Lloyd Lewis
Lloyd Lewis has served as president and CEO for arc Thrift Stores since December 2005. Now celebrating its 50th year, arc Thrift Stores operates 27 thrift stores and 17 donation stations throughout Colorado. Store operations provide funding to 14 Arc Chapters, which in turn provide advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Lewis is responsible for generating funding to support advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities in Colorado for all 14 Arc chapters. Disabilities include Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, autism, and other forms of cognitive deficit. Lewis’ role includes oversight and management of arc’s retail stores, donation stations and 1,600 employees. arc Thrift Stores is one of the largest employers of people with developmental disabilities in the state. Since Lewis’ tenure, revenue has grown 175% to $88 million annually and has provided employment for over 300 people with developmental disabilities.
Lewis launched the Ambassador Program and arc University to assist persons with developmental disabilities with socialization and self-sufficiency. He also expanded a recycle program that benefits thousands in countries around the world and developed alternative donation sourcing that assists local nonprofits produce creative fundraising opportunities. He expanded Vehicles for Charity that funds hundreds of Colorado and national nonprofits and in partnership with Volunteers of America, arc’s annual food drive has grown to one of the largest in the state.
He is the father of five children, including a 14-year-old with Down syndrome. He recently wrote the book “Why Not Them”, in order to tell the powerful story of inclusion and change created by arc Thrift, as well the shift in his own perceptions of the wider community of persons with disabilities. "Why Not Them" was written as a means to inspire others to see beyond appearances and live with more acceptance and compassion.
Lewis currently serves as board chair of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition and of the Atlantis Community Foundation both of which assist individuals with disabilities integrate into all parts of society. He is the past chair of the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association and previously a committee/board member for the Arc of the United States and the Arc of Colorado, among others.
Lewis holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Graduate Business School, and has prior corporate experience with companies including IBM and Smith Barney. Prior to arc, Lewis had extensive financial experience, including serving as director of finance for a publicly traded company and as controller and CFO for a high tech start-up company.
