John Martin has spent the entirety of his working career in the field of Developmental Disabilities. His first 32 years were in the private sector as a special education teacher, a live-in-house parent in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities, a direct support worker in a facility for medically complex children, a director of residential services for a Pennsylvania agency, an executive director of a large diverse not-for-profit Ohio agency, and President of a software/financial services company. For the last 12 years of his career John moved to the public sector becoming director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. There he oversaw a three billion dollar program while reporting to two different governors. Among other accomplishments, Ohio became a national leader in the use of technology with persons with Disabilities by becoming the first state in the nation to be a Technology First state.

During his career John served on numerous Boards including the Mennonite Health Services Board, the Ohio Provider Resource Association Board, and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services Board. On the last two Boards he served on the Executive Committee and as President.

John holds degrees from Illinois State University and Temple University. He and his wife Sue are the parents of three children, one of whom has significant disabilities.