Terry Allen Perl is a businessman with a big heart.
The president and chief executive officer of Baltimore-based Chimes, a nonprofit group dedicated to providing services, support and employment for people with disabilities, Perl has grown the organization by applying solid business practices. He started with the nonprofit as its director of adult and residential programs in 1971, became head of the group in 1973 and today supervises 11 arms underneath the Chimes umbrella.
Perl has grown the organization to support an annual operating budget of about $150 million, reaching more than 10,000 people in both America and Israel.
“I wanted to help create an organization of professional staff and volunteers who has met and will continue to meet the needs of citizens with disabilities,” said Pearl, 61.
Chimes-sponsored workers might best be known locally for their presence at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Providing cleaning and janitorial services at the airport, Chimes has grown into one of the largest government contractors for workers in the nation. Clients include the Pentagon and Library of Congress. Through these efforts, Chimes can provide work and a living wage for handicapped individuals and disabled veterans.
But these services are just an expansion on Chimes? original mission to provide an alternative school for children with disabilities ? a mission that Perl has kept close.
By the end of August, a new multimillion-dollar Chimes school is set to open in North Baltimore. The project is near and dear to Perl, and he has been active in all phases of the construction, despite preparing to step down in 2009 as part of a leadership succession plan. The school is slated to reach as many as 100 students at one time.
“I?ve seen Chimes grow in the last 10 years I have represented them,” said Ted Offit, partner of the Law Offices of Offit Kurman. “He?s been a terrific leader and manager of the growth. He has the respect of all his [employees] and peers.”
TERRY ALLEN PERL
» First job: Selling cough medicine to druggists from Trenton, N.J., to Virginia Beach, Va.
» Education/credentials: Bachelor?s degree in public speaking and dramatic arts along with a master?s degree in speech pathology and audiology from George Washington University
» Best job perk: Having the support of the board and staff members
» Daily e-mails received: 80-100
» Daily voicemails received: Very few
» Essential Web sites: NYTimes.com and [email protected]
» Career objective: To apply sound business practices to nonprofits supporting people with disabilities
» Favorite gadget: PDA
» Hometown: Baltimore
» Birth date: May 11, 1946
» Original aspiration: To be a lawyer
» Sports/hobbies: Golf, travel and reading
