8 Seven Hills Foundation
CHAPTER 2
Shifting Operational Gears
After interviewing several internal and external candidates,
Dr. David A. Jordan, former president and CEO of Crotched
Mountain Foundation and champion for people who are
under-respected, underserved, and undervalued, emerged as
the most outstanding candidate. Although as an "outsider,"
he faced some pushback from board members and families,
he was ultimately handed the reins.
e night before his interview with the WAARC board,
Jordan prepared a 100-day plan that included what some
thought of as revolutionary ideas. "My first proposal was to
change the name," he said. "I told them that what had been
done was great, but we needed to open the curtains and look
at what the future is."
When Barbara Andersen announced her
retirement, WAARC faced the daunting
task of finding a replacement. For 21
years, Andersen had grown a locally
based, person-centered operation that
served a growing population of people
with developmental disabilities in
Worcester. e board of directors sought
an individual who would adhere to the
organization's original parent-driven
mission and maintain its viability.
Dr. David A. Jordan and Claire Swan, Board Chair, 1998
