LEXINGTON, KY (MAY 8, 2025) – Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL), a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities and others experiencing factors that affect their ability to obtain employment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Perry as Chief Executive Officer.
Perry is an executive with more than 30 years of experience leading organizations through transformative growth across manufacturing, consulting, education, and civic sectors.
As CEO of Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL) and its social enterprise, Lexington Manufacturing Center (LMC), Perry brings a unique blend of operational acumen and mission-driven leadership to the mission of assisting people who need support to obtain employment.
“I’ve always been passionate about building systems that create lasting impact for individuals and communities,” says Randy. “I’m honored to lead an organization driven by inclusion and opportunity, especially one with such a strong history in workforce development, having served thousands of people since 1961.”
Before joining OWL, Perry served as President of Diversified Tool and Development and founded The Perry Group, a consulting firm specializing in operational growth. His earlier career includes leadership roles at Screw Machine Technologies, Martin Automotive Group, PepsiCo, and Colgate-Palmolive, where he consistently delivered improvements in profitability and productivity. An educator at heart, Perry also spent nearly a decade lecturing in entrepreneurship, globalization, and small business management at the University of Kentucky.
“Randy understands that for the people we serve, employment is more than a paycheck—it’s a pathway to dignity, freedom, and a better life,” said Nancy Brown, Board Chair of OWL. “The board has full faith in Randy’s leadership. It will be instrumental in expanding our reach and deepening our impact across Kentucky.”
Randy Perry succeeds Tony Higgins, who stepped down after 22 years of service to the organization in December 2024. Will Bacon has served as Interim CEO and remains with the organization as Skilled Trade Academy Director.
Pictured: Randy Perry, CEO of Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL) and Lexington Manufacturing Center (LMC)
