Latest news with #S.M.I.L.E
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmakers for June 1
OPPORTUNITY HOUSE Opportunity House has announced the appointment of Adrian Perez-Roman as the new program director of S.M.I.L.E. — Skills to Master Independent Living and Empowerment. Adrian Perez-Roman (Courtesy Opportunity House) A Reading native, Perez-Roman brings a personal connection to the community he now serves. Raised in the Oakbrook neighborhood after being born in Puerto Rico, Perez-Roman has witnessed firsthand the challenges facing the city, particularly homelessness, addiction, and mental health struggles. These experiences have fueled his passion for community service and his commitment to creating pathways for healing and hope. A graduate of Kutztown University, he holds a bachelor's degree in sociology. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Perez-Roman offers a bridge between cultures and communities, ensuring that language is never a barrier to the support people need. As the S.M.I.L.E program director, Perez-Roman's goals are to lead with compassion. Perez-Roman lives in Reading with his fiancée and their four children. He also serves as the current Berks County Poet Laureate, a role that reflects his creative spirit and passion for storytelling. Perez-Roman uses poetry to inspire healing and empowerment — tools he plans to bring into his work with S.M.I.L.E. CONCERN CONCERN has announced the addition of two new members of its senior leadership team. Wendy Wait has been named the new chief financial officer; while Michele Gutshall has been named director of quality assurance. Wendy Wait (Courtesy CONCERN) Wait is an accomplished financial executive with more than 35 years of experience specializing in nonprofit leadership in all aspects of the behavioral health and human services field that directly correlates to the services CONCERN provides. She has experience in change management related to the implementation of financial systems, software, and payroll along with experience with electronic health records and specifically the organization's new software Netsmart. She has a proven track record working with senior leadership teams including strategic planning and collaborating with the board of directors. Wait is a graduate of Penn State. Wait is replacing Glenn Miller who is retiring as CFO, but staying on part-time to do marketing and fundraising. Michele Gutshall (Courtesy CONCERN) Prior to joining CONCERN, Gutshall was a chief compliance and privacy officer. She comes to the organization with a wealth of experience working in all things quality and compliance along with many years of experience in program services. She has worked in the human services field since she graduated from Juniata College. She has experience in behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, foster care, CRR, and substance abuse prevention programs. Gutshall is also certified in health care compliance and privacy and has the Open Minds Executive Leadership Certificate. Gutshall replaces the retiring Cheryl Reeling. SUZYRAE DESIGN Erica Caceres has joined the team of Suzy Rae Design LLC. Caceres brings a background in marketing and communications and now supports the studio's creative efforts with her skills in content strategy, multimedia storytelling, and brand communication. Erica Caceres (Courtesy Suzy Rae Design LLC) Before joining Suzy Rae Design, Caceras served as communication manager at Berks County Community Foundation, where she led content development across multiple platforms and managed the organization's media outreach and digital communications. Her previous experience also includes marketing roles with Naylor Association Solutions, the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, and The Yocum Institute. A graduate of Penn State Berks with a B.A. in communication arts and sciences and a minor in professional writing, Caceras is a detail-oriented storyteller with a passion for learning and staying current with design and media trends. BARLEY SNYDER Barley Snyder partner Jill Sebest Welch has been named a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient by the Manheim Township Alumni Association. Jill Sebest Welch (Courtesy Barley Snyder) This annual award recognizes Manheim Township High School graduates who have made significant contributions to their professions and communities. The award also serves to inspire current students, alumni and staff by highlighting the positive impact of former graduates. A 1983 MTHS graduate, Welch distinguished herself both academically and athletically. She was a member of the National Honor Society, student council and served as class vice president, in addition to participating on the softball, field hockey and swim teams. Welch went on to attend Wittenberg University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a minor in biology. There, she was a member of the Wittenberg College Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a four-year softball team student athlete. Welch later earned her Juris Doctor with honors from Rutgers University School of Law, where she served as a State Constitutional Law Editor for the Rutgers Law Journal, the university's student-run state constitutional law review. Welch is a partner in Barley Snyder's Employment Practice Group, where she counsels companies in handling workplace challenges, helps clients resolve disputes, and litigates claims and cases in all aspects of labor and employment law. Welch served as chairwoman of the firm's Employment Practice Group from 2020 to 2024 and has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 11 times, underscoring her commitment to legal excellence and client service. Welch currently serves as council president of the Pennsylvania Dutch Council Scouting America, having been a member of the board of directors since 2018. She has volunteered in various roles with Scout Troop 99 as both of her sons earned their Eagle awards. In addition, she has served in past roles with the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, the Lancaster Family YMCA, the Lancaster Bar Association Employment Law Section, and as a member of the Lancaster County EDC Center for Regional Analysis advisory committee. Welch is a frequent speaker on the topics of legal ethics and employment law. Welch, and two other 2025 award recipients will be honored at a breakfast reception on June 5. As part of the celebration, honorees will also address the 2025 graduating class during commencement rehearsal following the reception. Email your news to money@ and attach a recent (high-resolution) photo. Include a contact name and phone number with your submission. Deadline is the Tuesday prior to publication.
CBC
10-02-2025
- General
- CBC
'Shock and disbelief': Acadia University pulling the plug on its aging pool
Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., will permanently close its swimming pool on June 15 due to the ongoing cost of maintaining it. In a news release, the school said the pool has operated at an annual deficit of $400,000 — "a cost that has become unsustainable." "The pool that we've had for 60 years has really reached the end of its life," said Acadia president and vice-chancellor Jeff Hennessy. "It's got leaks, water quality issues, filtration issues. The cost to repair it is in the millions and that's just to prolong the life of what really is not a great facility." A consultant's report last November noted that the pool has been leaking and requires major repairs that include new tiles. It also said mechanical systems like filtration and HVAC are at the end of their life. The estimated cost of repairs is about $ 3 million. Hennessy said the state of the pool had been discussed for years, but the report was the final blow. Acadia's varsity swim program will be discontinued starting next season. The university said it will keep the pool operational until the end of this season "so long as water quality and safety can be maintained." "Our focus now is really on their well-being, getting them through the season, getting them through the year and figuring out how to support them in their decisions for the future," Hennessy said. There are about 50 students on the swim team. Hennessy said it was important to let the students know about the decision now so they can make decisions about staying at Acadia or transferring. S.M.I.L.E. program Hennessy acknowledged the pool's importance at the school and to the wider community, including the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program, which provides physical activity for people with varying disabilities. He said S.M.I.L.E. would continue, just without the pool. Elsie Gillis, a volunteer with the program, said using the pool is a favourite activity for many. "It's definitely a highlight and a lot of participants love it." Call for a community pool Hennessy said he would like to see the pool replaced with a community facility. "The pool need is really more of a community need than it is an Acadia need, so we're happy to lend our support behind the local community to build something for the community needs, but our fundraising efforts really have to go into other priorities," Hennessy said. Adam Deutsch, the swim program's alumni co-ordinator, said the pool closure is "gut-wrenching." "I grew up in the area," he said. "I actually swam in that specific pool all through from over 10 years old until my early 20s. So [I'm] just completely devastated. It felt like a piece of me almost leaving. It was very sad." Deutsch said there is a lot of frustration with the situation. He said others have reached out to him about why there hasn't been consultation, why the announcement came so close to the conference championship meet on Feb. 21 in Fredericton and why the decision was made now. "Having spent so much time in the pool in my life, it was common knowledge there were issues with the pool," he said, but added he never heard of anything major. Decision surprises Swim Nova Scotia Bette El-Hawary, the executive director of Swim Nova Scotia, said the news came as a surprise. "I think my initial reaction was a little bit of a shock and disbelief like many other people with no idea that … we were at this point with that pool," El-Hawary said. She said she has requested a copy of the consultant's report. Losing the pool will have a significant and lasting impact in the community, El-Hawary said. She pointed to the Wolfville Tritons swim club. She said many community members use the pool and she referenced the S.M.I.L.E. program. El-Hawary hopes the municipality and province will work with the university to save the pool since the next closest indoor pool is at 14 Wing Greenwood.
