ARCO Announces Retirement of Roma Kidd
Today, the ARCO Board of Directors announced the upcoming retirement of their long-time executive director, Roma Kidd. Kidd is the longest serving Executive Director for ARCO, serving forty-four of the organizations seventy-one years of service. During her tenure, she made measurable improvements at ARCO in service delivery, program effectiveness, advocacy, and resource development.
“To have had an opportunity to participate in the development of family and individual community-based supports has been a rewarding honor,” said Kidd. I am so thankful to the people of Ouachita Parish and to the many people who have served on the Board of Directors who have made ARCO’s success possible,” she added.
Kidd grew up on a farm outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She attended Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, where she earned degrees in Psychology and Special Education. In 1974, Kidd became the first early interventionist in the state of Mississippi. She began her career as a teacher in a developmental center in Mississippi where she worked for 10 years.
She and her husband Bob moved to Rayville in 1981 to care for her husband’s aging parents. Kidd joined the ARCO staff and took on the role of Residential Services Manager. Shortly thereafter, the agency Executive director resigned, and ARCO needed a new leader. The Board of Directors offered the job to Kidd, and the rest is history.
Kidd points out that, in the not-so-distant past, individuals with developmental disabilities were confined to institutions for their entire lives and endured harsh, inhumane environments. Now, they can live a life that includes community service and employment. Kidd said, “My greatest joy has been seeing people with developmental disabilities become more accomplished, accepted and independent.”
“Roma has consistently demonstrated a passion for service to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families,” said Terry Duke, Chairman of the ARCO Board of Directors. “As Executive Director, Roma has played a pivotal role in guiding the organization’s strategic vision.”
He noted that, thanks to her leadership, ARCO has grown its programs, boosted its outreach, and earned statewide recognition as an effective advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Kidd’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities have resulted in transformative accomplishments.
“Roma has dedicated her life to improving the lives of men and women with disabilities. As a parent of a special needs son, I witnessed first-hand the love and determination that Roma had for him and all the participants that her organization served. Without exception, Roma has always gone the extra mile and left no stone unturned. It has been my signal honor to have known a person that has been a giver beyond measure, a teacher, a leader, a strong advocate for those that needed a voice and a close friend,” said Steve Murray past Chairman of ARCO.
Kidd’s legacy has not gone unnoticed. She has received numerous awards and honors that reflect her commitment to service and leadership. In 2007, Quota International of Monroe, honored Kidd with the Woman of the Year Award, celebrating Kidds’s role as a trailblazer for female executives in the nonprofit sector.
In 2023, Kidd was honored with the Kitty DeGree Lifetime Achievement in Business Award by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, recognizing Roma’s outstanding contributions to organizational growth and community development.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Roma for the outstanding leadership, she has provided to ARCO. Her efforts have resulted in more fulfilling and satisfying lives for people with developmental disabilities and their families,” said Duke.
The ARCO Board of Directors has initiated a process to identify Kidd’s successor with plans to hire by the end of the year. The board is committed to a smooth transition. Kidd will be available to assist the new Executive Director with their transition. Interested parties may submit their resumes to Arco Executive Director Search at PO Box 14341, Monroe, LA 71201 or email to tmduke@att.net. Please include 3 letters of reference. For additional details go to www.arcomonroe.org.
