By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer
Executive director is stepping down after decades of service to the disabled community.

AUBURN – For decades, Joel Packer has been the face of Pathways Inc.

He helped turn a trio of tiny programs into a comprehensive nonprofit corporation dedicated to children and adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. He fought one funding crises after another, boosting Pathways’ meager $180,000 budget to $2.1 million. He brought training, jobs, a sense of community to disabled Mainers across the region.

Packer is modest about his accomplishments.

“It’s not me. It’s the whole corporation,” Packer said.

Though Pathways clients aren’t so shy.

“Joel is a Godsend,” said Irene Childs, whose 38-year-old son, Christopher, found work and friends through Pathways.

But now, after 30 years as executive director, Packer has retired. As of Jan. 1, he’s traded budget battles for cross-country ski trails, business meetings for time with friends and family.

Pathways will continue under new leadership, though many say it will be hard to replace a man so synonymous with the place.

“Joel was Pathways,” said Marilyn Brown, whose son, Bill, has been a client since the beginning. “He was just excellent at that job. I can’t think of anyone better.”

Packer was fresh out of graduate school when three Lewiston-Auburn disability organizations – Handicap Inc., Madison Street School and the Occupational Training Center – decided to merge. Packer was hired to turn the trio into a single nonprofit dedicated to the area’s disabled.

At the time, Pathways served just about 50 people.

“It was a small operation. It had a $180,000 budget. And they had $80,000 they couldn’t find (in funding),” Packer said.

He spent years fighting for more funding in Augusta, searching for grants and advocating for the disabled. In time, Pathways offered a child development program for parents, a pre-school, job training, job placement and training for independent living. It brought in trained teachers and occupational therapists for young clients. It linked with local organizations, including White Rock and the Brunswick Naval Air Station, to provide real work opportunities to older ones.

With Packer’s lead, Pathways turned into a $2.1 million organization serving more than 200 people around the region.

Brown said her son, Bill, who has Down syndrome, blossomed thanks to intervention from Pathways. Now 42, he can read, enjoy friends and work through a Pathways program.

“He shows people the stub of his check,” she said. “He’s so proud of it. He’s so proud he’s working.”

Packer had empathy for Bill and other clients, not sympathy, Brown said. With his help and encouragement, they gained independence.

Brown doesn’t know where her son would be otherwise. “I really hate to think of that,” she said.

On the heels of retirement, Packer has heard similar compliments. But he’s quick to point out that Pathways is bigger than one person.

“It’s got a good board, good community support, a good reputation,” he said. “There’s no reason why they won’t do well.”

At 64, Packer said it was time to retire. He plans to ski, relax and spend time with friends and family. Although he’s received several job offers, he will likely limit any future work to consulting.

“I’m just going to float for a while,” he said.

Bob Kennelly, who manages Maine’s mental retardation services, will take over for Packer Jan. 30.

His immediate goal: start a chapter of Speaking Up For Us, a self-advocacy group for people with disabilities. In order to create more long-term goals, Kennelly plans to review Pathway’s five-year plan and talk with clients, parents, staff and local schools about the organization and improvements they’d like to see.

Kennelly, who has known Packer for 25 years, already recognizes his first challenge.

“There are some big shoes for me to fill there,” he said.

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