President & CEO
Josh and his wife Rachel started LifeShare in 1996 with the intention of creating an organization that supports people of all abilities with dignity and respect. Today, LifeShare has offices in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Florida. Josh earned his Bachelors Degree from Keene State College in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Counseling. He graduated magna cum laude with a Masters in Management/Non Profit Leadership from New England College. In 2009, Josh was named 1 of 25 leaders to lead the state in the next 25 years by Business NH Magazine. Josh was recently named to the 40 under 40 Class of 2007 which honors the most influential people in NH under the age of 40 and was given a Citation by Governor John Lynch. Josh was also awarded the prestigious Keene State College Alumni Inspiration Award and for the past several years Governors from both political parties proclaim November 17th LifeShare Day in the State of NH. Josh is often asked to advise political leaders nationally and locally on a broad range of social policy issues. Josh was recently selected as a member of Leadership NH Class of 2008-2009. Josh is an adjunct faculty member at New England College in the Graduate School and is a national consultant on systems change and community based supports and works with states on rebalancing their human service delivery system to become a more consumer centered, person driven and community based. Josh is very passionate about creating a “Restraint Free” service system and is leading the national movement to eliminate the use of restraint. Prior to LifeShare Josh worked in various leadership positions in the NH Developmental Disability community. Josh was appointed by Governor Craig Benson to serve on the NH Developmental Disability Council and was appointed by Governor Jeanne Shaheen to serve on the Statewide Independent Living Council and served as the chairperson for 4 years. Josh was asked to serve with former Commissioner John Stephen on many leadership initiatives and is working on several local and national task forces to advance the social role of individuals with disabilities. Josh is a renowned facilitator in the Self Determination movement and has served on many committees and councils nationally including the Mandt® advisory board in Dallas, Texas, the SILC Congress National Action Plan Committee and on the board of directors for the NH Spinal Cord Injury Association. Josh was recently nominated by Governor John Lynch and confirmed by the NH Executive Council to serve as one of seven Commissioners on the NH Human Rights Commission. Josh and Rachel are very excited to launch SOARING HIGH an approved alternative high school located at The Manchester Airport. Josh is currently working on two books the first titled Real Life For Real People and the second The Real System which he hopes will be published in 2011 and will become NY Times best sellers (he hopes!) “Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds” ~ Einstein
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