Kevin Gerrity

Kevin Gerrity was born and raised in Latham, New York and attended Bucknell University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering (and later an MBA from Averett College). Kevin went on to have a 37+ year career with ExxonMobil, retiring in 2023, and during that time had assignments in Retail Fuels, Real Estate, Procurement, and Global Projects.  Along with many domestic assignments, Kevin has had four ex-pat assignments:  Bogota, Colombia, Lima, Peru, and the United Kingdom (twice). These overseas assignments, along with travel to 40+ countries, allowed him to see how different societies address neurodiversity.

Kevin is a proud dad to Maddie and Tommy. While in Peru, as Tommy turned three, his developmental progress began to lag significantly. Recognizing the lack of infrastructure in Peru for special needs, he requested a career change to return to the United States for a complete diagnosis at Texas Children’s Hospital and to secure ongoing support.

Tommy’s diagnosis was severe autism, leaving him non-verbal and requiring support for basic needs. As Tommy progressed through the public school system, Kevin soon learned that 1) many families are in similar positions and 2) there was a lack of comprehensive support for families with individuals with special needs- including benefits, financial planning, long-term residential plans, and vocational opportunities. The lack of supports became even more apparent as Tommy aged out of the school system. These key learnings are the catalyst behind co-founding Project Beacon with Kelly Baughman- so individuals like Tommy can live their best life, and will be in good hands once their parents are no longer around.