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Barker retiring from NRVCS
after 33 years of service
 Blacksburg,
VA - Harvey
Barker, Ph.D., Executive
Director of New River Valley
Community Services (NRVCS),
has announced his plans to
retire from the organization
effective October 31, 2012.
Dr. Barker, who has worked
at NRVCS in various
capacities, first joined the
agency on July 1, 1979.
Barker's formal announcement
came during the regular
monthly meeting of the NRVCS
Board of Directors held
Thursday evening (June 28).
"The
Board of Directors of
NRVCS received the
announcement of Harvey
Barker’s retirement with
great sadness," remarked
Vicky Collins, Outgoing
Chair of the NRVCS Board
of Directors. "During
his tenure as Executive
Director, Harvey has
grown the agency in
spite of the economic
downturn. He has built a
dynamic and responsive
agency that meets the
needs of those that
struggle with mental
illness, substance abuse
and intellectual
disabilities while not
forgetting the
importance of prevention
as an effective tool.
"Harvey
will leave a strong and
positive legacy that is
based on not only his
time as Executive
Director but also in his
other roles over his
long career with this
agency," Collins added.
Barker, who was named
Executive Director in
February 2008, had
previously served as
Director of NRVCS' Access
Services Unit. During his
time at NRVCS, the agency
has grown from a staff of
less than ten in one office
building to what is today
the fourteenth largest
employer in the New River
Valley, with nearly 700
employees and 13 facilities.
"I have spent the majority
of my professional career
with NRVCS," Barker stated.
"Over the past 33 years, I
have had an incredible
opportunity to participate
in the development and
growth of our services and
agency."
NRVCS is the area's public
provider of behavior health
services, with programs and
services designed to assist
individuals and families who
are living with mental
illness, intellectual
disabilities, and/or
substance use disorders. The
agency serves the counties
of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery,
and Pulaski, as well as the
City of Radford.
"I am extremely proud of our
staff, programs, and the
partnerships we have
developed throughout our
community," continued
Barker. "While I look
forward to the next part of
my journey, I will greatly
miss being a part of this
amazing organization."
Barker indicated that he
plans to work closely with
NRVCS leadership and its
Board of Directors in the
coming months to further
advance the agency's
strategic priorities.
"I feel very confident that
the Board's search committee
will bring in an outstanding
new Executive Director to
help NRVCS move to the next
level," Barker concluded.
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