Arthur S. (Art) Masker, who has guided Holston United Methodist Home for Children as its president and CEO for the past 14 years, has announced that he will retire next fall.

Masker informed the Holston Home Board of Directors on Thursday that his resignation will take effect on Sept. 1, 2013.

Bradley S. Williams, who has worked at Holston Home for the past 10 years, most recently as its chief operating officer, will be Masker's successor.

In a news release Friday announcing the planned retirement and succession, board Chairman Mary Margaret Denton praised Masker's positive impact on the institution.

"It is with much gratitude and appreciation for his excellent leadership that the board moves forward, recognizing that Art has led Holston Home to its current national recognition as a premier childcare agency," said Denton.

"It is with great confidence that we anticipate Bradley Williams will continue his legacy," Denton added.

Masker became president and CEO of Holston Home in December 1999.

He first came to the agency in 1973 as a case manager for the Wiley Center residential home.

Since that time, he has served as director of several of Holston Home's program divisions.

He was promoted to program administrator in 1983, and promoted again to vice president for program services in 1997.

Under his leadership, the size and scope of the agency's services have more than doubled.

In addition, Holston Home received its first national accreditation by the Council on Accreditation (COA): the respected international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioral healthcare accrediting organization.

Masker's work experience prior to employment with Holston Home included childcare and administrative positions with two other organizations in Tennessee and New York.

He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a master's degree in educational psychology, with additional post-graduate work in administration and educational supervision.

In addition to his responsibilities at Holston Home itself, Masker has served in a number of professional leadership positions, including two terms as president of the Tennessee Association for Child Care, and two years as president of the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare.

He has served as a state representative to the Southern Leadership Council of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and the Residential Advisory Task Force of the CWLA.

In 1996, he received the CWLA Child Advocacy Award for the 14-state Southern Region.

In 2011, Masker was recognized as Children and Youth Services' Administrator of the Year by the national United Methodist Association on Health and Welfare Ministries.

He is also an active volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts of America and serves in many leadership roles at Asbury United Methodist Church in Greeneville.

"I have known Art for 40 years," said the Rev. Charles A. Hutchins, Holston Home vice president for development/church relations.

"From the day I met him, it was obvious that he was committed to creating the best possible program for the children and youth.

"He has moved Holston Home to the highest level, and bringing Brad Williams onto the staff several years ago assures the continued success of this organization."

Williams joined the Holston Home executive team in 2002.

He is responsible for administering the agency's program services, which serve more than 400 children each day.

He has a strong commitment to working with families, helping to keep families intact and to reunify families when children must spend a period of time in out-of-home care, the news release said.

Prior to joining the Holston Home team, Williams served as the deputy director of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services in North Carolina.

He also held leadership roles with Camelot Care Centers in Tennessee and Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina.

In his early career, Williams provided direct services as a social worker and therapist in Tennessee and North Carolina.

He earned his master's degree in social work from the University of Tennessee, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.

"Art has done a great job in leading Holston Home for a long time," Williams said. "His shoes will be hard to fill.

"He's leaving a strong agency that is financially sound with a very successful program that is boldly Christian in its approach.

"Holston Home is recognized by regional, state and national experts in the child care field.

"I look forward to the challenge of following Art, and I know I can trust all of our friends to continue to support us," Williams said.