RCPA Member KenCrest Board Names Aurora Kripa Its Next CEO
Announcement
RCPA Staff Announcement — Hiring of Director of IDD Division
RCPA is pleased to announce that Timothy Sohosky will be joining RCPA as the Director of the Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Tim brings 23 years of experience to RCPA, most recently working for The ReDCo Group (Clarvida) in several key positions. Beginning his career as an Intermediate Care Facility Director, he moved into Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) Director, then onto Vice President and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer.
At RCPA, Tim will lead our IDD efforts as well as assist in some cross-division initiatives. Tim has also been an active member of the RCPA Conference Committee and will continue his role for that Committee. He has extensive experience in the programmatic and fiscal management of Intellectual Disabilities and Family Services programs across Pennsylvania. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from the Pennsylvania State University.
We feel confident that Tim possesses the qualifications and expertise in the IDD sector that will build on the legacy of our current IDD Director, Carol Ferenz. Carol, who has been with RCPA since January 2018, will be retiring from the Director of IDD position, and has graciously accepted to continue as the RCPA Conference Coordinator for the 2025 conference. Please join us in congratulating Carol on her retirement!
The association is very excited about Tim coming on board, and he will begin his work with RCPA on February 18, 2025. On behalf of the RCPA Board of Directors, members, and staff, we welcome Tim to RCPA!
Fran Sheedy Bost Retires From RCPA Member Devereux/TCV Community Services
Announcement from RCPA Member Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health:
Fran Sheedy Bost Retires From RCPA Member Devereux/TCV Community Services
After more than five decades in the behavioral healthcare industry, Devereux / TCV Community Services Executive Director Fran Sheedy Bost will retire from her position, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
While a bittersweet decision, Sheedy Bost is excited to place greater focus on her family – including her six grandchildren.
“Instead of creating business plans, I am looking forward to helping my grandchildren with their homework, volunteering in their schools and cheering them on from the sidelines during sporting events and dance recitals,” said Sheedy Bost.
She began her career in 1973 as a direct support professional. For the last 16 years at TCV, Fran has served as an unwavering beacon of hope and staunch advocate for countless individuals and families in the Mon Valley. Through her leadership, TCV is one of Allegheny County’s most-respected nonprofit organizations providing treatment, care and services to individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges.
Sheedy Bost also gave back to her profession, serving on various RCPA committees, including the RCPA Workers Compensation Trust Board.
In 2020, Sheedy Bost began having conversations with Devereux about a possible affiliation and, on Jan. 1, 2021, she and the TCV Board took a significant leap to trust Devereux, and its people, to support her organization, while sharing her expertise in various areas, including recovery-focused behavioral health services to individuals who want to lead a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.
“On behalf of all of us at Devereux, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Fran for her incredible dedication and leadership to TCV,” said Devereux Vice President of Operations – Children’s Services Mel Beidler, M.S. “She was critical to forming the partnership between TCV and Devereux, as well as the opening of our new location in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and I cannot thank her enough for the time and effort she has put into making this a successful partnership.” A national search is currently underway for the Devereux / TCV executive director position.
Added Sheedy Bost: “The affiliation with Devereux is now entering the third year and our combined strength will ensure that the mission of TCV will continue for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Congratulations to Sheedy Bost on her well-deserved retirement – she will be missed by us all!
RCPA Member Pittsburgh Mercy Announces Two Appointments to 2025 Board of Directors
PITTSBURGH (December 17, 2024) – Pittsburgh Mercy, one of the region’s largest social service nonprofit organizations serving more than 18,000 vulnerable individuals annually, a member of Trinity Health, and serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, today announced two appointments to its 2025 Board of Directors: Denise R. Hughes, director of Public Relations at UPMC Health Plan, and Paul K. Rudoy, a tax partner at H2R CPA.
Each will serve a three-year term, effective January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027.
Rudoy served for over 20 years and Hughes served for three years on the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors. Bethlehem Haven became part of Pittsburgh Mercy and its award-winning homeless services continuum of care in 2016.
“We are thrilled to have Denise and Paul join the Pittsburgh Mercy Board. Having a strong, deeply committed, and diverse group of trustees who have hearts for our Sisters of Mercy legacy and tradition of service to the most vulnerable is core to our mission and who we are as an organization,” stated Tony Beltran, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy. “In addition to bringing their own unique talents and expertise, as legacy members of the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors, Denise and Paul also will bring valuable perspectives to help our Board ensure the continued growth and success of our health ministry, our revered mission, and our renowned tradition of service to the most vulnerable in our community.”
Hughes brings to the Pittsburgh Mercy Board more than 20 years of experience and expertise as an award-winning, senior-level marketing and public relations professional in nonprofit and for-profit corporate communications. She currently leads all facets of public relations strategy for UPMC Health Plan, one of the nation’s fastest growing health plans, including public and media relations, content creation, and crisis communications. Before joining UPMC Health Plan, Hughes previously held management-level marketing-communications positions at Westinghouse Electric Company and Peoples Natural Gas and served as a communications consultant to The McCreary Group.
In addition to her service to the Pittsburgh Mercy Board and her former service on the Bethlehem Haven Board, Hughes is a board member and treasurer of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania and a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Hughes is the recipient of numerous business and health care marketing communications industry awards, including PR Daily’s Nonprofit PR Awards (2021, 2024), a Ragan’s PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Awardee (2023), and a graduate of The Advanced Leadership Institute’s Emerging Leaders Program (2023).
Hughes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications at Carlow University, founded by the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy, and a Master of Science degree in leadership with a concentration in business ethics at Duquesne University.
Hughes resides in Cranberry Township, Pa.
Rudoy, who is a certified public accountant (CPA), a personal financial specialist (PFS), and a licensed life insurance and annuities agent, has more than 30 years of experience in tax, strategic consulting, and estate and succession planning for individuals and closely held businesses. He spends most of his professional time devoted to growth strategies, succession planning, tax and investment matters, and business consulting services.
Rudoy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting at Pennsylvania State University.
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), where he served as past president and a member of the State Taxation Committee.
In addition to his past service as treasurer and a board member on the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors, Rudoy is also past president of the Pittsburgh Glass Center Board of Directors.
He also serves as treasurer of the Jewish Residential Foundation Board and a board member of the North American Board – MGI Association.
Rudoy and his family reside in Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
With the appointments of Hughes and Rudoy, the 2025 Pittsburgh Mercy Board of Directors and officers are:
Mark D. Gibbons, CPA (Chairperson)
Audit Partner, Assurance Service Practice Leader
Urish Popeck & Co., LLC
Tony Beltran, MBA (Secretary)
President & CEO
Pittsburgh Mercy
Rhonda N. Curry
Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Gateway Health Plan
Jaime C. Dircksen
Vice President, Community Health & Well-Being
Trinity Health
Denise R. Hughes
Director of Public Relations
UPMC Health Plan
Robert A. James, JD, MBA, MHA
Chief Diversity & Strategic Growth Officer
CGT Staffing
Sister Diane Matje, RSM, RN, MSN
Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy
Manzoor Mohideen, PhD
Director of Clinical Trial Operations, Academic Research Center for Hematology, Section of Benign Hematology, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Visala S. Muluk, MD
Director of Medicine
Pittsburgh Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Suresh C. Ramanathan
President & CEO
KORYAK
Paul K. Rudoy, CPA/PFS
Partner
H2R CPA
Jared S. Weiner
Chief Financial Officer, Western PA Hospital Division
UPMC
Olga Ziegler
Vice President, Revenue Program Management
Highmark Health Inc.
Editor’s note: Color headshots of Denise R. Hughes and Paul K. Rudoy accompany this release. Kindly credit: Photos courtesy of Pittsburgh Mercy.
About Pittsburgh Mercy
Pittsburgh Mercy is one of the largest community health and social service providers and employers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We offer help – and hope – to 18,000 of our community’s most vulnerable in 60+ locations:
- People who have complex behavioral and physical health challenges.
- People who have intellectual and developmental disabilities
- People who are experiencing homelessness
- People who need wrap-around services to live safe, healthy, and well in the community.
We are the largest Integrated Community Wellness Center (ICWC) in Pennsylvania and the only one in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We are a five-time awardee of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) expansion grants. Pittsburgh Mercy is a member of Trinity Health, serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. Our mission is to be a compassionate and transforming, healing presence within our communities. To learn more about Pittsburgh Mercy or to donate in support of its important work in the community, please visit www.pittsburghmercy.org. Follow Pittsburgh Mercy on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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ODP Announces New Fiscal Department Staff
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced a new staff member for their fiscal department. Joseph Shala will be working in the ICF/ID Rate Setting Unit. Joe has an excellent accounting background, including a BS in Accounting from Susquehanna University, and has worked in accounting for a number of companies, including working with Cost Reports for a rehabilitation facility.
Contact Info:
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Phone (717) 787-2019
ODP Welcomes New Director to BSASP
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced that on September 30 Lynn Pascoa will join ODP as the Director of the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP). Lynn is a dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in human services, specializing in mental health and community support. Lynn comes to ODP from Dauphin County, where she has served as the Children’s Mental Health Program Specialist playing a pivotal role in leading system planning for mental health services for children and adolescents, particularly children with autism. Read more here.
RCPA Member Achieva Announces Departure of Executive Vice President and President of Support — Names Interim Successor
RCPA Announces Chief Operating Officer
With close to 400 members, the priorities of RCPA leadership are to maintain the quality standards of membership communication, along with advocacy at the state and federal levels. To continue to serve our members effectively and efficiently, it has become imperative that RCPA leadership include a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position. We are pleased to announce that RCPA policy staff member Jim Sharp will start as the COO — and remain Director of Mental Health — effective Monday, April 8, 2024.
Jim has been with RCPA for five years. He has more than 35 years of cross-systems advocacy with organizational and strategic planning experience. He previously worked for RCPA member Merakey, and has served in several key positions, including Chief Juvenile Probation Officer at the Philadelphia Family Court, Admissions Director at George Junior Republic, and he began his career at Montgomery County Juvenile Probation. He holds a Master of Administration, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Shippensburg University.
This COO role will provide management, leadership, and vision to ensure that RCPA continues to meet its short-term and long-term goals and objectives, by creating policies and a company culture that strengthens operational efficiency and quality of services. Jim Sharp demonstrates a depth of knowledge regarding RCPA’s mission, vision, and values. Please join me in congratulating Jim in his new role.
RCPA Member Gaudenzia Names Dr. Deja Gilbert President and CEO
RCPA Member The Arc Alliance Names Pat Leo as New CEO
