M. Joseph Rocks Announces He Will Step Down As CEO From NHS Human Services At Year's End

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- M. Joseph Rocks announced today that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer of NHS Human Services following a remarkably successful 14-year tenure that transformed the Lafayette Hill, Pa. organization into one of the largest non-profit human service providers in America, with more than 10,500 employees working at over 650 facilities in seven states.

The NHS Board also announced that former City Managing Director Joseph S. Martz, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Board of City Trusts in Philadelphia, will become President of NHS effective September 15, 2014.  To assure a seamless transition, Rocks will remain as CEO and work closely with Martz through the end of the year.

"It has been my great privilege to lead NHS Human Services over the last 14 years," said Rocks, who was appointed Chairman in 1999 and then CEO in 2000.  "I remain in awe of the talented professionals whose commitment to the individuals and families we serve has been the foundation of NHS' growth as the premier non-profit provider of human services in the nation.

"Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire NHS team, including our Board of Directors and our leadership team as well as the thousands of employees who are the face of the company to the people we serve every day.  You have afforded me an extraordinary opportunity to lead and support our mission over these last 14 years, and I will forever cherish that experience."

Rocks led the growth of NHS Human Services as a nationally recognized leader in behavioral and human services, including mental health, addictive diseases, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, treatment foster care, education and other specialized services.  Founded 45 years ago and originally operated at one site in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia, NHS Human Services today includes 33 subsidiary corporations that provide services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Virginia, Maryland, and Louisiana.  The company serves more than 40,000 children and adults across its footprint, with operating revenues in excess of $500 million annually.

During his tenure, Rocks also built a nationally-recognized reputation for NHS as a leader in compliance and ethics-based practices.  In 2009, Rocks was named a Fellow of the Health Ethics Trust, the first behavioral health CEO to be recognized with this national honor for his leadership on these issues.

Rocks, the son of a former Philadelphia firefighter, served in the Pennsylvania Legislature for two terms each as a State Representative and State Senator. He arrived at NHS in 1999 following a decade of experience in the field of behavioral health, first as CEO of Windabrae Associates, where he specialized in behavioral healthcare and strategic planning; and then later as President of InterLink Strategies, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm with a major client base in behavioral healthcare.

While he will step down as CEO, Rocks will remain as Chairman of the NHS Board of Directors as well as a member of the NHS Foundation Board along with his wife, Liz Greco-Rocks. 

At Rocks' request, the NHS Board of Directors began the succession planning process early last year.  Under the direction of the Board's Succession Committee, NHS also relied on the assistance of former NHS Board member Dr. Thomas J. Saporito, the nationally-renowned Chairman and CEO of RHR International, a global firm committed to helping organizations all over the world develop top management leadership.

"I want to thank the members of the Succession Committee for their hard work in conducting the search for our new President," Rocks said, "particularly Stephen J. Carr, John J. Egan, Jr., Robert N.C. Nix III, and of course, Dr. Tom Saporito for  his extraordinary guidance and leadership throughout the process."

The Succession Committee unanimously endorsed the selection of Joe Martz, and the Board unanimously endorsed the Committee's selection.

"As the new operational leader and President, Joe Martz will bring strength, leadership, character, intelligence and vigor to his role," said Rocks.  "I am confident that Joe's vision for the future of NHS is the right path for our organization, and I look forward to working with him during the transitional period later this year."

Martz, like Sen. Rocks a native Philadelphian, enjoys an outstanding reputation as a leader in both the public and private sector.  His public service career includes a term as Secretary of Administration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he led a statewide series of productivity initiatives that generated more than $100 million in savings and increased productivity under Governor Edward G. Rendell.  Before that, Martz served as Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia, where he oversaw a workforce of 20,000 people and an annual operating budget of $2.75 billion.  His public career also includes service as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Property and First Deputy Managing Director of the City.

In the private sector, Martz was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Government Solutions Division of ACS Corporation, which during his tenure grew to be the largest information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) organization serving local governments in North America.

Most recently, Martz has served since 2007 as the Executive Director and Board Secretary of the Board of City Trusts in Philadelphia, where he manages a $650 million investment portfolio that benefits 118 testamentary trusts bequeathed to the City, including the historic Girard Estate and Wills Eye trusts.  Martz will remain at the Board of City Trusts through August.

"What Joe Rocks accomplished in terms of strengthening and supporting the mission of NHS, and then leading the dramatic growth of that mission across seven states over the last decade, is nothing short of remarkable," said Martz.  "I am honored to be selected to succeed him, and I look forward to working closely with Senator Rocks to assure that our organization continues to thrive and grow in the years to come."

Martz and his wife Kathy live in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.

SOURCE NHS Human Services