Media Contact:
Jennifer Kuper
Director of Communications
571-946-0020

Manassas, VA (11/18/2024) – Didlake, Inc., a nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment and community engagement opportunities, is thrilled to announce the selection of Kenan Aden as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) after a thorough national executive search that involved interviews with candidates from five different states. Aden joined Didlake on November 18, bringing a wealth of experience in operations, nonprofit leadership, rehabilitation services and AbilityOne Program contracting to the organization.

Before joining Didlake, Aden served as the Executive Vice President/COO for Springfield, Va.-based MVLE (a member of the Fedcap Group), a nonprofit agency that, like Didlake, employs and supports people with disabilities and participates in the federal AbilityOne Program. In that role, which he held for about a decade, Aden successfully led all operations, overseeing comprehensive project planning and business expansion, and managing three divisions: Federal Contracting, Human Services and Commercial Services. He is also a National Industry Security Professional.

His journey at MVLE began in 1998 as a Program/Site Manager and Senior Job Coach. He progressed to Senior Director of Community Engagement before stepping into Executive Leadership, serving as Senior Vice President of Rehabilitation Program Services for five years before becoming EVP/COO.

“I am honored to join Didlake as COO and to continue my decades-long commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to enhance our services and create even more opportunities for those we serve,” Aden said.

As COO of Didlake, Aden will oversee rehabilitative services and contract operations. He will lead day-to-day operations, including the execution of federal contracts, ensuring compliance, maintaining performance standards and strengthening government relationships. He will also play a key role in integrating and streamlining Didlake’s diverse services, including rehabilitation, commercial businesses and emerging business lines such as total facilities management and technology-based jobs.

Didlake CEO Paul Gravley shared, “Kenan’s unwavering dedication to our mission, extensive experience with AbilityOne, rehabilitation services, commercial enterprises, and executive leadership will be pivotal to our ongoing success. We are thrilled to have found the ideal candidate right in our backyard.”