Active Professional Affiliations

• New York State Occupational Therapy Association
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
• Consortium of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educators

Related/Past Work Experience

Managing Director, Restoration Society, Inc., Buffalo, NY
Restoration Society, Inc. (RSI)  is a peer operated community mental health agency offering recovery-based mental health services in Western New York. Responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning:

• Assist with the development and oversight of strategic planning (Board of Directors and Agency).  
• Assist in planning and inspiring set priorities which will determine the focus of energy and resources.
• Strengthen operations, ensure employees and other stakeholders are working toward a common goal, establish agreement around intended outcomes, assess and adjust the direction in response to a changing environment.

Special Projects:

• Organize, lead, and help execute company projects.
• Identify and develop innovative opportunities and new collaborations.  
• Keeps the pulse on upcoming trends in the field and ensures the agency is well positioned relative to the environment. 
• Oversee diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

Quality Assurance:

• Orient and train workforce throughout the organization.
• Support directors, managers and middle managers to achieve outcomes.
• Develop and implement methods to solicit customer and employee feedback regarding satisfaction.  Work with customer and staff teams to implement corrective methods.
• Develop and implement methods to evaluate agency and employee compliance with procedures and policies to ensure the agency maintains the highest level of integrity and quality in service delivery and to minimize risk and liability.

Program Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Bryant & Stratton College. 2014-2022. 
Founding Director of accredited associate degree OTA Program. Responsibilities include:

• Developed program design, philosophy, and curricula.
• Recruited, hired, trained, and supervised faculty.
• Instructed and supported faculty in course design and effective use of learning management systems.
• Wrote program policies.
• Recruited, admitted, and supported qualified students.​
• Represented the institution and program within the community.

• Managed, monitored, and reported compliance to Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and NYS Department of Education.
• Engaged in scholarship, presented at conferences.
• Facilitating  continual program growth and quality improvement

Teaching responsibilities included:

• OTAP-101 Introduction to OT
  
• OTAP-120 Human Occupations
  
• OTAP-135 Level I Fieldwork

• OTAP-201 Psychosocial Interventions
• OTAP-250 Adaptive Interventions
• OTAP-252 Professional Issues in OT 

Professor Emeritus, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Erie Community College, OTA Program. 1996 - 2014.
Professor and academic fieldwork coordinator for accredited occupational therapy assistant program.

• Liaised with hospitals, clinics, schools, and community programs to develop and sustain high quality experiential fieldwork placements for all students. 
• Designed and taught courses focusing on mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, psychology, assistive technology, and occupational therapy interventions. 
• Supported student retention and success through strength-based, person-centered student advisement.
• Initiated Western New York OT Fieldwork Consortium (www.OTfieldwork.net), a strategic group of regional OT academic programs intended to increase collaboration and minimize competition among academic programs competing for clinical fieldwork sites.​

Teaching responsibilities included:

• OT 101      Introduction to OT
• OT-102      Occupational Performance
• OT 105      OT Computer Applications
• OT 120      Human Occupations
• OT 130      OT Interventions

• OT 140      Professional Issues
  
• OT 150      Therapeutic Use of Self
  
• OT 200      Psychosocial Rehabilitation
  
• OT 219      Disabilities of Development and Aging
  

Additional responsibilities included:

• Academic Fieldwork Coordinator:

         -  OT 141      Level IA - Research in Community Practice
         -  OT 239      Level IIA Clinical Fieldwork- Psychosocial, School-Based, Developmental Disabilities, Pediatric
         -  OT 251      Level IIB Clinical Fieldwork- Physical Disabilities settings

• Member College Technology Committee
• Member College Mental Health Task Force
• Academic Adviser
• Faculty Chair of Department Appointments Committee
• Representing the college on various external committees and boards

Consultant. Baker Victory Services. 2011-2018.

• Consult in development of web-based transition intervention services.
• Train and support staff in application of person-centered planning and psychiatric rehabilitation readiness assessment and development.
• Assist in development of school computer accessibility plan.

Consultant. Rutgers State University of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. 2011.

• Advised and evaluated proposed program for Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
• Conducted on-site review of facilities, faculty, and clinical fieldwork sites. Reviewed program design and curricula. Interviewed key stakeholders (faculty, administrators, staff, clinical affiliates, funders)
• Submitted final evaluation with recommendations for approval of new academic degree program.

Research Analyst. University at Buffalo Center for Assistive Technology. 2002-2003.

• Assisted in the development of assessment instruments for a study on assistive technology, under the direction of Dr. James Lenker, Ph.D, OTR/L, ATP.
• Conducted semi-structured interviews with subjects.
• Contributed to data compilation and analysis.

Consultant/Placement Specialist. Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). 1996-1999.

•  Developed and implemented an assessment tool used to determine re-employment readiness of individuals with disabilities.
•  Provided individualized job placement services to difficult-to-place individuals.

Program Supervisor. Restoration Society, Incorporated. 1987-1996.

• Provided rehabilitation, case management and crisis intervention to a culturally diverse population of persons experiencing psychiatric disabilities, substance abuse, homelessness, and poverty.

• Hired, trained, evaluated and supervised staff.
• Developed intake procedures, performed client intakes, maintained client records.
• Conducted presentations at workshops, conferences, and classes locally and regionally.
• Designed and implemented a rehabilitation readiness assessment tool used in a supported employment program for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
• Designed and implemented the Personal Development Program, which offers consumers structure, guidance, and support in goal setting activities, self-awareness, and environmental-awareness.
• Contributed to development of long-range and short-range agency goals and plans in conjunction with agency management/administration team.

Skills Training Specialist. Horizon Human Services, Boulevard Day Treatment Program. 1986-1987.

• Provided individual advisement and treatment planning among persons with psychiatric disabilities.
• Facilitated group and individual instruction in social and activities of daily living skills.
• Developed a horticulture therapy program that focused on decision-making, social skills, and leisure skills.
• Created a consumer-driven newsletter that focused on environmental awareness, self-awareness, and vocational skills.
• Established a consumer-run small business that manufactured and marketed custom items within the agency, focusing on vocational skills and awareness.

Rehabilitation Specialist. Restoration Society, Incorporated. 1984-1986.

• Provided direct service to persons with severe and persistent mental illness in a clubhouse setting.
• Developed and managed a horticulture training program and consumer-operated business projects.
• Assisted mental health consumers in publishing a monthly consumer-driven newsletter.

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