2020: A year of reflection & growth
While this past year has presented enormous challenges, it has also presented opportunities for growth.
Message from Joe Martz, CEO
While this past year has presented enormous challenges, it has also presented opportunities for reflection and growth. We, like so many of you, faced our fair share of challenges but learned some valuable lessons. Through it all, I am proud to report that Merakey remains healthy and eager to meet the changing needs of the individuals and communities we serve.
Over the past eight months, Merakey staff has pulled together in ways we previously thought unimaginable. Last winter, shortly before the pandemic arrived in the U.S., we assembled a COVID-19 response team. Our Information Technology department (IT) quickly began building new data dashboards and our Operations staff developed new processes for monitoring COVID-19 testing and case related data. Within days, our organization had new structures and systems in place to track the impact of the virus on the communities we serve and to help our managers drive their decision-making process.
Without missing a beat, Merakey frontline workers “masked-up” and continued providing critical in-person care at our community homes and campuses. Our educators began delivering Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy virtually; our therapists, case managers, and psychiatrists met with clients over Zoom; and our IT professionals worked tirelessly to meet our constantly evolving technology needs. Administrative staff focused all their energy on supporting their colleagues in the field who were providing front-line services, and those who typically work in offices, took on new responsibilities overnight, learning how to manage their work and teams remotely - often while homeschooling children.
While this year required new commitments from all of us, we owe our deepest debt of gratitude to the skilled and dedicated Direct Support Professionals who remain the backbone of our organization. Their willingness to continue serving the most vulnerable members of our communities at a time of such incredible uncertainty and risk is beyond humbling.
The tragic events of the summer spotlighted the racial injustice and systemic inequality prevalent in our communities and experienced by so many in our Merakey family. As a behavioral health, developmental services, and education provider to many of the most underserved communities in the nation, we believe it is our responsibility to fight systems of oppression wherever they exist.
Therefore, we deepened our resolve to combatting inequalities within our organization and within the communities we serve. We are committed to this work, not only because it is our moral responsibility, but because we know that a more inclusive organization that focuses on equity and justice is a more effective and innovative organization.
Since June, we’ve hosted an organization-wide Town Hall focused on racial justice; launched a Supplier Diversity program that will increase our support of businesses owned by historically marginalized groups; instituted a new recruiting policy to help increase diversity at the Executive Level; expanded our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Council; and began designing a mentoring program focused on developing emerging leaders from underrepresented groups.
This year also brought the conclusion of our four-year strategic planning period and the launch of a new strategic plan. As we developed our new plan, we took time to celebrate our many successes from the last planning cycle, including expanding services and opening up business in five new states (Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, California, and Ohio); improving how we welcome and orient new staff; changing our name and building a unified culture and identity; growing the next generation of leaders and donors via our Foundation Junior Board; developing innovative new partnerships that allow us to provide job training services to people in recovery, foster care to children with IDD, and medically tailored meals to people with serious mental illness and diabetes; and so much more.
- Become an employer of choice
- Grow and diversify services
- Optimize resources
- Provide the highest quality services
- Improve diversity, equity, and inclusion
We also have a new vision and purpose statement, both of which will be important sources of guidance and inspiration in the years to come. Our new vision is to be a nationally recognized provider of the highest quality health and human services. Our purpose is to always put our heart and soul into exceptional care.
In the coming months, you’ll see and hear much more about our plan and the progress we’re making toward accomplishing our shared goals.
I am honored to stand alongside my colleagues; an incredibly passionate and committed team of nearly 10,000 heroes. On their behalf, I want to thank you for your support and partnership this year and always.
Sincerely,
This year brought the conclusion of our four-year strategic planning period and the launch of a new strategic plan.
Thinking about a Stronger Tomorrow
Our Leadership continues to guide and support the organization through these challenging times.
Meet the Leadership Team
Executive Team
Joseph S. Martz, Chief Executive Officer
Ted Dallas, President and Chief Operating Officer
Derrick Yacovelli, Chief Financial Officer
Leah Pason, Chief Strategy Officer
Jill Garfinkle Weitz, Esq., General Counsel
Tom Morgan, Chief Information Officer
Brandon Fisher, Senior Vice President of Quality and Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer
Terrence McNelis, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, IDD Services
Rebecca Haley, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Rebecca Mann, Senior Vice President of Children and Family Services
Tinnesia Snyder, Senior Vice President of Adult Behavioral Health Services
Michael Barton, Senior Advisor to the CEO
Trish Fawver, Corporate Vice President of Finance
Trish Pisauro, Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Foundation
Simon Whang, Corporate Vice President and Controller
Rich Yanoski, Corporate Vice President of Business Development
Laura Murray, DO, DABAM, Executive Medical Director and Vice President of Medical Affairs
Betty Boyd, Vice President of Program Operations and Development, IDD Services
Suzanne Campbell, Vice President for Administration, Adult Behavioral Health Services
Beth Caraccio, Vice President, IDD Organizational Development
Malcolm Musgrove, Vice President of Adult Behavioral Health for Southeastern PA
Sherri Portnoy, Vice President of Administrative and Professional Services, IDD Services
Board of Directors
Robert N.C. Nix III, Esq., Chairman, Merakey
President, Pleasant News, Inc.
Joseph S. Martz, Chief Executive Officer, Merakey
Howard Brownstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Brownstein Corporation
John J. Egan, Jr., Chairman, Egan Associates, LLC
Tami Fratis, Chief Executive Officer, IPR International
Philip E. Hughes, Jr., CPA, Vice Chairman, Keystone Industries
Carol J. Johnson, Independent Director
Maria Frizelle Roberts, Owner, MFR Consultants
Gregory S. Rost, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, University of Pennsylvania
Thomas Saporito, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, RHR International
David A. Volpe, CFA Managing Director, Emerald Advisors and Consultants, Inc.
The Honorable Kelly C. Wall, Judge, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
The Honorable M. Joseph Rocks, Chairman Emeritus
Foundation Board of Directors
Michael J. Mitchell, CPA, CPCU, Chairman, Merakey Foundation Board of Directors; Vice Chairman, The Graham Company
Joseph S. Martz Chief Executive Officer, Merakey
The Honorable M. Joseph Rocks, Chairman Emeritus, Merakey Board of Directors
Joseph E. Besecker, Founder, Chairman, President and CEO, Emerald Asset Management
Malik Brown, MBA, Executive Director, Graduate! Philadelphia
Christopher Dunton, Chief Executive Officer, Lintons Managed Services
John G. Frisch, Owner and President, Higher Information Group
Liz Greco-Rocks, Education Advocate
Christopher M. Harvey, J.D., LL.M, CPA, Managing Member, Harvey Ballard & Bornstein, LLC
Philip E. Hughes, Jr., J.D., CPA, Vice Chairman, Keystone Industries
Kevin B. Kelly, Managing Partner, Jason Roberts, LLC
John Krol, CFP, Partner, Legacy Advisors, LLC
Jerome Mauro, Managing Director, Wilmington Trust
Shola Oguntunde, Partner Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, LLP
Ray Pennacchia, Senior Vice President, NovaCare Rehabilitation
Dorothy Pollon, M.B.A., J.D., Special Needs Child Advocate
Merakey Foundation Junior Board of Directors
This year’s Junior Board expanded to include members from various cities and states in which Merakey provides services to ensure national representation.
California:
Alisa Dean
Louisiana:
Grace Foil
Rahul Mathur
Mairin Hendrix
Pennsylvania:
Tapasysa Das
Rob Flom
Dennis Massott
Curran McKenna
Minu Naik
Iqra Shafique
Roma Sawchyn
Josh Vigderman
Matthew Close
Mike Jensen
Dianna Sands
Ian Mitchell
Dana Boyer
Meagan Bucciarelli
Colby Jones
Liz Humphrey
Julianne Nerone
Stephan Strunk
Ericka Zeranski
Tennessee:
Julie Hochman
COVID-19 Response Team
In early 2020, Merakey launched a COVID-19 Response Team to ensure a coordinated, collaborative, and companywide approach is taken on decisions made about the effects of the pandemic at Merakey. Led by our President and Chief Operating Officer Ted Dallas, Chief Financial Officer Derrick Yacovelli, General Counsel Jill Weitz, Esq., and Laura Murray, DO, DABAM, Exec. Medical Director and VP of Medical Affairs, the COVID-19 Response Team is comprised of executives and managers from each division, administrative department, and medical personnel at Merakey. This Response Team helps Merakey to have a unified and coordinated response to any changes in the risks associated with the pandemic.
Thank you to the entire COVID-19 Response Team:
Joe Martz, CEO
Leah Pason, CSO
Tom Morgan, CIO
Brandon Fisher, SVP, Quality and Compliance and CCO
Terry McNelis, EVP and Managing Director, IDD Services
Rebecca Haley, SVP, Human Resources
Rebecca Mann, SVP, Children and Family Services
Tinnesia Snyder, SVP, Adult Behavioral Health Services
Michael Barton, Sr. Advisor to the CEO
Trish Pisauro, Corporate VP, Marketing and Foundation
Simon Whang, Corporate VP and Controller
Betty Boyd, VP, Program Operations and Development, IDD Services
Suzanne Campbell, VP, Administration, Adult Behavioral Health Services
Beth Caraccio, VP, IDD Organizational Development
Malcolm Musgrove, VP, Children’s Services
Sherri Portnoy, VP, Administrative and Professional Services, IDD Services
Alexandra Markey, Sr. Exec. Director of Administration, C&F Services
Kim Caton, Sr. Exec. Director of Family Services, C&F Services
Tara Quinn, Sr. Exec. Director of Education Services, C&F Services
Heather Magaro, Sr. Exec. Director of Community Services, C&F Services
Heather Harbert, Sr. Exec. Director of Adult Behavioral Health
Leigh Anne Lonergan, Sr. Director, Recruiting
Randy Geouque, Sr. Director, HR Services
Barbara Smead, Sr. Director, HRIS
John Police, Corp. Director, Facilities
Chris D’Amico, Corp. Director, Safety
Todd Loeb, Corp. Director, Communications
Julie Smith, Manager, Enterprise Project Management
