New Executive Director Expands Horizons at The Professional Center for Child Development.

Chris Hunt was in his second year as division director for child, family and adolescent services at Community Teamwork in Lowell when Veryl Anderson reached out to him last winter.

The co-founder and longtime executive director at the Professional Center for Child Development in Andover and Lawrence was planning to retire in January. Would he consider applying for the top post in overseeing educational, therapeutic and social programs for more than 1,800 children of all abilities?

Their paths hadn’t crossed since Hunt left his position as professional development manager at the Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools in 2010, but Anderson keenly remembered his professionalism and passion for helping children. Happy in his job, and progressing in the initiatives he had set out to accomplish, the Amesbury resident was initially hesitant, but ultimately decided to apply.

The subsequent interview process was lengthy and rigorous, but Anderson had intuitively sensed what the search committee, board members and the applicant himself would determine months later: Hunt was the right person to lead the organization’s next phase of expansion and growth.

Brian Latina, the chairman of the board and a member of the search committee that selected Hunt from more than 130 applicants, says he “really stood out.”

“It was difficult to think of replacing Veryl after 43 years, but Chris has everything in his background that we need,” Latina says. “I can speak on behalf of the entire board in saying that we’re very happy with our selection. Chris is learning the organization from the bottom up, and he’s in touch with Veryl, who has the institutional knowledge and contacts. It’s good stuff all around.”

Hunt says he felt “honored” to become the organization’s second executive director, effective May 1. “I feel very fortunate that I stepped into this great organization, with an equally great history and staff,” he says.

The organization dates back to 1973, when Anderson and fellow registered nurse Cindy Stocking attended a cerebral palsy fundraiser. Inspired to create a respite care service for local families in need, they initially opened the doors to Christ Church Professional Nursery for the Handicapped in Andover to four children.

In 1975, the program was granted a state license to become a Chapter 766 school, providing private education to students with special needs. An early intervention program, one of the first in the area, was introduced in 1979.

The center moved to a fully accessible location at 32 Osgood St. in Andover in 1986, and added a location in Lawrence in 1994. Current offerings for children from birth to age 10 include early intervention, a regional consultation program, integrated toddler playgroups, preschool, Saturday Play Pals, a pediatric therapy program and a developmental day school.

Hunt hit the ground running after taking the top post. With the $1 million Possibilities…Not Disabilities Campaign, he is overseeing the expansion and renovation of classroom space at the Andover facility, continuing education for staff, and the purchase and replacement of therapeutic equipment that’s used at the center and loaned to families. As of August 15, the campaign was only $100,000 away from its goal.

Hunt says it is gratifying for the physical environment to begin to match the high quality of the staff. Looking ahead, his goals include strengthening community partnerships, upgrading the playground at the center and other initiatives to support the ever-changing needs of children and families.

“I’m not sure what I did to deserve Veryl remembering me,” Hunt says, “but I’m very appreciative to her for leading me to this place where I can fulfill my personal mission of eliminating barriers that could prevent a child from being successful, and helping them to reach their full potential.”

Anderson, who is relocating to Florida from North Andover, says excellent feedback has made her even more confident in Hunt’s abilities.

“Some people were fearful of this transition, but personally I feel it’s going very smoothly,” she says noting that Hunt “understands the history, has the energy, values the board and staff’s opinions, and brings his own ideas to the table.

“Chris will keep doing what we’ve done for the last 43 years: find a way to keep growing to meet the need.”

The Professional Center for Child Development
Andover, Mass.  /  (978) 475-3806
Lawrence, Mass.  /  (978) 688-5070
TheProfessionalCenter.org