GRASS VALLEY, Calif., August 25, 2026 โ FREED Center for Independent Living, a nonpro๏ฌt serving people with disabilities across Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties, today announced that Carl Sigmond will become the organization’s next Executive Director, e๏ฌective September 1, 2026. Sigmond succeeds Carly Pacheco who is stepping down after over 12 years with FREED to take a new role as Operations Manager at the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A).
Sigmond brings more than 10 years of nonpro๏ฌt management experience to the Executive Director position and has served as FREED’s Operations Manager since 2021. He holds a degree in computer science from Haverford College and has also studied peace and con๏ฌict studies, nonviolent communication, and documentary ๏ฌlmmaking. Sigmond has hosted and produced FREED’s monthly radio show and podcast, Disability Rap, since 2020. He brings lived experience navigating the world with a signi๏ฌcant physical disability.
“I am incredibly proud of what FREED has built together with our sta๏ฌ, our peers, and our community partners,” said Pacheco, outgoing Executive Director. “I have full con๏ฌdence in Carl and in FREED’s team to carry this work forward, and I’m grateful for the chance to hand o๏ฌ leadership of an organization I love to someone so well suited to lead it.”
“It is a tremendous honor to move into the Executive Director role here at FREED,” Sigmond said. “We have an extraordinary sta๏ฌ, and I am continually humbled by the work they do โ supporting people with disabilities to achieve their own goals and providing them with the resources they need to do so. I look forward to strengthening and expanding FREED’s connections with community partners as we continue to grow a truly accessible local network of resources and supports for people with disabilities, older adults, our families, and our caregivers.”
Kristin Ansell, Board Chair, says “On behalf of the FREED Board of Directors, we want to sincerely thank Carly for her continued dedication and resilience over the past 12 years at FREED. We are looking forward to this transition into a new phase of growth for FREED with Carl Sigmond in his new leadership position.”
Pacheco’s ๏ฌnal day at FREED will be August 31, 2026, and she has worked closely with Sigmond to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
About FREED Center for Independent Living: FREED is a Center for Independent Living serving Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties with a person-centered, peer-led model that supports people with disabilities in living independently and participating fully in their communities. FREED employs approximately 35 sta๏ฌ and operates on an annual budget of roughly $4 million. Learn more at FREED.org