Lori Carmona Steps Down as AbilityFirst CEO

AbilityFirst, a Pasadena-based non-profit organization that provides services for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities, has announced that Lori Carmona (formerly Gangemi) will step down as Chief Executive Officer after leading the organization for nearly two decades. 

Carmona was AbilityFirst CEO since July 2004 and was  instrumental in expanding AbilityFirst’s services for the community. To date, AbilityFirst has up to 11 offices in Southern California offering a variety of programs and services for adults as well as children and teens. AbilityFirst also operates group residential facilities for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. 

The company also runs a College-to-Career community-based program for students who want to go to college and gain the skills, training, and education they need to achieve their academic and career goals. 

Over the next four to six months, the Board of Directors will conduct an executive search to identify the next CEO. In the interim, an acting CEO will assume leadership responsibilities at AbilityFirst.

“As part of the executive search process, we will actively seek input from our community, donors, partners, and staff to create a comprehensive candidate profile,” the Board said in a statement. “This collaborative approach underscores our commitment to ensuring that AbilityFirst continues to thrive and positively impact the lives of those we serve.”

The statement was released by David Saeta, Chair of the Board of Directors, and Kathryn Sanders Platnick, Board Vice Chair and chair of the Transition Task Force, on behalf of the Board. 

In an earlier statement, Carmona said she was being called to serve another mission that’s also focused on delivering community-informed and inclusive programming to historically underserved communities throughout Los Angeles. She added she’s excited about taking on the new challenge.

“Throughout my nearly two decades with AbilityFirst, I have watched thousands of people gather in support of our mission as we’ve worked to increase the accessibility of person-centered programs in our community,” Carmona said. “I have joined you in celebration of the expansive possibilities embraced by our program participants and their families. I admire the strong staff and deep community support that define our organization as exceptional.”

In the statement, the Board of Directors thanked AbilityFirst staff and the leadership, as well as the community for their support during the transition. 

For more information about AbilityFirst, visit www.abilityfirst.org/.