Press Release
RFB&D NAMES JOHN KELLY AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO
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(August 30, 2004) Princeton, NJ - The national board of directors at the national nonprofit Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic® (RFB&D®), has announced that John Kelly of Lawrenceville, NJ, will succeed the organization's President and CEO Richard O. Scribner upon his retirement, effective October 23. |
"We initiated a thorough and intensive nationwide search for a CEO to carry out our ambitious plans for growth and development," explained national board chairman Tom Trainor. "When it came down to the final decision, we agreed that one of our own staff, John Kelly, is the candidate whose experience, knowledge, proven leadership and devotion to our mission makes him the best possible individual to carry the mantle of President and CEO. "
Scribner, whose volunteer and executive leadership of the nonprofit organization extends over 14 years, applauds the decision.
"Having built his career at RFB&D, John is intimately familiar with every facet of this wonderful organization. He steps into this job with a deep understanding of the needs of those with print disabilities whom we seek to serve," said Scribner.
Kelly joined RFB&D in 1985 as manager of library services and earned a series of promotions based on his successful implementation of programs that significantly increased RFB&D's membership and its level of service among students of all ages with disabilities that make reading challenging or impossible. He was most recently named executive vice president of programs and services.
"Even after twenty years, I still get a daily rush when I go to work each day, certain that it is quite literally true that the students who use our service would not be in school if it weren't for RFB&D and the work that we do to make textbooks accessible," said Kelly. "It's a distinct privilege to work among colleagues and volunteers whose every task and decision is directly influenced by our collective commitment to help students experience educational success."
In his two decades of service and leadership at RFB&D, Kelly is credited with the initiation of programs and services that resulted in a six-fold increase in RFB&D's membership since 1989. John conceived and developed RFB&D's Educational Outreach program which is now in place in more than 7,000 schools across the country. In addition to greatly expanding RFB&D's profile among educators and its reach and effectiveness in classrooms across the nation, programs under Kelly's leadership are credited with generating successively higher levels of revenues through fees, sales and public funding.
Through his tenure, Kelly has significantly expanded RFB&D's network of partners among agencies and organizations serving people with print disabilities in education, the publishing industry and library services. This enhanced profile has enabled RFB&D to better serve its growing membership by preserving or advancing legislation and regulatory initiatives in arenas including copyright and fair use, digital rights management and intellectual property protection.
A 1981 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Kelly holds a master's degree in library and information science from Drexel University.
He is a member if the American Library Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and the Special Library Association.
Kelly resides in Lawrenceville, NJ, with his wife and two children.
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