FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jewelyn Cosgrove, [email protected]
Upper Marlboro, Maryland — Following a comprehensive national search that included both internal and external candidates, Melwood Enterprises’ Senior Vice President, Facilities Operations, Brice Alexander has been promoted to Executive Director of Melwood Enterprises. Alexander will assume the role on February 1 following the retirement of Executive Director Karl Groninger.
Alexander will lead and grow a $120-million social enterprise that is also one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in the country. With a team of seasoned performers and unparalleled retention rates, Melwood Enterprises offers more than 10 lines of business, ranging from landscaping, custodial services, and total facilities management to administrative support across 70 different contract sites. As he takes the helm of Melwood Enterprises, Alexander will oversee the additions of new lines of business, and the geographic expansion of services outside of the DMV, creating even greater pathways to employment for people with disabilities.
“Melwood Enterprises is entering a new chapter defined by strategic growth and an unwavering promise to create more jobs for people with disabilities while bringing our world-class service to customers who are looking for a trusted, dependable partner. Brice Alexander has proven he has the industry knowledge, long-range clarity, and dedicated leadership to usher Melwood Enterprises into a bold, new future,” said Larysa Kautz, CEO of Melwood.
A lifetime of experience
Alexander first joined Melwood six years ago and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Facility Management Services. In that role, he oversaw more than 60 contracts across the region and led a management team supporting nearly 1,000 employees. During his tenure, Alexander elevated quality standards earning the company’s first ever IEHA CESE Certification.
Alexander brings a lifetime of experience in the custodial industry, as well as a deep passion for and personal connection to Melwood’s mission. Raised in a family that has been in the custodial business since the 1970s, Alexander grew up immersed in the industry. His career has taken him from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, giving him unique insight into the needs of both customers and employees.
“I am thrilled for this opportunity and grateful to my colleagues—past and present—who have helped prepare me for this role,” said Alexander. “As a father of a child with a disability and the husband of a special education teacher, Melwood’s mission is deeply personal to me. I look forward to working with our team to continue building opportunities, dignity, and meaningful careers for people with disabilities, while ensuring our customers continue to enjoy the world-class service they receive from our dedicated teams.”
Alexander follows in the footsteps of seasoned military veteran Karl Groninger, whose sharp business acumen, focus on quality, and devotion to customer satisfaction, helped grow Melwood Enterprises into the trusted name it is today. Groninger is retiring after 11 years of dedicated service and will transition into the role of Special Projects Manager for his final month, supporting a smooth leadership transition and completing several critical initiatives prior to his departure.
“It has been my honor and privilege to support Melwood in fulfilling its mission,” said Groninger. “As I retire, I am thrilled that Brice Alexander has been chosen to succeed me as Executive Director of Melwood Enterprises. I am confident he is the right leader to build on our accomplishments and guide the organization into its next chapter.”
“Brice’s leadership, vision, and passion for our mission make him exceptionally well-suited to lead Melwood Enterprises into the future,” Kautz said. “We are deeply grateful to Karl for his years of service and confident that Melwood Enterprises will continue to thrive under Brice’s leadership.”
About Melwood
Melwood is a family of companies with a shared vision of a world where people with disabilities are fully included. Melwood comprises three primary companies—Melwood Enterprises, Melwood Community Services, and Melwood Inc.—together serving as one of the nation’s leading advocates, service providers, and employers of people with disabilities and their caregivers. We offer employment, job placement, job training, life skills for independence, support services, and youth and community recreational services to more than 3,000 people each year in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, visit www.melwood.org.
About Melwood Enterprises
Melwood Enterprises delivers top-tier business solutions to public and private sector clients across more than 60 locations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., while expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Boasting a team of seasoned performers, industry-respected certifications, unparalleled retention rates, and excellence in long-standing contracts, Melwood Enterprises delivers satisfaction, stability, and exceptional return on investment. For more information about Melwood Enterprises, a part of the Melwood family of companies, visit www.melwoodenterprises.org.
