ANCOR News - 12.04.17

Comings and Goings

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SEFCU Insurance Agency to Transfer Commercial Insurance to Rose & Kiernan, Albany, NY SEFCU Insurance Agency, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEFCU with offices in Schenectady, Cobleskill, Cooperstown, and Schoharie, will transfer its commercial property/casualty and benefits practices to Rose & Kiernan, Inc., the area’s largest insurance brokerage firm, headquartered in East Greenbush, NY. Read the full press release here.

ARRM, St. Paul, MN Sue Schettle was selected as CEO of ARRM, effective November 6. ARRM is an ANCOR member association representing more than 200 direct care providers and supporting service providers for people with disabilities. Sue came to ARRM after more than 30 year career in the health care industry, most recently as the CEO of the Twin Cities Medical Society, a membership association representing more than 4,000 physicians.  

“I’m honored to take on this role to help ensure Minnesota’s incredible home and community-based service providers continue to be able to support people’s needs and help achieve their goals,” said Schettle. “I know firsthand the benefit these organizations and the direct care staff they employ have on the people they support and their communities, and I look forward to driving forward public policy and service innovations that both ensure the stability of this industry and open up new options and opportunities for people with disabilities in Minnesota.”

“Sue’s reputation and track record for spearheading paradigm-shifting initiatives as an industry leader will be a great asset for our members, the people we support and the State of Minnesota as a whole,” said John Estrem, ARRM board president and CEO of Hammer Residences, Inc., an ARRM member. “ARRM members have the passion, experience and ingenuity to support the inclusive rights and opportunity for people with disabilities and we are excited to have a leader at the helm of the association who shares our vision.”

 

Oregon Resource Association, Salem, OR Chris Burnett, Executive Director, is leaving ORA as of December 21 after being at the helm for four years. Prior to leading ORA, Chris was Director of Strategic Policy Implementation at IARF, another ANCOR member association located in Illinois. Chris has always been active in ANCOR’s State Association Executives Forum. Chris is also the current Board President for the National Association of Direct Support Professionals. She will begin a year-long training as an Equus Coach – a life coach using horses as  biofeedback tools. She hopes to open her own practice after the training.

Lois Gibson has been selected to lead ORA as the incoming Executive Director. Lois is a native Oregonian and has worked  for the past 26 years as a provider and advocate on behalf of people with I/DD in Portland, Oregon.

 

NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, Albany NY Long time ANCOR State Association Member, New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA) and the New York State Rehabilitation Agency have merged effective December 1 to form the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (New York Alliance). They have merged to strengthen their voice on advocacy and enhance public policy and technical assistance efforts. The two associations represented the interests of disability providers for a total of 80 years. They will serve more than 200 provider agencies. Ann Hardiman is the President and CEO of the NY Alliance. (Ann was formally CEO of NYSACRA) and Michael Seereiter is Executive Vice President & COO (Michael was formally President/CEO of NY State Rehabilitation Association). Take a moment and look at their fun “launch” video below:

 

St. John’s Community Services, Washington, DC Alan Thornton has been appointed as the incoming President and CEO of St. John’s effective November 27. He assumes the position from interim executive director, Kathryn Stephens, who succeeded Roger Deshaies after his tenure concluded in late 2016. In his current role at the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse, Alan provides leadership and strategic direction for a multi-regional non-profit, overseeing 350 staff and a budget of $20 million with the mission of ending homelessness in New York.

Alan commented about his move to St. John’s, “I am excited and honored to be joining the team at St. John’s Community Services with its incredible legacy of service to the community, providing caring and innovative opportunities for the inspiring people it serves. I look forward to building on the storied 150-year history of advocacy and inclusion, and with the help of all our stakeholders, discovering new ways to achieve our mission.”

 

The Arc of Montgomery County, Rockville, MD The agency announced that Chrissy Shawver (left) has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer and Daria Cervantes (right) has been appointed Interim Chief Operating Office as of October 31. They bring years of experience to benefit The Arc Montgomery County. Chrissy has been with The Arc since 1990, most recently as Director of Children and Youth Services. Daria has worked for the Arc’s Vocational and Day Services division since 1989 when she was hired as a DSP and was appointed Director in 2009.

 

The Arc New York, Latham, NY Mark van Voorst was hired as Executive Director effective November 27. The Arc New York is the largest nonprofit organization in New York State serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They support 60,000 individuals, employ 30,000 people, has more than 100,000 members and 52 Chapters across the state.  Mark had devoted the first 23 years of his career to the Arc, in various operational management levels in the Jefferson and Fulton County Chapters. For the past 16 years, he has served as CEO at Lifespire, a NY City nonprofit dedicated to supporting New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.