Beloved Executive Director Announces Retirement

As many of you already know, John Wayne Barker (JWB) will be retiring as Executive Director on July 1, 2025. While JWB has been transparent about his planned retirement date for several years, the reality of this date still feels too soon for the Merrick community. Hired on June 1, 1998, JWB will retire after 27 years of dedicated service and will undoubtedly be missed by clients, employees, community partners, and family members, some of whom have known him since his early days with the nonprofit.

Over the course of his 27-year tenure, Merrick has experienced remarkable growth, establishing itself as a leader among disability service providers in the state. A great deal of Merrick’s success can be attributed to his leadership and mission-focused approach. From the start, he has been a stanch advocate of Merrick’s mission, constantly seeking new and innovative ways to best meet the needs of the clients who choose our program. Notable highlights of his tenure include paying off the mortgage on the 3210 Labore Road building in September 2022, supporting A-Team’s legislative and self-advocacy initiatives, and opening our expanded Life Enrichment Program at 1239 Willow Lake Boulevard in November 2022.

The search for the new Executive Director officially began on December 26, 2024, and is being led by an internal search committee of Trustees and family members that will start reviewing applications in February. The selection of a new Executive Director will provide an exciting opportunity to renew our sense of purpose and mission as we look ahead to the future and the challenges it may bring.