Franklin Matters: Special Announcement from HMEA

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Special Announcement from HMEA

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HMEA

HMEA Board of Directors Announces CEO Retirement

Last September, the Boards of Directors of both HMEA and Advocates strongly voted in favor of a full merger of both organizations with the goal of completing that merger in stages by July 1, 2024.

Since last fall, HMEA and Advocates have made considerable progress toward full integration of Administration and Finance, with a plan to work towards an organizational design for Services that will best meet the needs of the individuals, families, employees, and communities we support.

While all of this progress and momentum is great news for both organizations, it does come with some bittersweet news as well.

Jule Gomes Noack, President and Chief Executive officer of HMEA, has decided that now is the right time for her to transition into retirement after more than 36 years with the organization. With the merger on track and a strong senior leadership team remaining in place at HMEA, Jule believes that her work is complete, and that the successful merger is a fitting capstone to her career.

Jule's last day will align with the next merger milestone date which is June 30, 2023. Jule has made it clear that she is committed to remaining a resource and advisor to the new organization. As such, she will be available to share her institutional knowledge and provide guidance beyond the end of June.

While we are very sad to see her go, we respect and support her decision and will now turn our attention to celebrating her incredible career and contributions.

Jule Gomes Noack

Retiring President & CEO

Here are just a few highlights from Jule's career at HMEA...

Jule joined HMEA in 1987 as the agency's first clinical coordinator and has worked directly in or managed nearly every program, service, and administrative role within the organization. For the past 16 years, she has been a key member of HMEA's executive leadership team and has served as President/CEO since 2020.

She led the creation and expansion of the agency's Quality, Learning and Performance department, which is focused on ensuring the highest levels of service quality, improving staff development methods to address a diverse workforce, and measuring performance outcomes in all divisions and departments throughout the organization.

Jule has also been the champion and driving force behind the development of HMEA's diversity initiative which promotes a culture of inclusion with a strong focus on a resolution of respect and a 'No Place for Hate' workplace. HMEA employees come from more than 38 different countries.

She also successfully led the organization through one of the most challenging times in recent history with the confluence of a global pandemic, racial reckoning, and political unrest.

We are incredibly grateful to Jule for her dedication as a servant leader in support of social justice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and the staff who support them.

Please join us in thanking and honoring Jule for all she has done and celebrating with her as she embarks on her next chapter.

The Advocates and HMEA Administration and Boards of Directors are working together on a plan for leadership succession, and information including the timeline for merger will be shared in the next few weeks.