service provider community and worked in concert with the San Diego Regional Center to ensure the safety and wellbeing of over 30,000 clients and families and the thousands of service providers during the unprecedented COVID crisis. Mr. Klaus’s close and collaborative efforts with the San Diego Regional Center and his partnership with Carlos Flores, previous executive director, has engendered a well-earned trust and familiarity which has ensured a smooth transition. Mr. Klaus has a solid academic foundation at respected institutions such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Executive Program for Nonprofits at Stanford University. He has been the recipient of countless prestigious awards recognizing the exemplary leadership in the nonprofit sector. He is extraordinarily well connected and highly regarded within the field of developmental disabilities.