By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (June 12, 2025)
Placerville, Calif. — June 13, 2025 — After 42 years of tireless advocacy and leadership, Susie Davies, 78, CEO of Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises Inc. (MORE), announced her retirement this week, marking the end of an era for one of El Dorado County’s most respected community institutions.
Davies first joined MORE in 1983, when the organization operated out of a small building and served fewer than a dozen adults with developmental disabilities. Over the following four decades, she built MORE into a cornerstone of support services in the region, serving hundreds of clients annually and expanding its footprint across El Dorado County. Today, the Placerville-based nonprofit offers a comprehensive suite of programs—from independent living skills and vocational training to social integration services—for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“MORE has been my life’s calling,” Davies said in an emotional statement. “I’m humbled to have had the opportunity to grow alongside this organization and the incredible people we serve. The heart of MORE is in its people—our clients, our staff, our volunteers—and I know the mission will continue to thrive.”
Davies’ decision to retire follows a year of thoughtful succession planning with the board of directors. Board President Daniel Carrington confirmed that a formal search for a new CEO is underway, with the intent to ensure a seamless leadership transition by the end of 2025.
“Susie’s leadership shaped not only the culture of MORE but also how our entire community views and supports adults with disabilities,”
said Carrington.
“She exemplified what servant leadership looks like.”
During her tenure, Davies oversaw the development of MORE’s Community Integration Program, a pioneering approach that brought clients into local businesses and volunteer roles, building bridges between the disabled and able-bodied communities. She also helped secure funding for the construction of the organization’s permanent facility on Placerville Drive and led the organization through challenges ranging from budget shortfalls to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Davies has been honored numerous times for her contributions, including being named El Dorado County Woman of the Year and receiving the California Nonprofit Leader Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
In a press release issued Thursday, MORE assured the public that it remains committed to its mission
“to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and belonging.”
The board emphasized that Davies will remain in an advisory role during the transition.
Davies says she looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren and pursuing long-postponed travel plans, though she hinted she may stay involved in disability advocacy.
“I’m not going anywhere completely,”
she said with a smile.
“I’ll still be cheering for MORE—from the sidelines this time.”
