Westborough – The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) has appointed Nicole Godaire as its new executive director. Godaire has served the association for the past eight years in multiple capacities, including her most recent position of assistant executive director and manager of education.
“Nicole has proven herself to be highly organized and effective in developing and implementing strategies that have led to improving and expanding services for individuals with brain injury and their families,” says Assistant Commissioner Debra Kamen, of community living for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. “She is well positioned to be the new executive director of BIA-MA as she has developed relationships with legislators, and she has the skills, passion and knowledge to help BIA-MA accommodate the changing environment for brain injury.”
During her tenure at BIA-MA, Godaire has led advocacy efforts which resulted in an increase of funding for the Head Injury Treatment Services (HITS) Trust Fund from 60 percent to 75 percent in 2013, then back to 100 percent for fiscal year 2014. She was instrumental in organizing BIA-MA's leaders and management team in a year-long strategic planning process that led to the creation of a five-year organizational plan. She collaborated with government executives and legislators during the development of the Brain Injury Commission report that addressed serious gaps in brain injury services across the commonwealth.
Incorporated in 1982, the association is a chartered affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America. BIA-MA collaborates with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Department of Public Health, the Veterans Administration, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and other groups to prevent brain injuries and serve survivors.
The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, a private, nonprofit organization, provides support to brain injury survivors and their families, offers court and school prevention programs, trains professionals in the field, and advocates for improved services and related legislation. For more information, call 800-242-0030 or visit www.biama.org.
