COEUR d'ALENE - Russ Doumas thought he was headed into a law career until jobs helping those with disabilities got hold of him.

He couldn't let go of such work.

"It's been a great career," said Doumas, who will retire on June 27 after nine years as CEO of the private Coeur d'Alene nonprofit Tesh, Inc., which provides opportunities to those with disabilities.

"I feel extremely fortunate to have fallen into this career path. It found me."

Doumas, 66, said he fell in love with a summer job that helped adults with disabilities when he was going to law school.

"I recognized people with disabilities as one of the most disenfranchised groups in the community," he said. "They want to work, have friends and family and be a part of the community. A big part of the work for me has been doing whatever I can to make sure these people have rights that are recognized and respected."

Tesh has served more than 8,000 children and adults with disabilities since 1976. Doumas said he's proud of the strides the nonprofit has made under his leadership.

"We're placing people today in the community with employment that 10 years ago wouldn't have been possible," he said. "We recognize the true potential of people."

Doumas said one young man, whom Doumas declined to name for privacy reasons, was involved in an auto crash in which his father was killed. The young man suffered a traumatic brain injury.

"When he came to us, he didn't talk or communicate," Doumas said. "But he continually made progress and now he's working in the community, smiles and has self-confidence."

Doumas said he was touched about five years ago when more than 75 businesses and individuals donated their labor and money to do a complete remodel of the Tesh campus.

"That made a tremendous difference in the way staff and clients feel about the setting they come to every day," he said.

Tesh has also expanded the services it provides, including with reading and computer literacy classes.

"Learning is a lifetime activity whether or not you have a disability," Doumas said.

MaryBeth Ranum, Tesh director of operations, calls Doumas a "true big-picture thinker." He organized the Project Search program, involving collaboration between Kootenai Health, the Coeur d'Alene School District and Tesh. It supports young adults who are making the transition from high school to community employment.

"He helped Tesh reach goals we weren't sure were possible," Ranum said.

Doumas said the next steps will be to integrate programs and services into the community more.

"We're going to raise the bar and find more new and creative ways to do that," he said. "I'd love to see us to be able to offer classes on the North Idaho College campus."

Doumas said because government funding for nonprofits continues to shrink, Tesh, like many other nonprofits, will rely more heavily on fundraising to make ends meet. Its golf tournament at Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course is June 13. The "Wild, Wild Tesh Hoedown" dinner and auction is July 12 at Settler's Creek outside Coeur d'Alene.

"It's been a great partnership with the community," Doumas said. "Without donations and willing employers, we couldn't fulfill our mission."

Doumas said he'll still live in Coeur d'Alene during his retirement, but he also plans to visit family in France and Greece.

"My experience at Tesh has been very rewarding," he said. "I've loved my work. The staff has been great, the community has been great and I've bonded with the clients."

Tesh fundraisers planned

• Tesh Golf Tournament, Friday, June 13, Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course. Shotgun start at noon, barbecue afterward. Contests for long drive, putting and hole-in-one; raffle prizes. Registration $75 per person or $300 per team. To register, call Rich Dussell at 691-5633 or Jeannette Davidson at 215-4722.

• The Wild, Wild Tesh Hoedown, Saturday, July 12, 5-10 p.m., at Settler's Creek, 5803 W. Riverview Drive, Coeur d'Alene. Cost $75 per person for gourmet country-style dinner, beer and wine included. Enjoy live and silent auctions, a horseshoe contest, music and carriage rides. Ticket info: 765-5105, events@teshinc.com.