Chief Executive Officer

About Vista Life Innovations

Vista Life Innovations (Vista) is dedicated to empowering individuals with a range of neurologically related disabilities to achieve personal success and a sense of belonging throughout their lives. Founded in 1989, Vista provides a full spectrum of services that foster independence, personal growth, and community connection. Accredited by the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services, Vista offers a highly personalized, person-centered approach that supports individuals in navigating life’s transitions with confidence.

At the heart of Vista’s work is the Discover Independence Program (typically called the Discover Program), a college-like residential transition experience designed to help young adults with disabilities build the skills necessary for long-term independence. Through immersive, year-round programming and dormitory-style living at Vista’s Westbrook campus, the program offers a structured community-based, yet personalized, experience for individuals 18 and older. The program’s experiential learning model focuses on four core areas: life skills, cognitive and social growth, community engagement, and vocational training/employment readiness.

The Discover Program is a transformative experience that empowers individuals to transition confidently into independent or supported living environments. Upon completion of the Program, graduates continue to be part of the Vista community as members, benefiting from lifelong support services, including residential transitions, employment counseling, social engagement opportunities, and long-term planning resources.

Vista offers a range of additional programs and services, including day programs, arts-based opportunities, employment support, benefits counseling, transportation, and advocacy. It also operates two social enterprises which employ more than 50 adults with disabilities in inclusive community settings. All of this work is designed to equip individuals with the skills and confidence to make meaningful choices, build lasting relationships, and engage fully in their communities.

In 2024, Vista celebrated 35 years as a national leader in the field of disability services. Beginning in 2022, the organization underwent an extensive strategic planning process. The finalized 2024-2029 Strategic Plan established 12 strategic goals across four main themes: Financial Sustainability, Organizational Growth and Stability, Programs, Services and Resources, and Business Operations and Administration.

Vista operates in seven locations and three main campuses in South Central and Eastern Connecticut. With a $10 million budget, 150 staff members, and 50 social enterprise employees, Vista serves approximately 200 adults of all ages at a given point in time. Governed by a dedicated Board of Directors, Vista remains steadfast in its mission to provide the resources, training, and supports that enable individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.

The Vista Endowment Fund is a separate supporting organization created solely to benefit Vista Life Innovations, with its own Board of Directors to manage and invest the Endowment assets of approximately $10 million. Annually, the Vista Endowment Fund Board of Directors makes  distributions based upon agreed upon policies to Vista Life Innovations to support its mission and to ensure Vista will remain an innovative service provider.

For more information, please visit the Vista Life Innovations website.

The Opportunity

Vista Life Innovations seeks an innovative and compassionate leader to serve as its next CEO. This role offers the opportunity to engage and collaborate with Vista’s students, members, and their families alongside Vista’s staff, board, and community partners to shape the future of a beloved organization.

The incoming CEO will provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership, ensuring that Vista continues to thrive in a challenging funding landscape while maintaining its commitment to high standards of service. This leader will engage and cultivate strong relationships with staff, student and members, families, and community partners, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and integrated into the organization's mission.

A focus on innovation will be essential, as the CEO will work to heighten operational efficiencies, adopt new technologies, and explore future sustainable growth models. The CEO will work alongside a strong leadership team to execute the organization’s vision, define bold short-term and long-term goals, and work with a wide variety of internal and external constituents to implement, adapt, and modify as needed.

Vista’s CEO will continue to build upon its strong national reputation for innovative programs and serve as a thought partner and collaborator within the local, regional, and national movement to promote the acceptance of adults with disabilities and increase opportunities for those with neurodiversity. The CEO will act as a key ambassador for Vista, enhancing its visibility and impact within the community and beyond.

The ideal candidate will possess high-level interpersonal skills, including authentic communication, emotional intelligence, and empathy, as well as strategic vision and critical thinking abilities. They will build upon and promote a cohesive staff culture of respect and collaboration, fostering an environment of trust and open dialogue across the organization’s functions, motivating staff and ensuring strong internal communication and retention. With a deep commitment to the disability services sector and a desire for continuous learning, the CEO will navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities for expansion and improvement, ultimately driving Vista towards a sustainable and impactful future.

Reporting to a highly committed Board of Directors, the CEO’s key responsibilities include:

• Provide high-integrity leadership and direction to ensure the mission and core values of Vista are supported throughout the organization.
• Directly supervise 5 Executive Leadership Team members, including a Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Programs, Services & Organizational Development, Vice President of Business Operations & Administrative Services, Manager of Business Administration, and Retail Manager.
• Direct the strategic planning process and lead the integration, implementation, and measurement of operating objectives and actions to support enterprise strategy.
• Promote the organization and articulate Vista’s unique value proposition to a wide range of stakeholders; provide thought leadership; and cultivate relationships with communities, partners, funders, policymakers, advocates, media, and other key stakeholders.
• Work with the Board and Executive Leadership Team to develop, enhance, and implement policies, procedures, and systems that will improve the overall capacity of the organization's structures, processes, and operations, ensuring effectiveness in the delivery of services.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across Vista Life’s teams, board, and communities, exploring new and diverse revenue streams, enabling the organization to meet its fundraising growth objectives.
• Hold leaders and staff accountable for embedding equity and belonging throughout the organization, sustaining a healthy staff- and member centered culture of care, respect, and trust.
• Support the future growth and development of an engaged and dedicated Board of Directors; collaborate closely with its committees and ensure strong communications and collaborative efforts between Vista’s staff and Board.
• Ensure the organization complies with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing nonprofit organizations and the provision of services.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will bring the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Visionary & Strategic Mindset

• Strategic leader with an inspirational style, eager and energized to articulate a values-driven, community-oriented, and inspiring vision for the next chapter of Vista.
• Experience refining and implementing targeted strategic plans, working with a wide variety of stakeholders to implement, measure, and adapt strategies and resources to capitalize on opportunities that enhance operational efficiencies and sharpen programmatic focus.
• Promotes a powerful sense of shared purpose as a national leader in the field of disability services, with a commitment to advocating for increased access to services, best practices, and innovative approaches.
• Flexible and adaptive leadership style geared towards accommodating the evolving needs of a diverse range of constituents (specifically – the physical, medical, emotional, social, and programmatic needs of members and students, ensuring that services remain relevant and impactful).
• Experience building, partnering, supporting, managing, and communicating with a Board of Directors effectively, guiding meetings alongside the Board Chair, and holding Directors accountable to governance responsibilities.

Empowering & Collaborative Leader

• Experience building consensus and supporting a culture of inclusion and collaboration across an organization's functions, encouraging open communication and engagement throughout all levels of the organization.
• Proactive, transparent, and persuasive communicator – a natural and discerning listener who ensures all voices are heard, including families and stakeholders, ensuring that feedback is valued and integrated into organizational strategies.
• Proven experience in mentoring and developing talent, creating pathways for professional growth and retention among team members.
• Models analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills that support and enable sound and shared decision-making. Decisive and comfortable making difficult decisions when needed.
• Proactive, confident, curious, and humble, with a strong desire to embrace Vista’s community, culture, and core values.

Nonprofit Business Acumen

• Seasoned executive and manager who understands the importance of effective operational and financial administration and has a track record of successfully leading complex and high-quality direct services.
• Strong non-profit budget development and management skills with a knowledge of how intentional investments and capacity building can support the mission and work.
• Track record of setting priorities decisively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and allocating resources to ensure teams are set up to excel.
• Strong business orientation and an ability to use metrics to drive business decisions and achieve strategic objectives.

Successful Relationship Builder & Fundraiser

• Promotes a powerful sense of shared purpose and engagement to all constituents; possesses a compelling public presence with strong communication and public speaking skills, inspiring confidence and credibility.
• Authentic and inspirational leadership style with an exceptional ability to establish meaningful relationships within internal and external stakeholders.
• Engaging storyteller and communicator, with the ability to elevate an organization’s mission and impact in a way that resonates deeply with stakeholders through verbal, written, and digital channels.
• Experience engaging actively with community members to foster collaboration and partnerships that broaden organizational influence and reach.
• Track record of raising dollars from a variety of sources, including private and public dollars from individuals, foundations, and corporations, as well as state and local government entities, ensuring long-term financial stability and enthusiastic support.

Passion for the Mission

• Through personal and/or professional experience, demonstrates a profound commitment to the enrichment, empowerment, and care of individuals living with disabilities.
• Outcomes- and impact-oriented leader passionate about advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals living with disabilities; this leader must recognize the urgency of Vista’s work and be energized by the opportunities ahead, ready to lead with resilience, fortitude, and passion.
• Embodies emotional intelligence, compassion, and empathy in leadership, fostering a workplace culture centered on trust, compassion, and joy.
• A proactive, confident, curious, and humble leader, with a strong desire to embrace Vista’s community and culture. The CEO will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Vista Life Innovation’s Core Values

Vista is guided by a set of core values, essential to its mission and pledged to by students and members, staff, community partners, the Board of Directors, and leadership:

• Respect. All people have the right to equal opportunity and to be treated with dignity.
• Diversity. Differences among us bring strength, value and perspective.
• Integrity. We are honest, sincere, and trustworthy with each other in our decisions and actions.
• Personal Development. We have high expectations for ourselves and others, encourage curiosity, and support opportunities to grow and learn.
• Community & Human Connection. Relationships within our chosen communities are necessary to the human experience, create value, significance and belonging.
• Leadership. We seek to inspire, create solutions, and impact others positively.
• Accountability. We are responsible to each other, and for the results of our actions.
• Perseverance. We have the will to try, and the courage to change.
• Excellence. We strive to be the best we can be and take pride in achieving high standards.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $200,000 with a generous benefits package.

This is a full-time role based in Madison, Connecticut, with travel on an as-needed basis.

Contact

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan, Corina Benitz, and Gina Wrolstad Kueber. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential. 

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Vista Life Innovations is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.