Nick Filarelli

Nick Filarelli is a dedicated leader in the disability services field with nearly two decades of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). As Executive Director of Core Services of Northeast Tennessee, Nick is committed to advancing independence, self-direction, and innovation across all aspects of service delivery.

Nick began his career as a Direct Support Professional, working in a program that emphasized protection over autonomy. That early experience shaped his lifelong belief in the transformative power of person-centered services. Over the years, he has become a champion of enabling technology, guiding Core Services in its evolution into a technology-first organization focused on true independence for the people it supports.

A respected voice in the field, Nick has presented nationally on enabling technology and served as a consultant to provider agencies in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. In 2022, he testified before the Arkansas State Legislature to advocate for expanding enabling technology in the state’s Waiver program.

Before becoming Executive Director in 2025, Nick served as Program Director at Core Services. He is a proud graduate of the inaugural class of the ANCOR Leadership Academy (2020) and continues to be an active contributor to national conversations on innovation and inclusion in I/DD services.

Nick lives in Tennessee, where he remains deeply connected to community-based service transformation and leadership development across the region.

Areas of Expertise

• Enabling Technology Integration
• Program Innovation & Design
• Person-Centered Supports
• Organizational Leadership
• Workforce Development
• Systems Change & Advocacy