DEAN STOESZ
PAR Board Chair
Chief Executive Officer 
Indian Creek Foundation

Dean Stoesz began his post-academic career in service where he worked as a Pharmacy Manager at Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Dechapelles, Haiti for 2½ years through the Mennonite Central Committee. Upon his return to the US he worked in basic research positions as a research scientist. After several years in that field, he made the move to pharmaceutical development and manufacture in various roles of increasing responsibility for 18 years. Upon taking an early retirement from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson he began to look for a leadership role for an organization that was: not-for-profit, faith based and where he could have a positive impact. This led him to the social services field where he has been working for the past 9 years, most recently as CEO of Indian Creek Foundation in Souderton, PA. Dean has held his current role for the past 2½ years. Indian Creek is an organization that serves persons with Intellectual and Developmental needs in the areas of residential, community based and day services as well as behavioral health. Dean holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA and an MBA from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Dean finds board involvement rewarding as well and currently serves as a director on 5 boards. Dean has been married to Marcia for 41 years and he has two grown daughters. They currently reside in Akron, PA.

SISTER MARYALICE JACQUINOT
PAR Vice Chair
President and CEO
Saint Joseph's Center

Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton PA. She received a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts from Marywood University as well as a Masters of Science from Neumann University, Aston, PA. In July 2010, Sister Maryalice was appointed to serve as the President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Center, Scranton PA. A ministry founded in 1888, Saint Joseph’s offers residential and community-based programs for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities as well as maternity and family services. 

Previously, Sister Maryalice was the President and CEO of Friends of the Poor, an outreach ministry sponsored by the IHM Congregation. Friends of the Poor seeks to bring together those who have a desire to give with those in need of assistance. Sr. Maryalice also served in various roles at Marywood University, Marian Community Hospital and Maxis Health System in Carbondale, PA. 

ALAN BENSON
PAR Board Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
Lakeshore Community Services, Inc.

Alan Benson currently serves as President & Chief Executive Officer at Lakeshore Community Services, Inc. in Erie, PA. Alan brings 40 years of experience in the field of Intellectual Disabilities. Alan began his career as a substitute DSP at the Dr. Gertrude Barber Center, progressing to a live-in house manager. Alan then moved to Corry Counselling where he served as a Program Specialist. It was here, while developing services for consumers in the “Ruth L” program that he met Richard Ruedy and was hired to supervise Lakeshore’s “Ruth L” and Specialized Programs. Alan supervised Lakeshore’s expansion into Cameron, Elk & McKean, Clearfield & Jefferson and Warren counties more than doubling the agency in size. Alan then supervised Lakeshore’s expansion in to the Mental Health Services field through the “Erie Warren Project” where consumers were returned to their home communities with enhanced supports from Warren State Hospital. This resulted in additional Mental Health services programs for Lakeshore. Subsequently, Alan was then promoted to C.O.O. until he was selected to succeed C.E.O. Richard Ruedy in January of 2016. Additionally, Alan serves on the Board of Directors for Bethesda Lutheran Services Foundation, and Keystone Rural Health Consortia. Alan also served sixteen years in the United States Army Reserves in both enlisted and commissioned positions. In his free time Alan enjoys traveling, (trips with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Baxter) hunting, fishing, woodworking and photography.

TIM SOHOSKY
PAR Board Treasurer
Chief Operating Officer 
The ReDCo Group, Inc. and Raystown Developmental Services

Tim Sohosky is the Chief Operating Officer for The ReDCo Group, Inc. and Raystown Developmental Services, Inc. In this position, Tim is responsible for administrative oversight and support for all adult service lines. He is responsible for implementing and monitoring the budgets, quality of care, and ensuring maximum consumer and employee satisfaction. Tim has over fifteen years of experience in the human service field.

Tim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Penn State University.

JOHN BARBER
Immediate Past PAR Board Chair
President, Chief Executive Officer
Barber National Institute

John Barber, J.D. is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Villanova University Law School. He was admitted to practice law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Federal District Court of Western Pennsylvania. He practiced law for 20 years and founded the firm Barber, Ridge, Foulk and McLaughlin. He is a member of the Erie County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

John assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Barber National Institute in 1997 and became President and CEO in 2000. 

John has served on many corporate and civic boards and has accepted, on behalf of the Barber National Institute individuals and team, a number of honors and awards, including being appointed as a Knight of the Equistrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II. 

BETTY BOYD
Vice President of Program Operations and Development, IDD Services
Merakey

Betty has been employed by Merakey for 32 years and has held various positions which include Director of Training and Staff Development, Director of Residential Services, Director of Transitional Services for newly acquired companies and now Vice President for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Division in Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware Counties. In addition, she serves on various corporate committees including the Merakey Diversity and Inclusion Council as well as the Transitional Services Core Team. Betty developed the first Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) in 1993, leading the way for others to formulate similar Advisory Boards. The Philadelphia CAG is still in existence today. She also developed a Life Enrichment Training series to assist staff in developing skills and find resources to make their lives more meaningful and rewarding.

Betty is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, completing her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. She has also completed master’s level study in Holistic Health and Spiritual Care with the desire to work with individuals seeking to bring unity to the body, mind, and soul. To that end, she launched a new business in the Spring of 2017, Infinite Wisdom Healing and Wellness Center, to promote health and wellness in all aspects of people’s lives. She uses these principles in her everyday interactions with individuals and staff.

JUDY DOTZMAN
President and CEO
SPIN, Inc.

Judy launched her commitment to SPIN as a college intern over 40 years ago realizing her immediate connection to SPIN’s mission, culture and values. Judy began in the field in direct support as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Her passion for innovative, inclusive community resource development and collaboration has been a hallmark.  Judy holds a Master’s of Education from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science from the Pennsylvania State University. Judy has been supporting the growth and development of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism since her employment at SPIN in1986. Judy has dedicated herself to a career providing ensuring and leading quality, best practice services and supports.

Judy served as the Corporate Officer of Professional Development at SPIN leading SPIN to achieve nationally recognized success in the area of professional workforce development. In May 2011, Judy was promoted to Executive Director leading people first services and a Top Workplace. Judy was selected to succeed Kathy McHale and promoted to Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2023.

Judy served as President of the Philadelphia Alliance of Community Service Providers and currently serves as Past President. In addition, Judy is the Co-Chair of PAR’s Employment First Committee and has served on ANCOR’s Foundation Board, Workforce Professional Association, and Community College of Philadelphia, Arcadia University, Temple University and Holy Family University’s Advisory Councils.

Judy has invested in leadership at all levels while developing a quality workforce. She believes in the power of possibility and that partnering and investing in people can provide unique opportunities for everyone to reach their fullest potential and share their strengths with others.

RITA GARDNER
President and CEO
Melmark, Inc.

Rita M. Gardner is the President and CEO of Melmark, and leads operations and management of Melmark service divisions in New England, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. Prior to her appointment as President and CEO in 2015, Ms. Gardner served as Executive Director of Melmark New England, based in Andover, Massachusetts, which she co-founded in 1998. She also founded Melmark Carolinas in 2018. Ms. Gardner and Melmark New England were honored to be named on The Commonwealth Institute’s (TCI’s) list of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts from 2018 to #33 in 2021. Ms. Gardner was honored with the CBIZ National Women Transforming Business Financial Strength Award, as well as the Overall Winner Award, in 2022. 

She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA), a trained public health professional, and has devoted over 40 years of her professional career to the field of community-based services for children and adults with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries, severe challenging behaviors, and medical fragility.

Ms. Gardner is an accomplished and persistent legislative advocate. Her public policy work has positively impacted services for individuals diagnosed with autism and developmental disabilities throughout the United States. She advocates for professional behavior analysts, being one of the citizen writers of the Massachusetts Behavior Analyst licensing legislation. Ms. Gardner also serves on advisory committees with the Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM). She is a founding Board member of the National Council of Autism Providers (CASP) and is currently serving as vice chair. Ms. Gardner also serves on the Advisory Board of the Virginia Institute of Autism. She was on the Governor’s Autism Commission under two Governors in Massachusetts and is the past President of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private School (MAAPS). 

Ms. Gardner has authored numerous books, written book chapters and peer-reviewed articles for professional journals, and made a number of presentations on topics including women’s leadership, women in behavior analysis, program expansion, organizational behavior management, special education, adult services, board development, and more recently managing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading COVID-19 vaccine education program town halls at local, regional and national levels. She is considered an Organizational Behavior Management expert in applied human service settings.

Ms. Gardner earned her Master of Public Health degree from Boston University’s School of Public Health in the School of Medicine, majoring in Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Administration.

TINE HANSEN-TURTON
President and CEO
Woods Services

Tine Hansen-Turton was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Woods in October 2016. Ms. Hansen-Turton is an Executive with more than 25 years of experience in health and human services senior management, executive leadership and consulting. She has founded and led several nationally recognized organizations and trade associations. A proven results-oriented strategic leader, Ms. Hansen-Turton is known for being an effective organizational change agent and policy and health and human services systems reform advocate.

Ms. Hansen-Turton formerly served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Public Health Management Corporation, where she oversaw and led corporate strategy, operations, business development and M&A. Additionally, Ms. Hansen-Turton served as CEO of the National Nurse-led Care Consortium, a non-profit organization supporting the growth and development of over 500 nurse-managed and school health clinics, serving more than 5 million vulnerable people across the country in urban and rural locations. For the past two decades she has also been instrumental in positioning Nurse Practitioners as primary health care providers globally. Ms. Hansen-Turton still serves as the founding Executive Administrator for the Convenient Care Association (CCA), the national trade association of over 2200 private-sector retail clinic industry, serving 50 million people with basic health care services across the country. Ms. Hansen-Turton also teaches public and social innovations, leading nonprofits, health policy and the social innovations lab at University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government's School of Social Policy and School of Nursing.

G. N. JANES
Executive Director
Valley Community Services

G. N. Janes has been the Executive Director of Valley Community Services since 2015. Prior to his current posting, he held various positions as a Regional Operations Director, Compliance Officer and Direct Support Professional.   

JEANNE MEIKRANTZ
Chief Executive Officer
The Arc of Chester County

Jeanne Meikrantz has been serving as the CEO for The Arc of Chester County for the last 10 years. In her role of CEO she is responsible for overall management and operations of the organization that serves individuals with disabilities from birth through the lifespan. The Arc of Chester County provides services and supports to over 3,000 people a year and has an annual budget of over 23 million dollars.

A graduate of Kutztown University Jeanne has over four decades of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families and those who love and care for them. Her passion for social justice and equal rights began during her time volunteering at Pennhurst in 1978. After graduation Jeanne began working as a direct support professional, at Ken Crest Services in 1982. Jeanne has committed her life to serving others in whatever capacity she has been needed by working in multiple services settings and in various positions such as advocacy, management, administration, policy and operations in both the non-profit sector and in government. Jeanne has served on a number of boards, committee’s and councils including the MAX Association Board, The Pennsylvania Conference of Executives of The Arc, and most recently the Co-Chair of PAR’s In Home & Community Support Committee just to name a few.

GREGORY MILLER
President & Chief Executive Officer
Penn-Mar Human Services

Gregory T. Miller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Penn-Mar Human Services and also serves as the CEO of the Penn-Mar Foundation. As the organizational leader since 2012, he has direct responsibility for the programmatic, financial, and strategic operations of Penn-Mar, including Board development. Since joining the organization in 1988, he has served in various leadership roles, most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree from McDaniel College. He earned a Certificate for Performance Measurement for Management of NPOs from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and a Certificate for Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management from Harvard Business School. On three separate occasions, Greg has addressed the International Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil on leadership development and employment and service models for people with disabilities.

MARGARET ROTHENBERGER
President and CEO
Partners for Quality, Inc.

Margaret "Maggie" Rothenberger joined Partners For Quality in October 2019, bringing with her more than 20 years of human services industry experience. Throughout her career, Maggie has developed and implemented innovative programs that became statewide models for home-based, supported living, and lifesharing residential services. She is a graduate of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware and was awarded the Montgomery County Office of Developmental Disabilities Management Staff Award. She has chaired two statewide lifesharing conferences, served as the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability (PAR) Liaison for Lifesharing to the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), completed training for ODP licensers, and served on several panels for PAR conferences.  Maggie participates on the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) Residential Steering Committee and various PAR committees. Maggie holds a BS in Administration of Justice from Penn State.

ROBERT STACK
President and CEO
Community Options, Inc. 

Robert Stack has been a national leader in the continuing struggle to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of the first in the nation to implement a national nonprofit implementing an alternative to the warehousing of the disabled in large institutions.

Stack was one of the first to pioneer the concept of community-based housing programs and work force training and development.  He actively challenged public policy and antiquated clinical practices that inhibited opportunities for self-efficacy and individual growth.

As a young civil servant in 1980 at the then entitled New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, he opened the first two state-operated group homes on the grounds of Long Island's Suffolk Developmental Center.  As Deputy Director at the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities in 1988, he led the efforts to migrate individuals out of high-density institutions.

His vision realized changes years before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and a decade before the Olmstead decision by the Supreme Court directed states toward this policy change. Stack’s dedication toward the disabled community led to the first closure of a large developmental institution in New Jersey.

Following a decade of efforts to make a change as an insider within the human services divisions in two different states, Stack realized that there needed to be a more proactive approach outside of government to effect a reform.  In 1989, he founded Community Options, a non-profit organization built on the belief that all people with disabilities deserve to live a life of dignity and realize all opportunities available according to the abilities of each individual. This includes the realization of employment opportunities, which play a critical role in self-efficacy, personal growth and quality of life.

SUE STEEGE
President and CEO
Access Services 

Sue Steege began her work in the field of developmental disabilities in 1981 while completing her Bachelor’s in Social Work at Eastern University. After graduation, she and her family moved to the Boston area where she worked as a social worker in a day care center for children at risk. After returning to the Philadelphia area, she continued working in the field of developmental disabilities until choosing to stay home to raise and be available to her three children. During that time, she worked as a bookkeeper for SFG Wealth Planning Services and operated a successful business designing and creating window treatments. Realizing that her passion was serving others, she returned to social work and has served at Access Services since 2002 in LifeSharing, as Regional Vice President to the Lehigh Valley, as Senior Vice President & COO, and now as CEO.

Sue completed a certification in non-profit management in 2014 and received her master’s degree from Cairn University in Organizational Leadership in 2019. As a leader, Sue is committed to quality and excellence of services, striving to assure that individuals with special needs live fulfilling lives in their communities. She serves on the board of directors at NorthCare a Women’s Clinic in Landsdale, PA. Sue enjoys spending time with her husband Chuck as well as their three grown children and their families, especially the grandchildren.

KATHRYN SUSANO-MORRIS
President and CEO
Fayette Resources 

GREGORY WELLEMS
Vice President, Operations
Keystone Human Services

Greg Wellems serves as the Vice President of Operations for Keystone Human Services, with oversight over Intellectual Disability Services in Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as Partnerships for People in New Jersey.

He began his career in 1988 as a Direct Support Professional. Since joining KHS, he has championed the growth of community services, doubling the number of people receiving supports through Supported Employment and Supported Living. He is also a strong advocate for incorporating technology into human services and has led the develop of the first smart home models for supporting people with cognitive disabilities.

Greg is currently a member of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) technology task force and residential strategic think group. In addition, Greg co-chairs the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources (PAR) alternative payment committee and represents Pennsylvania on ANCOR’s Board of representatives.

Before joining KHS, Greg worked as the Chief Operating Officer for Imagine!, a Colorado-based service provider. He has been on the Board of Directors for the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), the Life Enrichment Trust, and the Longmont Symphony Orchestra.