Cardinal Services CEO Jane Wear has received the James M. Hammond III Executive Leadership Award presented to an outstanding executive or administrator in the human service industry. The award was presented March 13 at an annual conference for professionals serving persons with disabilities in Indiana. Cardinal Services touches the lives of 2,700 people annually across five counties through 500 employees. With Wear at the helm, Cardinal Services has made major inroads in the areas of employment for people with disabilities and affordable housing, according to Michelle Boxell, Cardinal Services community relations manager. Through Wear’s leadership, community employment for people with disabilities has increased four-fold, serving more than 300 people across five counties. When Wear and her team found that Kosciusko County lacked affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities, she led the way to develop a 64-unit apartment complex. With an eye on the future, Wear has led fundraising efforts at Cardinal to assure that quality services continue even as government funding declines. Her efforts have resulted in 200 percent endowment growth and an eight-fold increase in annual donations. Wear is in her 37th year with Cardinal, beginning her career in direct support services as a vocational assessor. Through the years, she held several positions, learning the agency from the “ground up.” In 1996, the Cardinal Board of Directors named Wear president and CEO. Beyond her accomplishments at Cardinal Services, Wear volunteers her time and talent in numerous leadership positions. She serves on the Chamber of Commerce and Beaman Home boards and Ivy Tech Business Council. The Chamber of Commerce has honored her with the Athena Award, and singled out Cardinal Services for the Service Award in 2010. Wear is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Southern Illinois University. She resides in Warsaw with her husband, Boyd.
