Kirk Adams, President and CEO
Our President and CEO Kirk Adams announced today that he will succeed longtime President and CEO, Carl R. Augusto, who is retiring after 25 years of distinguished service at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). After a nationwide search Mr. Adams will assume the position in May, 2016.
Mr. Adams is leaving The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. as it approaches its 100th year in operation. Since 1918, the Lighthouse has been providing independence and self-sufficiency for people who are blind through employment.
“I am very proud of all the Lighthouse has accomplished in the past 16 years. As the Lighthouse nears its centennial, the future is bright and the Lighthouse will maintain its focus on creating exceptional jobs for people who are blind. We have most recently established with clarity the commitment to promote, facilitate, and encourage innovative accessibility and training initiatives throughout this organization, and I am thrilled to leave on such a positive note,” said Kirk Adams.
Since 2008, Mr. Adams has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of our organization. Under Mr. Adams’ management, the Lighthouse has expanded to eleven different locations across the nation, both increasing revenue and the number of employees, many of whom are blind, DeafBlind, or blind with other disabilities.
President and Interim CEO Harry Egler
The Lighthouse is very committed to finding an experienced professional who is blind to replace Mr. Adams. The Lighthouse will conduct a thorough search similar to the one AFB recently underwent. Until that time, we are excited to announce that Harry Egler, Chairman of the Lighthouse Board of Trustees, will become the interim President and CEO. Mr. Egler has more than 35 years of experience as a senior executive with a track record of success in brand development, corporate leadership, strategic planning, creative execution, marketing, e-commerce, and customer intelligence. Mr. Egler has been on the Board of Trustees at the Lighthouse since 2006 and participated in creating the Lighthouse Strategic Plan as a member of that Ad Hoc Committee. He has been the Lighthouse Board Chair since 2013. With his tenure at the Lighthouse and his experience at Pendleton, Filson, Getty Images, and Eddie Bauer, Harry will bring strong focus to the Lighthouse during this next year by supporting our strategic plan, carrying out business as usual, and performing a comprehensive candidate search.
“As a Board, we’ve been very pleased with Kirk’s leadership, and though we will miss having him at the Lighthouse, we’re excited to see the wonderful things he will accomplish at AFB. The Lighthouse is blessed with a great deal of talent and I am fortunate to be working with this team to advance our mission during such a critically important transition period.” said Harry Egler.
