Photo I Courtesy of NEADS World Class Service Dogs
Gerry DeRoche will retire as CEO of NEADS World Class Service Dogs on Dec. 31.
October 16, 2024
Princeton service dog nonprofit hires Cradles to Crayons leader to replace longtime CEO
Photo I Courtesy of NEADS World Class Service Dogs
Aubrey Henderson is the incoming CEO of Princeton-based NEADS World Class Service Dogs.
NEADS World Class Service Dogs, a Princeton-based service dog training and placement nonprofit, has named Aubrey Henderson as the organization's incoming CEO as Gerry DeRoche plans to retire come Dec. 31 after 14-year tenure with the organization.
Assuming her new role on Jan. 1, Henderson will oversee NEADS’ expansion as the nonprofit plans to increase its service footprint through building a new veterinary clinic and early learning center on its campus.
"I am thrilled to join a nonprofit with a mission as compelling as NEADS,” Henderson said in a Tuesday press release. "I look forward to working with the dedicated staff, volunteers, and clients to continue NEADS' legacy of providing life-changing service dogs."
Henderson comes to her new role having most recently served as executive director of Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts, an office of Newton-based Cradles to Crayons nonprofit providing essential items to children up to 12 years of age experiencing homelessness or living in low income households. At Cradles to Crayons, Henderson nearly doubled the organization’s capacity while expanding its budget and managing its move to a larger facility.
Previously, she worked in executive positions for 20 years at consumer good manufacturing companies including London-based Unilever and Ohio-based Procter & Gamble. Prior to her corporate career, Henderson oversaw major gift fundraising at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
DeRoche, who joined NEADS as CEO in 2010, announced his upcoming retirement in August .
“We knew that finding a new leader for NEADS was going to be a challenge,” Geoff Worrell, NEADS board chairman, said in the release. “Continuing our mission of providing world-class service dogs to the individuals who need them requires a visionary leader who has a diverse skill set. After a nationwide search, we are delighted that Aubrey Henderson will lead NEADS as our CEO. Aubrey’s extensive leadership experience in both the for profit and not-for-profit worlds will result in advancing our mission.”
Throughout his career at NEADS, DeRoche oversaw the nonprofit’s 2011 rebranding, more than doubled its endowment, and led the development of the organization’s annual Pulling 4 Paws Truck Pull fundraiser. In 2022, he managed the establishment of NEADS' breeding program following the establishment of a canine service facility in 2019 and its training center in 2015.
“Leading NEADS through a period of dramatic change has been both an honor and a privilege,” DeRoche said in an Aug. 26 press release. “Growing up with a parent who experienced hearing loss due to military service gave me a deep appreciation for NEADS' mission, and I'm immensely proud of the work we've accomplished. It has been extremely gratifying to work with NEADS nation to make a difference and bring a degree of independence to our clients through our world-class service dogs."
In fiscal 2023, NEADS generated $5.68 million in total revenue with $15.97 million in assets, according to nonprofit financial tracker GuideStar.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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