Bridgewell, a Peabody-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and helping individuals with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities, and other life challenges announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Kelly J. Martin as CEO, effective immediately. Martin had been serving as Bridgewell’s interim CEO and president.
“After a thorough and comprehensive process, the board is thrilled to announce that Kelly will continue in the role as CEO and President of Bridgewell,” says Robin Sutherland, chair of the Board of Directors. “She has demonstrated over the last several months, along with her longstanding tenure, the qualities, skills and competencies needed to be successful as Bridgewell’s CEO.”
Martin’s more than 30 years of experience at Bridgewell is unparalleled; she has excelled and advanced in a variety of direct care, management, and leadership roles up to chief operations officer and interim CEO where she reshaped programming to expand services in both autism support and substance use disorder treatments in response to the growing need.
“I joined Bridgewell over 30 years ago because I wanted to be a part of an organization that empowers people with life challenges to live dignified, self-directed, satisfying, safe and productive lives,” says Martin. “I am honored to lead Bridgewell, as it prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, into its next phase while maintaining the highest quality of care and services.”
As CEO, Martin brings with her extensive experience in executive level leadership, strategic planning and implementation, innovative expansion of services, and quality improvement and outcomes management systems. She was instrumental in achieving the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) across all programs and services, the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization. Martin provides leadership to a talented team of senior managers who offer quality support to those with life challenges.
Martin earned an MBA from Salem State College and a BA in social work from Suffolk University in Boston. She is a surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), a member of the ADDP Board of Directors, and a former board member for Children’s Friend and Family Services, Inc.