STATE COLLEGE – Skills of Central Pennsylvania Inc. (Skills), a non-profit human services organization, announces new programs and leadership appointments to support its growth.
A recognized leader in the non-profit human services arena since 1960, Skills is proud to announce that it’s successfully met its 2018 growth goals in both leadership and program initiatives.
“2018 was a year where we have expanded existing programs and increased our footprint geographically, as well as received approval from our board for a new initiative to build a Respite House in Blair County,” recapped Chief Executive Officer Becky Aungst.
The Respite House is part of Skill’s initiatives to serve Blair and surrounding counties and to grow much-needed programs. The Respite House will enable Skills to serve people from all surrounding counties, if the need arises.
The goal of this project is to assist families who support their loved ones at home but need an occasional break to take care of other personal or family issues. Skills will continue to implement and expand this project throughout 2019.
This kind of growth doesn’t happen without a leadership team. 2018 afforded Skills the opportunity to expand its core leadership team.
- Todd Deffenbaugh joined the Skills team as chief financial officer. Deffenbaugh brought his background as CFO from the Tyrone Regional Health Network. His experience in developing operating budgets, monitoring performance to budget and implementing major economic objectives was a critical part of Skills’ 2018 success.
- Lorie L. Smith, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP joined the Skills team as senior director of human resources. She is responsible for supporting Skills in further developing its talent, culture and HR processes. Smith brings to Skills over 21 years of strategic HR management experience that brings strategic insight, interpersonal skills and a team-focused approach to benefit Skills continued growth.
- Val Barner was promoted from within to the position of chief operating officer. She has an impressive 27-year history working in case management, mental health services, along with all levels of care in a community behavioral health operations. Barner’s hands-on experience will enhance Skills’ ability to continue to grow as a person-centered organization at all levels.
- Mary Kay Fultz was promoted from within to the position of regional vice president/Centre, Lycoming, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Juniata counties. She has been with Skills since 1986 and has been a core part of the growth and development of Skill’s Vocational Training programs. Her career with Skills began as a production supervisor and grew to manager of vocational training services and director of community services, where she oversaw the daily operations and managed the annual budgets of the Adult and Vocational Training Programs in Centre County and the Home and Community Habilitation Service in Centre and Clinton/Lycoming counties.
- Andrew Bollinger was promoted to senior director of quality and compliance. He will be replacing the current Director Laura Chandler, who will be retiring. He has been with Skills for over 11 years and has served in the roles of employment training specialist, team leader of employment services, manager in residential services and manager of an adult training program. For the last four years, he has served as the compliance assistant in the Quality and Compliance Department. His knowledge of regulatory compliance and insights into outcomes for quality will continue to move Skills forward in its focus on providing quality services.
For more information about Skills of Central Pennsylvania Inc., click here.