At The Arc of the United States National Convention, The Arc of Essex County CEO Linda C. Lucas was honored with one of the most prestigious awards, The Arc’s Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, during a special recognition ceremony.

“For more than 40 years, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and The Arc, have been incredibly lucky to have Linda Lucas as an advocate, as a leader, and as a friend,” said Tom Baffuto, The Arc of New Jersey’s executive director, after the event. “With Linda at the helm, The Arc of Essex County has flourished and grown. She has led the way on innovative programming and supports and she has always done so with the needs of those she served at the forefront, guiding every action she takes. I congratulate Linda on receiving the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award and believe there is no one more deserving of such a prestigious recognition.”

Baffuto presented the award at the convention, which was held over several days in early November in Columbus, OH. Lucas’s selection for the award followed a process that included a nomination by Baffuto of The Arc of New Jersey, and several letters of support from all facets of The Arc community.

“Linda is a leader through and through,” wrote The Arc of Essex County board trustee Marnie McNany in her letter of support. “She prioritizes the well-being of others, meticulously plans for the future, and relentlessly pursues positive change. Her success is a testament to these qualities. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside her and learned from her exceptional leadership style.”

Michael J. Franchino, who has been involved in The Arc of Essex County since 1973 as board president, treasurer, and trustee, wrote “[Linda] is knowledgeable, informative, and approachable, a perfect leader… In my view there is not anyone more deserving of this award.”

The Arc of Essex County board trustee Bruce Bird noted that Linda led The Arc through some trying times, including the Covid-19 crisis, “ensuring that the organization provided all the needed services for our consumers, while also caring for the staff.”

The Arc of Essex County board’s first vice president, Robert Laurino, was involved in the search process when The Arc of Essex County was seeking a new CEO—the role that Lucas would soon fill. “Linda was ultimately chosen because she far exceeded all the candidates based on her programmatic and administrative knowledge and skills,” he wrote. “Since she became our CEO, we have experienced meteoric growth.”

And current Arc of Essex County board president Stephen Falanga wrote, “Linda is one of the most hardworking and considerate people I know…. Throughout my involvement with The Arc, I have been able to witness Linda’s hard work, compassion, and commitment to serving the needs of individuals with IDD and their families.”

The Arc of Essex County congratulates Linda C. Lucas on this well-deserved award and is grateful to have her at the helm!