Home of Guiding Hands President and CEO Edward Hershey was named the Leading the Charge award recipient, an honor bestowed on an advocate who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and advocacy for the disability community.
The award was presented by San Diego Regional Center Executive Director Mark R. Klaus on Dec. 2 at the 7th Annual Leading the Charge – collaborating for Effective Services One-Day Educational Event.
Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins praised Hershey for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Congratulations to Edward Hershey on receiving this year’s ‘Leading the Charge’ award. His work overseeing the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) across multiple counties and establishing the Home of Guiding Hands as a vaccination site ensured that more than 1,000 of our most vulnerable residents were immunized during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins. “Congratulations Edward on this accomplishment and on your new role as CEO.”
Developmental Disabilities Provider Network (DDPN) hosted the event, which provided panel interviews and breakout training sessions designed for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their family members, service providers, agency directors and support staff, regional center and DOR staff, Transition Programs staff and students.
Hershey, 50, holds a master’s in human resource management and a bachelor’s in organizational leadership from Colorado State University. He also has 27 years of management experience. He joined Home of Guiding Hands in 2015 as vice president of operations and was promoted to chief operating officer Sept. 2021.
