Housing Committee

Vice President of Program Operations and Development, IDD Services
Merakey
[email protected]

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.

PAR Board Secretary
CEO, Lakeshore Community Services, Inc.
[email protected]

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.