Progress Announces Two Major Staff Promotions

Progress employees recognized for their services to adults with intellectual disabilities

NASHVILLE, TN...Donna Goodaker, Executive Director of Progress, announces two major staffing promotions: Meika McClendon has been appointed as the Director of Davidson County Services. A graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, McClendon has nearly 10 years of service to Progress in a variety of positions, most recently as Director of Residential Supports. In addition to responsibility for community-based day services, McClendon will oversee approximately 65 residences in Davidson and surrounding counties serving more than 100 special needs adults. In these residences, one or two persons with disabilities live in their own home with assistance of companion staff.

Susan Hutchison, a long-time Progress employee with more than fifteen years experience in the field, has been promoted to Associate Director of Day Service Programs. Hutchison is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport, also with a B.S. in Social Work. She is now responsible for all aspects of day support services including community participation programs based both from home and in community, as well as supported employment. At this time, approximately 70 individuals receive day supports from Progress.

Supported employment is a program designed to assist disabled adults in securing, training for and maintaining community-based employment. Placements may be for individuals or small groups called enclaves. Progress provides a job coach, at no cost to the employer, to help guide the persons with disabilities in the performance of the job and to ensure task completion to the satisfaction of the employer.

About the appointments, Goodaker commented: "These positions are important and a welcome change to our management structure. Meika McClendon and Susan Hutchison are such long-standing core leaders at Progress, these advancements just make good business sense."

Progress is a nonprofit agency providing services to adults with intellectual disabilities. With more than 35 years year of providing quality, compassionate care to approximately 120 people in Middle Tennessee, Progress works to empower a person with disabilities to realize their personal vision, enabling them to enjoy lives that are happy, healthy and safe. By providing unique, personalized supports, adults with disabilities supported by Progress experience full integration into local community life - at home, at work or at play. Additionally, Progress is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, and is committed to public awareness, enlightenment and fostering acceptance.

Detailed information about Progress may be obtained by accessing the website www.givingmatters.com.

March 21, 2008
Contact: Susan Jakoblew, Community Relations Manager
(615)399-3000 ext. 39