Brooke Wright, New ExOps Exec Director (Jan 1)

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It is with joy that we share some important news for the ExOPS family and the entire community.  Brooke Wright has been selected as our new Executive Director, following the retirement of our longtime director, Janet Smola. Janet's dedicated leadership and service to our community and beyond are immeasurable.  We are grateful for Janet’s many years of leadership.  We are thrilled to share that she will continue to support ExOPS as a member of our board and is working closely with Brooke to ensure a smooth transition. 

Brooke comes to ExOPS with more than 14 years of hands-on experience in the mental health and developmental disability communities. She is a board-certified advocate with a background in leadership, crisis support, and case management, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management from Kaplan University.Brooke’s passion for this work is rooted in something far more personal. She and her husband, Mike, are raising five children, including two sons diagnosed with nonverbal autism. Her journey to find the right resources and support for her family led her to the Marcus Autism Center and Parent to Parent of Georgia—places where she eventually returned as a mentor to other parents walking similar paths. This depth of experience as a parent and advocate will position her to hit the ground running as our new director. 

Over the years, Brooke has served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as Ava’s Law, Autism Speaks, Our World School, and Madi’s Promise. She is a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program and has been a featured speaker at events, including the Marcus Autism Center’s Big Splash. In 2023, she was appointed by the governor to the Statewide Independent Living Council.Before joining ExOPS, Brooke was the Program Director at First Option Services, where she helped nearly double participation in a day program for adults with IDD/DD while strengthening partnerships throughout the community. She also worked as a job coach with Briggs & Associates, helping individuals with disabilities find meaningful jobs with fair pay.Brooke brings not only expertise but heart. She understands the daily realities families face, and she believes deeply that every person deserves access, dignity, opportunity, and a place to belong.

We are thrilled for this next chapter at ExOPS and confident that Brooke’s leadership will help us serve families and individuals with special needs effectively, both now and into the future.We invite you to meet Brooke at our Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Grace Church, 164 Flat Creek Trail, Fayetteville, just off Highway 54.