William “Invoice” Massey took the helm on the Peninsula Company on Getting old half his life in the past.
Massey, a servant chief who aged gracefully as CEO, is now a part of the older grownup group he has labored so diligently to assist for the previous 41 years. He retires on Wednesday at age 83.
“I perceive a number of the growing older challenges quite a bit higher than I did 41 years in the past,” he mentioned. “I’ve at all times believed within the mission, and I consider it extra firmly right this moment than I ever have.”
Whereas he received’t miss the one-hour trek from his dwelling in Urbanna, he’ll miss the camaraderie of the workers, the broader group and people whose lives he has helped to complement.
“The most important reward has been figuring out that we have now helped a number of people, made their life a bit simpler and helped them purchase a greater high quality of life because the years go by,” he mentioned.
The group’s mission is to assist the independence and high quality of life for Peninsula residents, primarily these 60 years of age and older, by advocating for, arranging and offering important human companies.
“The over 60 inhabitants has grown dramatically,” Massey mentioned. “And the biggest and fastest-growing section of the older inhabitants is people 85 and older.”
Not solely that, however within the subsequent 12 months or so, there will probably be extra people residing in Virginia over the age of 60 than there are people underneath the age of 18, he mentioned.
“To me — and to a number of people — that’s an actual eye-opener,” he mentioned.
All through his time with the nonprofit group, Massey didn’t simply work arduous to make sure that it was operationally strong, he was additionally concerned in efforts to affect policymakers to do extra to assist meet the wants of older adults and household caregivers. Massey is the recipient of a number of congressional proclamations, has served on regional, statewide and nationwide organizations and has been to the White Home to supply steerage on the native affect of federal packages.
Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, described Massey as a dedicated champion who has actually paved the pathway for growing older — not solely within the Hampton Roads space, however within the state and as a significant contributor on the nationwide degree, too. She mentioned he has constructed one of many mannequin space companies on growing older within the nation.
She mentioned she additionally noticed, whereas at a workers assembly, the reverence his workers has for him. He acquired USAging’s 2013 Excellence in Management Award.
“He’s an unbelievable position mannequin for his colleagues throughout the nation,” she mentioned. “He has a quiet method of innovating and actually making the required modifications to have the ability to meet his mission.”
Jeanne Zeidler, former mayor of Williamsburg who’s now Peninsula Company on Getting old’s board chair, likewise praised Massey’s management and highlighted his masterful progress of central packages and his efforts to remove ready lists for companies.
“It’s arduous to summarize 41 years of outstanding service,” mentioned Zeidler, who can also be the previous CEO of the Williamsburg Well being Basis, a significant benefactor of PAA. “He’s created an company with a powerful basis that can go ahead with out him due to him.”
Massey’s early profession years included educating, time as an assistant principal and work as a rehabilitation counselor and supervisor with the Virginia Division for Rehabilitative Providers.
Then adopted a three-year stint working for Bay Getting old, an Urbanna-based nonprofit providing community-based assist for older adults and folks with disabilities, earlier than Massey utilized for and took on his management position on the Peninsula Company on Getting old, primarily based in Newport Information.
Massey’s successor, Tiffany Speas, takes the reins on Thursday. The Air Pressure veteran has been the group’s chief monetary officer for greater than a decade and can lead it — and the greater than 80 staff in her cost — into the company’s subsequent chapter.
Massey inspired Speas to by no means lose sight of the imaginative and prescient: “connecting individuals with the companies and assist they should have a greater high quality of life.”
The most important problem has been leveraging assets to increase the monetary assist obtainable to supply companies to fulfill the plain want in the neighborhood, he mentioned.
“We’ve targeted over time on assembly dietary wants, in-home care wants and transportation to attach and supply entry to different assist companies,” Massey mentioned. “Everybody who works right here understands the mission; it’s simple and easy, but it surely’s highly effective.”
As for his plans, Massey mentioned he appears to be like ahead to spending extra time together with his giant prolonged household, together with three daughters, a son, 5 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His vegetable backyard additionally wants tending, as does a family tree mission he began together with his brother.
“I can’t run as quick and bounce as excessive as I used to, however I’m not planning to go dwelling and sit,” he mentioned.
His spouse, Kathy Vesley-Massey, CEO of Bay Getting old, additionally has a to-do record prepared and ready for him.
“I’ve been so lucky to serve on this capability for all these years,” he mentioned, “and I’m going to make each effort to remain engaged as an advocate.”
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
