Lehigh Valley's KidsPeace elevates interim CEO Michael Slack to full-time role

Aug. 1--After a nationwide search, the KidsPeace board of directors has chosen to stay in-house for its next CEO.

The Lehigh County nonprofit serving troubled children and adults in eight states on Wednesday named Michael Slack its president and CEO. Slack, 50, had been interim CEO since March, following the retirement of William R. Isemann, who served since 2008.

The board vote for Slack was unanimous, according to a news release.

Slack joined KidsPeace in 2001 as director of business development, and has served in a variety of positions. Before holding the interim CEO post, he had been executive vice president and chief operating officer since 2016.

The Weisenberg Township resident has also been at KidsPeace during a time of turmoil, including investigations into treatment methods that a state agency said led to patient injuries, as well as a separate probe that held the organization responsible for not properly supervising a teen client who died of an overdose. The agency also reorganized under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Based in North Whitehall Township, KidsPeace provides residential, psychiatric hospital care, foster care and other mental health and behavioral services for children and their families. Besides Pennsylvania, it has facilities in seven states and about 2,000 employees, including 1,350 in the Lehigh Valley.

It served 9,865 clients in 2018 and had revenue of $126 million.

Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at 610-820-6694 or asalamone@mcall.com.

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