RCI, Inc. is excited to announce its appointment of a Chief Executive Officer. J. Christopher “Chris” Heagarty is an attorney and seasoned manager of not-for-profit organizations who has successfully guided start-up and emerging non-profits to positions of growth and stability, with professional accomplishments in areas of organizational improvement, innovation, fundraising and development, communications and marketing, and
building strong community presence and support. His past organizational leadership has also included responsibilities for government relations and advocacy, public policy research and development, media production and copy writing, and staff supervision and management.

Chris is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is state-certified as a superior court mediator. His past professional focus has been in areas of administrative law (including professional ethics and licensing issues), election law, judicial administration, mediation and dispute resolution services. He has published several articles on judicial ethics, campaign speech, and election law and has planned, organized, and presented at numerous nationwide symposia and conferences on these topics.

In addition to his roles in non-profit leadership and advocacy, Chris also served as Executive Director and Commission Counsel for the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, managing the organization through a period of transition and change in its regulatory authority. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2009-2010 and currently serves
on the Wake County Board of Education.

Chris graduated from NC State University and the NC Central School of Law and is active with several volunteer and professional associations.

We are pleased that Chris has joined RCI and look forward to his contributions for our growth and success! We also want to acknowledge that this important investment in RCI’s future would not have been possible without the continued support of JAMS Foundation and the AAA-ICDR
Foundation.