Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech announced the appointment of Douglas Scott and Valerie Martin as CEO and CFO, respectively, and effective immediately. The organization, celebrating its 150th year of teaching children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to listen and talk, also announced Jason Friedland as the incoming Chair of the Board of Trustees effective January 1, 2018. Clarke—through five locations in Boston, Mass; Jacksonville, Florida; New York City; Northampton, Mass, and Philadelphia, Penn—provide research and educational programs to deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Valerie Martin, Clarke CFO
Scott and Martin have served as Clarke’s interim CEO and CFO since March 2017 and have worked in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and senior leadership on staffing, fundraising, and operations’ initiatives. Friedland, a partner and director of investments at Iron Stone Real Estate Partners in Philadelphia, has been a member of Clarke’s Board since 2010 and is the father of two Clarke students.
Doug Scott, Clarke CEO
“Doug and Valerie bring decades of domestic and international for-profit and nonprofit expertise in management, finance, and operations,” said Hugh Babowal, Clarke’s outgoing Board Chair and managing director at Wells Fargo. “They know what successful and sustainable growth looks like in the philanthropic sector and how to get there. When combined with Jason’s board experience and depth of organizational knowledge, this leadership team ensures stability and anchors the organization as it focuses on its five-year strategy.”
Scott, a principal at Glenmoore Partners, has more than 40 years of strategic business consulting and operating experience. He spent more than 20 years with Phildius Kenyon & Scott leading investments in healthcare start-ups and managing consulting work with companies including DuPont and Kodak. Prior to joining Clarke, Scott was the EVP and Chief Administrative Officer of the John Templeton Foundation. Scott has served on the Board of the Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia and received his undergraduate degree and MBA from Harvard College and Harvard Business School.
Hugh Babowal, Clarke’s outgoing board chair
“Clarke is home to some of the top educators, best practices, and most recent field research in teaching children with hearing loss to listen and talk,” said Scott. “I am eager to lead Clarke forward as we leverage this expertise and elevate the organization’s national presence.”
Martin is a senior operations and financial executive with wide-ranging experience in the philanthropic, public accounting, and governmental sectors. She is a principal at Glenmoore Partners and was previously the Chief Financial Officer of the John Templeton Foundation and of the Housing Authority of Chester County. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees including the Foundation Financial Officers Group, Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia, and the Brandywine Health Foundation. Martin received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and is a Certified Public Accountant.
“Clarke provides world-class services to children at a critical time in a young person’s development,” said Martin. “Clarke’s passionate and committed team has made this possible every single day for 150 years. We are privileged to lead this network of nearly 200 full-time, part-time, in-house, and field professionals.”
A philanthropic champion, Friedland spearheads grassroots initiatives to increase educational choices for children with hearing loss in Pennsylvania; is a finance committee member of SHARE Food Program; a member of the Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and a member of Childhood Friends of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Friedland received his BA from Washington University.
Jason Friendland, Clarke incoming board chair
“I’ve not only seen, but lived, what Clarke makes possible for children with hearing loss. Clarke gives families expert guidance and children the skills they need to reach their full potential,” said Friedland. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Board of an organization that’s changed my life, and the lives of thousands more around the world.”
Source: Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
Images: Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
