Charles Carr
Curriculum Vitae
15 Baremeadow St, Methuen, MA 01844
Email: charlescarr@comcast.net
Web Page: www.charliecarr.com
PERSONAL SUMMARY
Strong managerial background with senior level experience in both private and public organizations. Excellent strategic appreciation and vision; able to assess complex situations and develop and implement sophisticated plans with a proven track record of success. Self-driven and reliant, sets, aims, targets and leads by example. A long history of coalition building, legislative advocacy and teaching with excellent interpersonal skills to engage, motivate and encourage others to change.
Highly focused with a consistent track record of successfully delivering full program redesign and implementation in tight time frames and within budget.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Disability Policy Consortium, Malden, MA
LEGISLATIVE LIASON December 2015 — Present Serve as Legislative Liaison and as an advocate. Work in grassroots disability issue campaigns and intersect with state and federal policymakers and legislators. Build consensus on critical disability related legislation, budgets, and policies through community organizing and advocacy.
Charlie Carr Consulting, Methuen, MA
PRINCIPAL April 2015 – Present
Work with public and private businesses to support strategic planning, turnaround management, executive coaching and Legislative Advocacy. Activities include Board and staff training, program design and implementation, grant writing and material development.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Boston, MA
COMMISSIONER August 2007 - March 2015
Oversaw the day-to-day operation of a medium-sized human services agency in the Commonwealth that provides community living, vocational rehabilitation and SSI/SSDI eligibility programs and services to 180,000 people annually with all types of disabilities to support them in the community outside of institutional settings. Administered a budget of $180 million with 800+ employees; developed and led a Diversity Council that recruited employees who are rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. Developed innovative, solution-based programs that exceeded benchmarks and brought the agency through the worst economic environment since the Great Depression.
The Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc., Lawrence, MA
FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER June 1980 - July 2007
Incorporated agency and secured federal funding to sustain the first Independent Living Center in the Merrimack Valley/North Shore and the fourth in the state. Responsible for overall agency planning, personnel supervision, diversity outreach and recruitment, advocacy and service delivery, fiscal management and fund development of a community based, cross disability, consumer controlled Independent Living Center with an annual budget of $1.2 million.
National Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, Lawrence, MA
PROGRAM COORDINATOR January 1979 - June 1980
Assisted in the design and implementation of the Northeastern Massachusetts Independent living Rehabilitation Program. Provided peer counseling, housing referral, skills training, information & referral, and advocacy in areas of SSI, Medicaid, state rehabilitation programs, and attendant care. Represented participants in administrative law hearings.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Malden, MA
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR August 1977 - January 1979
Provided counseling and guidance to severely disabled SSI/SSDI recipients and coordinated services such as training, physical restoration, job development and placement.
EDUCATION
Lesley College, Graduate School of Management
Certificate of Management
1983
Boston University, School of Public Communication
Bachelor of Science, Journalism
1982
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Associates, Liberal Arts
1974
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
• Permanent Commission on Disability
Commissioner, 2021 - Present
• Dignity Alliance of Massachusetts
Member, 2020 - Present
• Commonwealth Care Alliance
Director, 2017 - 2024
• Attorney General’s - Disability Rights Advisory Committee
Member, 2015 - Present
• DHCD/EOHHS Joint Committee on Housing for Persons with Disabilities
Member, 2013 – 2015
• Centene Corporation National Disability Advisory Council
Member, 2012 - Present
• Starkloff Disability Institute
Board Member, 2012 – 2017
• Massachusetts Autism Commission
Statutory Member, 2012 – 2015
• Massachusetts Job Creation Commission
Statutory Member, 2011-2012
• Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board
Statutory Member, 2007 - 2015 (Gubernatorial appointment)
• Community First Transformation Grant
Steering Committee Member, 2006 – 2008
• Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc.
Board Member, 2005 – 2007
• Massachusetts Health and Disability Research Partnership
Transition Advisory Board, Chairperson 2003 – 2007
• Real Choices Consumer Planning and Implementation Group
Founding member and representative on Collaborative Team, 2002 - 2004
• Lower Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board
Board Member, 2002 - 2006
• Governor’s Olmstead Working Group Member, Chair, Community Services & Supports Subcommittee, 2001 - 2003
• Massachusetts Medicaid Infrastructure Grant – Advisory Board Member – University of Massachusetts/Division of Medical Assistance, 2001 - 2005
• Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers, Inc.
Board Member, 2001 - 2007
• NIDRR RRTC Center on State Systems and Employment – Advisory Board Member
- Institute for Community Inclusion, 1998 - 2001
• NIDRR Access to Health Care for People with Disabilities Across the Life Span and the Spectrum of Disability – Advisory Board Member-Health and Disability Working Group, 1999 - 2002
• RTC on Managed Health Care and Disability - Advisory Board Member - National Rehabilitation Hospital/Independent Living Research Utilization,
1998 - 2004
• Disability Policy Consortium; Founder, Chairperson, 1996 - 1999
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission - Rehabilitation Council, Chairperson, 1996 – 1999, Member 1990 - 1999 (Gubernatorial appointment)
• Statewide Independent Living Council, Founding Chairperson, Member,
1995 - 2000 (Gubernatorial appointment)
• Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, Member, 1996 – 2002 (Gubernatorial appointment)
• Massachusetts Advocacy Center, Inc
Board Member, 1985 - 1995
• Boston Self Help Center, Inc., Board Member, 1984 - 1988
• Massachusetts Association of Independent Living Centers
Founder, Chairperson, 1985 - 1990
• Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance; Medical Care Advisory Committee; Vice-Chairperson-top level advisory committee to the Medicaid Director 1982 - 1998; Disability Sub-Committee, Chairperson 1985 (Gubernatorial appointment)
• National Council of Independent Living; Founder, Member at Large and Internal Vice-President, Legislative Committee Chairperson, Regional Representative, 1982 - 1991
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission; Member of Independent Living Advisory Committee-federally mandated advisory committee to the Commissioner 1981 – 1983
• Boston Center for Independent Living, Inc., Early founding activist/Past President/Vice-President of Board of Directors, 1974 - 1979
• Wellington Hall - Middlesex County Hospital, Founding Member of the first active prototype for Independent Living in Massachusetts, 1971 - 1975
AWARDS, CITATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
• Easter Seals – Empowerment Award – 2014
• Easter Seals - Assistive Technology Silver Anniversary Award – 2013
• Metro West Center for Independent Living - Independent Living Lifetime Achievement Award – 2012
• Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts - Leadership Award - 2008
• Northeast Independent Living Program - Invaluable Role in Founding and Nurturing NILP for 27 years – 2007
• Providers Council - Dedicated Service and Advocacy Award – 2007
• Disability Law Center - Individual Leadership Award – 2007
• Statewide Independent Living Council - Pioneer in the Independent Living Movement Award – 2007
• National Council of Independent Living - National Advocacy Award – 2007
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Council - Independent Living Center Distinguished Service Award – 2006
• Northeast Independent Living Program - David E. Ray Award – 2003
• Massachusetts Human Services Coalition - Standing Ovation Award – 2002
• Statewide Independent Living Council - Certificate of Appreciation – 2000
• Disability Policy Consortium – Appreciation for Leadership Award - 1999
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission – Commissioner’s Award – 1999
• President Bill Clinton Acknowledgment - Medal of Freedom Award – 1998
• Job Placement Project - Certificate of Appreciation – 1997
• Marie Feltin Award – 1995
• Governors Commission on Employment of People with Disabilities - Citation for Meritorious Service – 1991
• ADA Award - Outstanding Contribution to the Enactment of the Law - 1990
• West German Cultural Exchange; Co-Sponsored NILP, UMass, and BAGC-facilitated 14 day IL informational/educational program for 18 Disabled leaders of Germany's "social club" movement, Boston, MA; Award of Appreciation, 1985
• Canadian Paraplegia Association -Third Atlantic Conference on IL; Presenter, Regional Canadian IL movement strategy building conference, Nova Scotia, Canada; Award of Appreciation, 1985
• Holistic Approaches to IL; Consultant/Presenter-"Beyond Survival"-national conference on IL and youth, Denver, CO, 1983
• Rehabilitation Gazette. Conferee/Presenter-"International Symposium on Living Independently with a Severe Disability, St Louis, MO, 1983
• Institute for Educational Leadership; Conferee/Presenter for "Challenges of Emerging Leadership: Community Based IL Programs and the Disability Rights Movement, East Lansing, MI, 1982
• Cornell University-Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research; Consultant for IL Management Training Project, 1981
• National Spinal Cord Injury Foundation; Consultant/Trainer on IL advocacy and services, Euclid, OH, 1980
• Rehabilitation Services Administration, DHEW, Washington, DC; Conferee to the National Conference on IL Services Regulations-Title VII, Arlington, VA, 1979
• Massachusetts Association of Paraplegics – Acknowledgement of Vigorous and Effective Support - 197