PACER Center welcomes
Heather Powell as Executive Director

The PACER Center Board of Directors has announced that Heather Powell has been selected as the organization’s next Executive Director following the retirement of Tonia Teasley in March 2026. Heather will start her tenure at PACER on June 22. 

Prior to PACER, Heather served as the Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County in Bellingham, Washington. She brings 15 years of executive nonprofit leadership experience to PACER, including proven skills in fundraising, growth, and donor engagement. She holds a Master of Science in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and completed Strategic Leadership for Nonprofits at Harvard Business School. 

“PACER’s board sought an individual who could build on PACER’s strong foundation and expand what’s possible for the organization. We’re confident that Heather will do an excellent job guiding PACER into its next chapter and look forward to welcoming her into our PACER community,” said PACER Board President Alison Bakken. 

Heather is personally committed to PACER’s mission. She is a former teacher and the legal guardian of her sister with developmental disabilities. She has encountered special education from the perspective of both an educator and family member and has spent much of her adult life navigating the education, health care, and disability service systems that PACER guides families through daily.  

“Throughout my career and personal life, I have seen firsthand how profoundly the right support and advocacy can change the trajectory of a child’s life, and PACER has been delivering that impact for families across Minnesota for nearly 50 years. I have spent my career at the intersection of education, community, and service, and PACER sits at the heart of all three. I am deeply honored to lead PACER into its next chapter to serve the families, children, and communities that have always been at the heart of my work,” said Heather. 

About PACER Center 

PACER Center is a trusted source of information, training, and support for Minnesota families of children with disabilities. PACER’s services help families and youth navigate special education and other complex systems, discover assistive technology solutions, and access bullying prevention resources. Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1977, PACER is the only organization in Minnesota that provides support for families of children and young adults with any disability from birth to age 26. Learn more about our mission at pacer.org.