ITHACA, N.Y. — Dan Brown will retire from the Ithaca–based nonprofit Racker on July 1, after 27 years of leadership including time as a board member, financial director, associate executive director, and executive director.
Under his leadership, Racker — which provides support to people with disabilities and their families in Tompkins, Cortland, and Tioga counties — has experienced significant program growth. The agency currently has a $40 million annual budget and more than 800 employees.
As executive director, Brown immersed himself in the community and worked to build bridges and create relationships with other people and organizations. His person-centered approach helped the community understand the importance of Racker’s mission of creating “a world where all people know they belong,” the organization contended in a release.
These relationships and Brown’s innovative thinking created opportunities for partnerships and community projects such as “The Neighborhood Depot,” a Tioga County facility in development that will allow nonprofits to share services and reduce overhead costs. It will also serve as an emergency response center for Owego.
Brown helped develop a strategic plan for Racker that used technology to streamline programmatic reporting for staff and allow more focus on the individual. Racker also moved to cloud-based file storage to ensure the IT security of the agency.
“As Dan takes his leave, he should be particularly proud of the current state of the organization,” said Max Della Pia, board president at Racker. “Racker is very strong financially and programmatically. His style of servant-leadership and mentorship has allowed his senior management team to thrive, to grow in their roles, and to lead Racker into the future. That’s what a great leader does. Dan will be sorely missed, but we are grateful for his service, leadership, and friendship.”
Racker’s board of directors will lead the search for a new executive director. Brown’s retirement will take effect on July 1, but he will continue to serve as director of statewide initiatives.
Racker (www.racker.org) says it has supported individuals with disabilities and their families for 74 years by offering opportunities to learn and connect with others and by fostering an environment of inclusion.