October 23, 2009
Manassas, VA – Northern Virginia’s leading provider of employment services for people with disabilities has secured the services of its top executive for the next ten years.  The Board of Directors of Didlake, Inc. and President/CEO Rex Parr announced they have reached an agreement extending Mr. Parr’s contract to serve as a senior leader of the organization through 2019.  The agreement also establishes a plan to identify and retain Mr. Parr’s eventual successor.
Parr, who has served as Didlake’s CEO since 1977, will continue to serve in that capacity through 2016 while working with the Board to put in place executive leadership, including a Chief Operating Officer and eventually a new Chief Executive Officer, that will lead the not-for-profit organization forward on its mission to create opportunities for people with disabilities.  With a new CEO in place by 2017, Mr. Parr will continue to serve the Board in a consulting capacity and assist in the transition through 2019.
Karen Brown, owner of Brown and Associates, CPAs and Chairman of the Board of Didlake, Inc. stated, “The board is delighted to have completed contract arrangements with Mr. Parr that assure the organization of both his continued leadership over the next 10 years and a gradual, stable transition as he approaches retirement.  Rex has built Didlake into a thriving organization that has helped thousands of people with disabilities find meaningful employment and opportunities for more independent living while succeeding as a business in the highly competitive government contracting arena. We are deeply appreciative of his contributions to Didlake and the community at large, and we look forward to working with him as we continue to carry out our mission”.
About Didlake, Inc.
Didlake, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Manassas, Virginia. It was founded in 1965 to create opportunities for people with disabilities through services that connect them to employment, education and the community. It provides contract business services for commercial and government customers and has won numerous awards for its facilities maintenance; packaging/ assembly; and administrative services.  The organization operates throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area, in the Roanoke Valley and in Greater Hampton Roads.  It has approximately 1,200 employees and an annual operating budget approaching $50 million.  Didlake, Inc. is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, accredited by CARF and proudly serves the nation through the AbilityOne program.  Its partners include the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, local Community Services Boards and United Way of the National Capital Area.   For more information go to www.didlake.org
Contact:
Betty Dean
bdean@didlake.org
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