Tom O'Neill selected to serve as president, CEO of Passages, Inc.
Kay Fleck will retire March 31, 2009
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
After an extensive executive search to fill the large shoes of Passages, Inc.’s Kay Fleck, who is retiring in March, a new president and CEO has been found.
The Passages, Inc. board of directors officially announced that Tom O’Neill has been appointed the organization’s new president and CEO. O’Neill will assume his duties with the organization on February 1, 2009.
A resident of Fort Wayne, O’Neill has a long career of business and non-profit experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Lewis University and a Master of Social Work Administration from the University of Illinois.
After the sale of his Fort Wayne-based non-ferrous scrap metal recycling company which he co-owned with another partner, O’Neill was a partner with the Sherman Group, LLC. The Sherman Group is an equity investment group focused on Northeast Indiana manufacturing operations.
For more than 28 years, O’Neill has held leadership roles within the New York-based National Down Syndrome Society and the Atlanta-based National Down Syndrome Congress. On many occasions O’Neill has been asked to visit Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. to advocate issues relating to disabled people. O’Neill has been instrumental in establishing a nine-county Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition. The coalition’s aim is to address legislative and policy issues impacting people with disabilities residing the third congressional district.
In his new role at the helm of Passages, Inc., O’Neill will oversee a $5 million dollar budget. Additionally, he will serve as the executive director of the Whitley Crossings Neighborhood Corporation, which provides low to middle income housing for local residents.
O’Neill and his wife, Rita, are the parents of two adult sons, Joshua and Noah.
Kay Fleck will remain with Passages, Inc. in a transitional capacity until March 31, 2009.
Initially founded as the Whitley County Opportunity Center in 1954, the organization was created by a group of parents concerned that their disabled children were not being educated within the public schools. The organization, geared at providing education, social and skill training, initially served 13 clients. Today, the organization has expanded its offerings considerably and serves 350 clients annually.