Meet Our Executive Director

Welcome! My name is Chris Wells, and it is a pleasure to serve the citizens of Georgia as the fourth Executive Director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA). GVRA operates numerous programs that share a primary goal - to help individuals with disabilities achieve independence and sustainable employment.  The agency’s largest service is the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. This program consists of integrated and inter-dependent services that have one mission: to provide individualized vocational rehabilitation counseling, employment skills development services that lead to competitive integrated employment. Three areas under the VR umbrella includes client services, residential services, and the Business Enterprise Program). These services receive a federal allocation that must be matched by state contributions and requires a goal of employment in determining eligible services. The second largest program is the Disability Adjudication Services (DAS), which is federally funded partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA), which assists Georgians by making social security determinations for potentially eligible applicants. The smallest, but most unique program to the state is the Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB). This program offers opportunities in manufacturing for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  

Established in 2012 by House Bill 1146, the agency operates under the oversight of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services (GVRS) Board and is administratively attached to the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Agency also partners with the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) in providing services under VR. The Executive Director chairs the Employment First Council when exploring policy initiatives designed to assist local, state, federal, and private stakeholders in employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.  At GVRA, we hope our values of transparency, empowerment, accountability, courteousness, and honesty (TEACH) shine through in everything we do to provide Georgians with the highest quality service. 

Thank you for visiting our website. 

More about Chris: 

Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Chris, a resident of Smyrna, executive director of the GVRA in June 2020. 

Prior to his appointment, Chris served as the Division Director of the Physical and Economic Development Division at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. 

He has been a leader in budget analysis for the Georgia Department of Labor and the South Carolina Executive Budget Office. 

He currently serves as a member of Georgia’s Employee Benefit Plan Council and State Workforce Development Board. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a graduate of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019. 

Wells earned degrees in Political Science and Mathematics from Francis Marion University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Augusta University. 

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Shameka, and their dog in Cobb County.