Strategic Planning at The Arc Mercer: Building a Bold Future

The Arc Mercer leadership team recently gathered with Executive Director Steve Cook for the organization’s annual Strategic Plan Retreat—a time dedicated to collaboration, reflection, and setting the course for the next five years.

Cook set the tone by challenging the team to “join him at 40,000 feet” and think boldly about the future. “The Arc Mercer is second to none in innovations and outcomes,” he said. “We are an anomaly, but not an accident.”

Celebrating Achievements, Planning Ahead

Each department delivered presentations highlighting their most significant accomplishments and outlining five-year goals. Highlights from FY ’25 include:

• Record-setting revenue and net surplus ensuring long-term sustainability.

• Residential Services: Launch of the Good Neighbor program and over 3,600 community integration activities.

• Transportation: Achieving an impressive 95% on-time performance rate.

• Vocational Services: Eliminated subminimum wage, earned CARF accreditation, and supported 68% of participants in advancing to the next level of employment.

• Janitorial Team: Implemented new technology solutions that cut cleaning time by 7%, saving 45 hours of labor each day.

• Day Program: Increased utilization to 90%, seamlessly embedding behavioral supports.

• Family Supports: Welcomed 30 new intakes, expanding services to more families in need.

These milestones are a direct result of the agency’s culture of planning, innovation, and the dedication of its mission-critical staff.

A Unified Vision

Throughout the retreat, themes of collaboration, alignment, and excellence were emphasized. Breakout sessions encouraged leaders to conduct SWOT analyses on upcoming innovations. Interestingly, many departments identified the same priorities, underscoring a shared vision and deep commitment to the mission.

The retreat concluded with leaders refining their presentations before sharing them with the Board of Directors. Cook stressed to the board that strategic planning is not an ivory tower process—input from staff through TAC meetings, staff meetings, and one-on-one conversations plays a vital role in shaping the agency’s direction.

Creating a Culture of Excellence

A common refrain during presentations was the pursuit of becoming a “center of excellence”. The Arc Mercer consistently operates well above industry standards, thanks to two driving forces: a strong culture of strategic planning and the unmatched dedication of its staff.

Cook summed it up best: “If you do it every year, you change the culture.” By revisiting and refining the strategic plan annually, The Arc Mercer ensures its vision remains relevant, forward-thinking, and deeply connected to the needs of the IDD community.

Looking Ahead

With new innovations on the horizon and a clear, united plan for growth, the future of The Arc Mercer is brighter than ever. The agency’s leadership, board, stakeholders, and—most importantly—its frontline staff remain committed to driving progress and excellence in every department.