Melwood Hires Newest Member of Executive Team

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – July 3, 2013 – Melwood is pleased to announce that David “Dave” B. Harden has been named Chief Operating Officer. Melwood is a leading nonprofit in Maryland that is dedicated to creating opportunities for people with differing abilities, working to enable and empower these individuals to improve their lives through supported employment, living and recreation services.

In this role, Harden will play a key role in administrative management and oversight of Melwood’s operations, corporate activities, contract services, and community services. He is senior-level operations manager with more than 15 years of organizational improvement experience; managing, training, and mentoring cross-functional, cross-cultural, high-performance teams, plus he has a true passion for providing opportunities for people with different abilities.

“We are thrilled that Dave is joining us as he brings extensive experience in systems, logistics, and business development,” said Cari DeSantis, President and CEO, Melwood. “His background coupled with his passion for people with differing abilities, makes him a valuable asset to the Melwood community.”

Before joining Melwood, Harden was GM and COO for Southeastern Petroleum, based south of Charlotte, NC, managing the used motor oil re-refining operations for 5 million gallons per year. Previously, he was CEO and Director of Energy City, a venture attracting, nurturing, and developing recycling and alternative energy companies. Harden has also led a multi-million dollar data technology company and is a frequently requested speaker and writer on innovation and strategic thinking. He has helped companies save over $360 million and has provided strategic training for organizations from the World Health Organization in the public sector to United Occidental Petroleum, Shell, BP and Halliburton in the energy sector.

Harden earned his BS in electrical engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Masters in organizational management at The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Most recently Harden was a nominee for the Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award. Dave is currently working on his next book, but previously co-authored Continuity Management: Preserving Corporate Knowledge and Productivity When Employees Leave and his writings have been in numerous publications to include the Journal of Organizational Excellence.

About Melwood

Melwood is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates for and empowers individuals of differing abilities to transform their own lives through unique opportunities to work and play in the community. The organization provides employment, job training, life skill improvement, supportive and recreational services for more than 1900 people with differing abilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and serves as an international model that has been duplicated around the world. Melwood employs more than 750 people with differing abilities through 38 federal contracts at 43 sites through partnerships with community employers and the AbilityOne Program, providing total facility management, custodial, grounds keeping and recycling services in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. For more information, visit Melwood on Facebook or www.melwood.org.

###