CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, JULY 8, 2024 — The Jefferson Area Board for Aging, (JABA), today announced that its CEO, Marta Keane, has decided to retire from her role at the end of the year. Since assuming leadership of the non-profit area agency on aging in April 2013, following 6 months as COO, Keane has been instrumental in shaping its growth and success, and its capacity to serve older adults, caregivers, and their families in Central Virginia.
"Marta has taken JABA from a good to an excellent area agency on aging in Virginia," said JABA Board chair Dick Gibson, who has worked closely with Keane since she became JABA's CEO. "Marta possesses the proper balance between passion for mission and sound business practices, and she has brought incredible energy, compassion, knowledge, innovation, business acumen, team-building, goal setting, and success to all facets of JABA."
Keane has been recognized by her peers who elected her President of the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Chair of the Charlottesville Area Alliance, and Board Member of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and the Nelson County Community Development Fund, among other accolades. Last year, the Virginia State Legislature passed a joint resolution recognizing Keane's "profound and lasting impact" on the lives of people living in Central Virginia and calling her "an inspiration to all citizens of the Commonwealth."
Keane's time as CEO came with considerable challenges. In 2018, while traveling in Australia, she suffered a spinal stroke that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She returned home and with the full support of the JABA Board, who wanted her to continue as CEO, began her difficult recovery. Less than six months later, she was able to stand and give a presentation to JABA staff on resiliency, which was an inspiration to many of her colleagues.
In 2020, when the COVID pandemic hit, Keane served the population most vulnerable to the virus. While she immediately ordered JABA's centers and offices closed for safety reasons, she also made a commitment to JABA staff that their full pay and benefits would continue, recognizing that support for seniors during this time was crucial and would require creativity and innovation. Staff and volunteers responded enthusiastically with conference call bingo and trivia, live video programming, insurance counseling by Zoom, meal and supply deliveries, weekly phone calls, drive-up information services, and even a car parade through a member neighborhood. During a crisis, Keane's calm, passionate, yet assertive leadership allowed the organization to endure and even thrive during this time.
In April, Keane received the Christopher E. Lee Servant Leader Hero Award from our local chapter of the American Red Cross, which is presented to a community member who exemplifies the humanitarian spirit and servant leadership.
"Marta's visionary leadership, compassionate spirit, and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of seniors have set her apart as a true servant leader," said Bill Brent, Executive Director at American Red Cross, Central Virginia Chapter, during a ceremony at The Center at Belvedere.
"JABA has benefitted immensely from Marta’s leadership," adds Gibson," and she will be missed by all of us."
JABA's Board of Directors are actively seeking a replacement for Keane and they expect to name a new CEO in December, with Keane staying on to help with the transition. To learn more about the position, interested candidates can visit www.jabacares.org/careers.
About JABA
JABA (Jefferson Area Board for Aging) is a private, non-profit Area Agency on Aging serving adults (60+), adults with disabilities, caregivers, and community members of all income levels in Central Virginia. JABA was founded in 1975 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3)non-profit in 1986. By offering a wide range of innovative programs and services for those on the aging journey, JABA empowers greater independence, promotes healthy aging, fosters a sense of dignity and fulfillment for all, and celebrates the contributions that seniors invest in our communities.