Donna Fassett, Executive Director

Executive Director Donna Fassett, has contributed her services to ARC Gateway since 1979. Donna served as the Assistant Executive Director before becoming ARC Gateway's Executive Director and strongest advocate.

Since Donna has been Executive Director, ARC Gateway has passed many milestones and has expanded its programs to serve over 900 children and adults with developmental disabilities. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Connecticut and is a very active member of her community.

Donna has served as president of the Five Flags Rotary, is on the board of directors for the Fiesta of Five Flags, and is active with the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and the Florida Council of Executive Directors.

To honor her long-standing dedication and services to ARC Gateway and people with developmental disabilities, Donna was awarded ARC Florida's Robert Ettinger Award for Executive Excellence in July 2003, ARC Florida’s Unsung Hero Award in 2004 and the Center for Independent Living’s Joe Oldmixon Award for Advocacy in 2005 and the Able Trust Dr. George Spelios Leadership Award in 2009.

Employed with ARC Gateway since 1984, Nelda Patterson is one of the agency's longtime, dedicated employees. Nelda has supervised ARC Gateway's accounting department since 1986 and the personnel functions since 1994. She has worked in the accounting field for over 25 years and has more than 22 years of non-profit experience. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in Accounting. Nelda has been a valuable asset to ARC Gateway's mission and plays an imperative role in ARC Gateway's functioning and livelihood.

Cathy Lauterbach has shared her talent with ARC Gateway for more than ten years. A California native, Cathy obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Management from St. Mary's College. She began her employment with ARC Gateway in 1995 as an Employment Specialist. From that role, she became the program manager at the Pollak Training Center before moving into her current position as Residential and Community Services Director. Cathy serves as the staff advisor for ARC’s Recreation Committee, the Best Buddies program and for the civic organization, AKtion Club. She is also very involved with many of the community events ARC Gateway hosts.