Patrick W. Lawler is chief executive officer of Youth Villages, one of the largest private providers of services to troubled children and their families in the southeast. Under his leadership, Youth Villages has established an array of specialized treatment programs operated by an effective team of more than 2,300 employees in 64 locations across 10 states and the District of Columbia. Youth Villages' mission is to help children and families live successfully.

Since 1980, Mr. Lawler has served as CEO of Youth Villages, which has grown from serving 40 youth to offering hope to more than 15,000 children and families each year. The area of service has expanded from Memphis, TN, to all counties in Tennessee, as well as Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia. Mr. Lawler collaborated with Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to establish the Youth Villages Continuum of Care. This nationally recognized service approach has become a model for other states interested in reforming their systems of care.

In 2005, Youth Villages was selected by the prestigious Edna McConnell Clark Foundation to receive support to help to build capacity and received an additional grant in 2007.

In 2006, Lawler was recognized as one of "America's Best Leaders" by U.S. News & World Report in conjunction with the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also is one of the select few professionals in the nonprofit sector who has been inducted into the prestigious Society of Entrepreneurs. Under his leadership, Youth Villages gained national recognition and was cited as a model by such prominent organizations as the American Youth Policy Forum, National Coalition of Juvenile Justice and the United Way of America.

In 2009, Harvard Business School completed a case study examining Youth Villages' growth and impact, and exploring the organization's innovative treatment approach, use of research in program development and targeted growth strategies. The case was written for inclusion in a HBS course called "Leading and Governing Highly Effective Nonprofit Organizations" which teaches what it takes to be an organization that does innovative and highly effective work. Also in 2009, the White House cited Youth Villages as an example of "effective, innovative non-profits" that are "high-impact, result oriented" organizations. The White House listed Youth Villages with three other organizations that offer "promising ideas that are transforming communities."

Lawler's entire career has been spent working with society's most vulnerable children. He began as a counselor at Tall Trees Guidance School when he was 18 years old and then worked at the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County for 5 years before becoming the CEO of Youth Villages.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Mr. Lawler is chairman of the St. Francis Hospital board of directors in Bartlett, Tenn., chairman of the Diocesan Review Board Catholic Diocese; and a board member of the Bank of Bartlett, the American Re-Education Association and the Society of Entrepreneurs.

EDUCATION
MS, Memphis State University, Counseling, 1981; BA, Memphis State University, Criminal Justice, 1977

PERSONAL
Lawler enjoys reading, running, biking, swimming and participating in triathlons, annually serving as a volunteer in Honduras, and spending time with his wife, Jan, his daughter, Brooke, his son, Brad, and his grandsons, Cooper and Luke.