7.0 PDP Staff

7.2 PDP Staff Accomplishments

Much of the success of PDP’s project work comes from the commitment, creativity, and capability of its staff.

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• 7.2.1 PDP Promotions for July 2022–June 2023
• 7.2.2 PDP Promotions for July 2021–June 2022
• 7.2.3 Department of Child Welfare Training
• 7.2.4 Department of Temporary Assistance Training
• 7.2.5 Department of Early Childhood Training
• 7.2.6 Information Systems and Programming
• 7.2.7 Training and Technical Assistance to Support Local DSS Permanency Planning
• 7.2.8 Child Support Training and Outreach Project
• 7.2.9 Department of Media Production
• 7.2.10 Homeless Services Training Resource System
• 7.2.11 Instructional Technologies Unit
• 7.2.12 Department of Child Care Regulatory Training
• 7.2.13 Public Service Workshops Program

7.2.1 PDP Promotions for July 2022–June 2023

PDP places a high value on its staff, offering challenging and rewarding opportunities for both personal growth and career advancement within the organization. During the 2022–2023 year, eleven staff members received promotions to a range of positions, including a Training Program Coordinator, Principal Education Specialist, Senior Education Specialist, Project Staff Assistant, Senior Research Scientist, Programmer/Analyst, Senior Administrative Assistant, and Administrative Assistant II.

Sarah Clowe
Date of Promotion: 5/15/2023
New Title: Senior Education Specialist
Former Title: Education Specialist

Michael Cozzens
Date of Promotion: 9/19/2022
New Title: Principal Education Specialist
Former Title: Training Program Coordinator

Erica Hunter
Date of Promotion: 1/1/2023
New Title: Training Program Coordinator
Former Title: Senior Education Specialist

Evelyn Kintner
Date of Promotion: 1/1/2023
New Title: Senior Research Scientist
Former Title: Senior Education Specialist

Fatma Labeb
Date of Promotion: 9/8/2022
New Title: Administrative Assistant II
Former Title: Administrative Assistant I

Nicholas Largo
Date of Promotion: 5/8/2023
New Title: Training Program Coordinator
Former Title: Senior Education Specialist

Laurie Lieman
Date of Promotion: 2/7/2023
New Title: Project Staff Assistant
Former Title: Administrative Assistant II

Alaina Maldonado
Date of Promotion: 8/1/2022
New Title: Project Staff Assistant
Former Title: Administrative Assistant II

Mesfin Solomon
Date of Promotion: 8/1/2022
New Title: Programmer/Analyst
Former Title: Information Systems Assistant

Christopher VerWys
Date of Promotion: 9/1/2022
New Title: Senior Education Specialist
Former Title: Education Specialist

Terri Zuelsdorf
Date of Promotion: 1/23/2023
New Title: Senior Administrative Assistant
Former Title: Administrative Assistant II

 

7.2.2 PDP Promotions for July 2021–June 2022

During the 2021–2022 year, seven staff members received promotions to a range of positions, including a Training Program Coordinator, Principal Education Specialist, Senior Education Specialist, Senior Programmer/Analyst, and Administrative Assistant II.

Brenda DuRose
Date of Promotion: 11/15/2021
New Title: Administrative Assistant II
Former Title: Administrative Assistant I

Yehui Liu
Date of Promotion: 6/2/2022
New Title: Senior Programmer/Analyst
Former Title: Programmer/Analyst

Jenna Moran
Date of Promotion: 12/13/2021
New Title: Training Program Coordinator
Former Title: Senior Education Specialist

Laura Rarick
Date of Promotion: 5/9/2022
New Title: Senior Education Specialist
Former Title: Senior Trainer

Michele Reedy
Date of Promotion: 9/27/2021
New Title: Principal Education Specialist
Former Title: Project Staff Associate

Carrie Relf
Date of Promotion: 5/23/2022
New Title: Senior Education Specialist
Former Title: Senior Trainer

Mary Stalker
Date of Promotion: 8/30/2021
New Title: Senior Education Specialist
Former Title: Education Specialist

7.2.3 Department of Child Welfare Training

July 2022–June 2023

Allison Davenport was the recipient of the PDP 2nd quarter 2023 Customer Service Award

Kendra Drake was a panelist during a workshop presented by OCFS’ Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success on the final day of the New York Public Welfare Association Annual Winter Conference highlighting voices from youth and young adults regarding transitional supports for their success and the experiences of LGBTQ/ TGNC youth in care in NYS, and recommendations for change.

Chelsea Perkins and Katie Mercado attended the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs.

July 2021–June 2022

Allison Davenport and Kim Dennis Walker attended the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) Youth Practitioner’s 2-Day Virtual Learning Lab.

7.2.4 Department of Temporary Assistance Training

July 2022–June 2023

In June 2023, Chris VerWys presented A Refresher on Preparing a SNAP Claim during the 2023 New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Annual Training Seminar at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center in Syracuse. Chris delivered this well-received one-hour conference session twice during the seminar on June 12 and 13. This conference was attended by social services district welfare fraud directors and investigators, NYS-OTDA program integrity staff, and NYWFIA members.

On June 13, 2023, David Pinkowski, PhD, presented The Affect of Poverty and Trauma on Decision Making and Behaviors during the 2023 New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Annual Training Seminar at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center in Syracuse. This conference was attended by social services district welfare fraud directors and investigators, NYS-OTDA program integrity staff, and NYWFIA members. David’s one hour and 15-minute conference session was well received.

7.2.5 Department of Early Childhood Training

July 2021–June 2022

Ally Buonanno-Tardy, Education Specialist, virtually met with the Host Agencies for the New York State Network for Youth Success in August to discuss the virtual approval submission process, scheduling virtual events and how trainers can support their participants as they apply for EIP. Ally was able to speak individually with host agencies and trainers who had questions about the Event Approval or EIP Application processes.

7.2.6 Information Systems and Programming

July 2022–June 2023

This period Mesfin Solomon has earned a Master of Science in Data Analytics from Western Governors University.

7.2.7 Training and Technical Assistance to Support Local DSS Permanency Planning

July 2022–June 2023

Carrie Relf was the recipient of the PDP 3rd quarter 2022 Customer Service award.

Greta Archbold completed the Minority Professional Leadership Development Program, sponsored by AdoptUSKids. Her capstone project was featured in an article Kinship care: “It’s better for the children and it’s better for the community”— AdoptUSKids for professionals

July 2021–June 2022

John Thompson and OCFS staff presented the national Child Welfare League of America Annual Conference in Washington DC. The workshop was titled “The Blind Removal Process: a Promising Strategy for Removing Bias in the Child Welfare System”.

7.2.8 Child Support Training and Outreach Project

July 2022–June 2023

The Tax Refund Offset Guide—A Tool for NYS Child Support Workers

After numerous and repeat requests for training or materials related to the accounting side of the complex tax refund offset process, Lillith Stoessel, in consultation with NYS child support program staff and other PDP project staff, set out, in 2018, to review and update existing materials from 2010 and develop new where needed. Her research uncovered far more historical materials to consider, and this initiative became an even larger undertaking that spanned multiple years. The result today is a 140- page comprehensive on-line guide for child support workers to use for reference on this topic and the training team has begun creating spinoff courses to dive deeper into various components of this process.

Jeff Isaacson presented a special one-hour session titled Covering all Bases-Managing Time and Life at the NYS Child Support Coordinators Meeting on April 4th in Cooperstown, NY.

7.2.9 Department of Media Production

July 2022–June 2023

Casey Becker completed the NYS Department of Health State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Active Play, Fun Childhood Physical Activities Train the Trainer.

The 2nd Quarter 2023 Team Spotlight Award was presented to some members of Media in recognition of Excellent Performance as a Team Member on the EEO WDP Train-the Facilitator.

July 2022–June 2023

In 2021 Casey Becker attended the Early Care and Learning Council’s Equity and Inclusion Conference, the 5th Annual Binghamton Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder Spring Conference for Families, Educators and Providers, and the Summit Center & Western NY Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder’s The Intersection of Autism Spectrum Disorder & Anxiety virtual conference.

7.2.10 Homeless Services Training Resource System

July 2021–June 2022

Much of the success of PDP’s project work comes from the commitment, creativity, and capability of its staff. PDP’s Homeless Services Training Resource System serves a non-traditional audience that does not have access to the sponsor’s learning management system to find and register for classes. It was getting the word out via a nearly daily flow of email notifications to prospective participants. As training program coordinator for this project, Kim Johnson devised an alternative means of spreading the word about newly scheduled course offerings, which reduced the email burden and enabled members of the target audience to learn about new classes timelier and to sign up more easily.

7.2.11 Instructional Technologies Unit

July 2022–June 2023

Dan Meade received the 4th Quarter 2022 Customer Service Award for his work on the Data Transfer Project.

July 2021–June 2022

Johnalyn Peluso attended the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) Youth Practitioner’s 2-Day Virtual Learning Lab.

7.2.12 Department of Child Care Regulatory Training

July 2022–June 2023

Colleen Faragon presented at the National Association for Regulatory Administration 2022 Licensing Seminar in Palm Springs, CA.

7.2.13 Public Service Workshops Program

The team of Bryan Bee, Michael Smith, Kathleen Lay, Jim Bonville, Colleen Faragon, Ron Bigge, Trish Geary, Casey Becker, Gary Glinski, Ed Kirchgessner, Laura Remia-Borthwick, Christine Lewandowski, Verena Kemp-Nugent, Lydia McKinney, Caroline Benoit, and Sehwa Lee was awarded the Q2 2023 Team Spotlight Award for the development and delivery of the new NYS mandated course on Equal Employment Opportunity—Workplace Discrimination Prevention (EEO-WDP).