Comings & Goings: October 2021
by Jerri McCandless
Comings & Goings is an ongoing feature of Connections in which we highlight exciting changes happening at ANCOR member agencies and state associations.
Cedar Lake (Louisville, KY)
Chris Stevenson, CEO of Cedar Lake for ten years, recently left that organization to pursue a new journey. He is currently consulting, with his first gig as the Interim CEO of DaySpring of Louisville, also an ANCOR member. Chris is also booked as a keynote speaker for multiple conferences, as he had always wanted to pursue motivational speaking primarily on how to build a dynamic employee culture. Chris is a long-time volunteer with ANCOR, serving as President of the ANCOR Foundation Board of Directors and Foundation liaison to the ANCOR Board of Directors. He co-chaired the ANCOR Foundation’s successful Included. Supported. Empowered. campaign and will continue on the ANCOR Foundation as its President until his term expires at the end of 2021.
Cassandra Tembo, Tembo Servant Leaders, LLC, was hired by Cedar Lake’s Board of Directors as Interim CEO. Cassandra previously worked at Cedar Lake as Chief Administrative Officer for six years, overseeing finance, human resources and risk management.
Covenant Ability Network (Oak Forest, IL)
Nicolette Lahmen, Executive Director, recently left the organization. Dave Boggs is now the current Executive Director.
Chrysalis (Provo, UT)
Marc Christensen (left) has retired as of CEO of Chrysalis as of October 1. He will now have more time to get lost in the mountains with his with his wife, four children, two dogs and his Jeep! He led the organization for over 25 years. Marc began working as a direct support professional in 1992 as a summer job, and loved it so much that he never left the field of supporting people. He was active in ANCOR, serving on the Board of Representatives.
Troy Friden (right) has taken over as Chrysalis’ CEO as of October 1. Troy began working as a direct support professional there in 2002. He worked in numerous capacities in the Northern Utah and Northern Nevada programs over the years. Troy became COO at Chrysalis in 2018.
Four Oaks Family & Children Services (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Ann Gruenewald (left), President & CEO of Four Oaks, has retired. She was at the agency for 40 years, starting as a family therapist. Ann became President & CEO in 2014.
Mary Beth O’Neill (right) was named to succeed Ann as of October 4. Mary Beth previously worked for approximately three years at Mosaic in Omaha, NE, as Vice President of Operations. She was responsible for residential and community-based services with 1,100 employees and a school serving children with Autism. Mary Beth was on the ANCOR Board of Representatives during a portion of that time. Prior to Mosaic, she was CEO at Key Human Services in Wethersfield, CT.
New England Village (Pembroke, MA)
Michael Rodriguez (left), CEO at New England Village, left the agency in August and relocated to the Washington, DC, area to become the CEO of St. Coletta’s of Greater Washington (more on that below).
Stephanie Costa (right) was named by the Board of Directors as CEO as of September 15. She joined New England Village in January 2019 as its first COO. At that time, she had 18 years of combined leadership experience in both public health and human services. New England Village’s Board Chair said of Stephanie’s appointment, “We are very fortunate to have such a competent, committed and respected professional to lead New England Village though all the [upcoming] opportunities.”
Opportunity House (Sycamore, IL)
Bob Shipman (left) will retire after 29 years of service, including the last 15 years as Executive Director.
Tom Matya (right) was named as Executive Director as of September 7, 2021. He joined the agency from Zea Mays Holdings, LLC, where he was Vice President of Development. He served on the boards of several local nonprofits, including Opportunity House, as a board member and past board chair.
St. Coletta’s of Greater Washington (Washington, DC)
Michael Rodriguez was named as CEO as of September 7. St. Coletta’s is a nonsectarian agency serving 500 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the metropolitan DC area. Michael was previously President & CEO of New England Village in Southeastern Massachusetts. Michael has been a leader in nonprofits for the past 30 years. Prior to joining New England Village, he was the President & CEO of Thrive Support & Advocacy and CEO of Triangle.
St. Coletta’s previous CEO, Sharon B. Raimo, retired in 2020 after 28 years in that position.
Have news about retirements, appointments, celebrations, mergers, acquisitions and more? Email items for Comings & Goings to Jerri McCandless at [email protected].