Lorene Bass ’98, G ’02: Leading ARC Herkimer into Its Next Chapter
After nearly three decades of service at the agency, Lorene Bass ’98, G ’02 is stepping into a new chapter as President and CEO of ARC Herkimer, bringing with her a deep understanding of the organization, its mission, and the community it serves. Having spent 27 years helping to shape ARC Herkimer’s growth, Bass now leads an organization known for pairing compassionate supports with an innovative, business-driven approach.
“We’re a bit different than other ARC agencies,” Bass explains. “We believe we are a business first with a social mission.” That philosophy has guided ARC Herkimer’s expansion into social enterprises that generate revenue while creating opportunity and visibility for the people they support. “Those enterprises allow the public to integrate with the people we serve.”
Bass began her career at ARC Herkimer shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree, joining the organization as a supervisor in Community and Family Support while completing her master’s degree at SUNY Poly. As the nonprofit sector evolved, so did her leadership. She played a central role in building ARC Herkimer’s compliance and quality infrastructure, first as director and later as a vice president, responding to new regulatory requirements and ensuring the organization met the highest standards of accountability and care.
“When new laws came into effect, nonprofits had to build compliance and quality programs,” Bass says. “We created those systems here.” Her work helped strengthen ARC Herkimer’s foundation, positioning the organization for sustainable growth and long-term stability.
As ARC Herkimer expanded, Bass was named Executive Vice President of Supports and Services, working closely with senior leadership to oversee operations across the agency. That role deepened her involvement not only in service delivery, but in organizational strategy and enterprise development—experience that now shapes her vision as CEO. “Everything we’ve built offers some type of opportunity, whether that’s employment, programming, or community engagement,” she says. “That’s what I intend to continue.”
For Bass, leadership is deeply personal. “You realize what the work does for the people we serve—and for their families—and it draws you in,” she reflects. “You get to know people, and they become your family.” She credits that sense of shared responsibility as the reason she has stayed and grown with ARC Herkimer for nearly three decades.
Bass’s leadership approach is rooted in the education she received at SUNY Poly, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Services Management. “They didn’t give you a degree … you earned it,” she says of her professors. “They made you work hard, and when you were done, you knew you were prepared.”
The program’s emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and real-world application proved essential. “You learned that leadership wasn’t going to be easy,” Bass says. “It was going to take time, effort, and long hours to make things happen for people.”
Now, as President and CEO, Bass brings that same work ethic and perspective to ARC Herkimer’s future. Her goal is clear: to continue growing services and social enterprises in ways that strengthen the organization, support families, and build a more inclusive community.
Her message to students is clear: work hard, don’t give up when the path gets difficult, and know that your effort, over time, will open doors.
