2018 Nonprofit CEO of the Year Awarded to Melwood President & CEO

UPPER MARLBORO, MD. – Melwood is excited to announce that Cari DeSantis, Melwood President & CEO, was chosen as a 2018 Washington Business Journal Nonprofit CEO of the Year for her outstanding work in increasing inclusion for people of differing abilities and injured veterans in the workplace.

Melwood is one of the largest AbilityOne employers of people of differing abilities in the country, employing more than 1,600 workers – nearly 1,000 of whom are people of differing abilities. Melwood offers job placement, job training, life skills for independence, and support services for people of differing abilities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Melwood also operates an inclusive summer camp program for children and provides employment and support services to veterans and active duty military members who have experienced service-related trauma or injury.

Under Cari’s leadership, Melwood has launched many new programs training people of differing abilities for jobs in high-demand fields like customer care, cybersecurity, and IT. She continues to spread the message that “Inclusion Drives Innovation” and hiring people of differing abilities and injured veterans is as beneficial for employers as it is for employees.

Cari was nominated by a panel of judges for this annual award which recognizes C-suite executives in the Greater Washington, DC area who have made a significant impact during the prior year.