Janus CEO Sorensen set to retire

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Chris Sorensen
Chris Sorensen

Janus Development Services President/CEO Chris Sorensen is convinced she is leaving the nonprofit in solid shape.

Sorensen, 61, announced her retirement in December 2020 and it will be effective March 1. Sorensen has been president/CEO of Janus since November 2014. She started with Janus in 2012 as vice president of operations.

The Noblesville resident and her husband, Kurt, who recently retired, plan to move Colorado to be close to their sons, Scott and Trevor, who live in Crested Butte. Scott married Lainy in September 2020.

Along with being near their sons, Sorenson said she is looking forward to having more time to ski and hike and ride her horse.

Janus has secured the services of Charitable Advisors to help with the search for a new president/CEO. Janus provides adults with disabilities the opportunity to participate and communicate within the community.

“I’m most proud that Janus is in a strong financial position and just the fact we’ve got such a strong team of employees,” Sorensen said. “I can’t imagine working with a better group of people. When I see their passion and commitment for our mission and for the people we are serving, it’s hard to put that in words how much that means and what a great job they do.”

Sorensen said she is proud of relationships Janus has formed with other groups.

“The programs we have for our clients are expanding their horizons,” she said. “It’s bringing different members of the community in and teaching them there are so many more similarities. Sometimes you see a person with a disability and you tend to focus on the differences, but we’ve been able to create opportunities where people can see there are a lot of similarities. People have the same needs and same dreams.”

Another source of pride is the strong partnership Janus has built with Purdue, starting in 2016.

“We have worked with the Department of Industrial Engineering in providing opportunities for their senior students to conduct their capstone projects at Janus,” Sorensen said. “We had one team of students assess our contract work floor and make recommendations for redesigning the work flow, to enable the Janus clients to work more efficiently and therefore earn more income. Two other capstone projects were focused on researching and setting up a hydroponics growing system, with the intent to start another program providing Janus clients an opportunity to earn income. In addition, Purdue Office of Engagement has been a sponsor of the annual Janus Create, Connect, Commit Fundraising Breakfast beginning in 2017. I feel we are opening those students’ eyes that people with disabilities have a lot of skills and a lot of capabilities.”

Riverview Health Rides, the contracted transportation service for Riverview, was launched in 2015 to ensure that patients can receive required medical care.

Janus operates Hamilton County Express, the county’s public transit system.

‘“We’ve kept that service operating throughout the pandemic the whole time, we’ve never shut it down,” Sorensen said. “We were able to be more flexible in the services.”


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