Baltimore, Maryland headquartered Chimes International Ltd., announced today that Terence Blackwell has been chosen by Chimes Board of Directors to serve as President & CEO of the not for profit. Mr. Blackwell will begin transitioning into his new role at Chimes in early August and will assume full duties before the end of the year. Current Chimes President & CEO, Marty Lampner, will retire on January 2, 2017 following 28 years of service with the organization.

Today's announcement is the next step in a multi-year leadership transition process. In late 2014, Patrick Bagley, outgoing Chimes International Board Chairperson, empaneled a special transition committee composed of Chimes International, Ltd. Board Members, advised by industry experts, to guide the search process.

Blackwell brings more than two decades of diverse leadership experience serving the needs of people with disabilities to his new role with Chimes. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Manhattan-based Serving the Underserved, providing services to people with intellectual disabilities, behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse issues as well as veterans’ services in a variety of coordinated and integrated care models.

“Terry possesses an unparalleled depth of experience in and knowledge of the disabilities service industry and we are thrilled to have him coming on board at Chimes,” said Douglas M. Schmidt, Chimes International Board Chairperson. “He understands firsthand the challenges the people served by Chimes and their families face each day, but he also has a keen perspective on the business and regulatory challenges our organization and this industry are up against on a state and national level. We are confident that under his leadership, Chimes will continue to flourish and meet those challenges head on.”

“For nearly 70 years, Chimes has built a strong reputation as a go-to provider of services and supports for people with disabilities throughout Maryland, the mid-Atlantic region and Israel,” said Blackwell. “Without leaders like Marty Lampner and his predecessors, there would be no Chimes. Throughout my career I have admired the advocacy efforts and growth of this agency in the face of shifting regulatory and economic landscapes. I am honored to have been selected to lead this team of dedicated professionals and carry on that legacy of combining sound fiscal management with the use of the latest evidence-based practices to help the most vulnerable members of our society live their lives to the fullest. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this organization.”
In addition to earning his M.S. in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania, including attendance at the Wharton School, Terence is a Licensed School Principal, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Certified Addictions Specialist. He earned his B.S. in Psychology from Saint Peter’s University.

Blackwell’s career history has ranged from serving as a Direct Care Counselor for a large community-based residence to leading the development and operation of preschool programs for children with disabilities under the authority of the New York State Educational Department. He also launched his own consulting practice for not for profits and government-funded agencies and led program expansion and business development efforts for a large not for profit that provides job opportunities for people with barriers to independent employment.

New CEO Aims to Continue Innovation, Growth Trajectory
Under Lampner’s leadership, Chimes has experienced significant growth and has enhanced its standing as a leading provider of services for people with disabilities. During his tenure, Chimes achieved some of the strongest fiscal years in the organization’s history while evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of people with special needs.

Lampner led the expansion of Chimes into new geographic areas, including Maryland’s Eastern Shore, opening a “program without walls” in 2011 and led the creation and opening of Chimes new business incubator in 2015 that is driving employment opportunities for people Chimes serves in Baltimore.

In addition, Marty was a trendsetter in adapting eco-friendly practices for not for profits that also made good business sense. Chimes boasts one of the first not for profit headquarters in the U.S. that draws nearly all of its electricity from solar panels via a 669kw, 3,000 panel installation that was placed in 2011. He also championed the use of eco-friendly cleaning products throughout the organization.

Lampner has led the continued growth of an outstanding Senior Leadership Team at Chimes and has been proactive in perpetuating the next generation of leaders for the organization.

“The selection of Terry Blackwell as the new President & CEO of Chimes ensures the future growth of Chimes as a well-funded innovator in our industry.” said Lampner. “Chimes has been proud to claim many firsts over the history of our agency, including the first non-public school in Maryland for people with disabilities, the first to provide residential options in a community-based setting and one of the first to create employment programs for people with disabilities. I am confident Terry will continue to innovate while holding onto best practices that have been a hallmark of Chimes. He is the right person to continue to widen the array of people Chimes serves and the options for services available to them, ultimately making sure no one we serve is ever left behind.”

About Chimes: Chimes International, Ltd. and subsidiaries, known as the Chimes Family of Services, offer a wide range of opportunities for people with disabilities and other special needs. Chimes International as the parent organization, leads and supports various subsidiaries, which provide services to over 19,000 people in 6 states, the District of Columbia and Israel. To learn more visit www.Chimes.org.