Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Together with the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce Leah Feldman as the next Chief Executive Officer of Family Services.

Over the past several months, we have led an extensive executive search for our next Chief Executive Officer. We considered over 150 candidates, and with both our executive search firm, DRG Talent and our search committee, we carried out a rigorous process to identify the best person suited to lead the organization by building on our past success while writing the next chapters of our future. The process included a multi-step process. The finalists were interviewed by a variety of stakeholders, including community members, funders, senior staff, and our current CEO.

There was no one quite so passionate and intimately connected to our mission, vision, and community here in Poughkeepsie and the greater Hudson Valley, than Leah. Leah is no stranger to Family Services in her 13th year with the agency, she has served in progressively responsible positions, starting with her work as Victim Advocate in what is now our Center for Victim Safety and Support to her most recent role as Chief Program Officer. As Chief Program Officer, Leah has been responsible for oversight and support of all of Family Services’ community programs and behavioral health services throughout Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties.

Throughout her time with the agency and during this process Leah has proven herself to possess the talents, insights and experience that will surely serve Family Services toward even greater achievements in the years ahead. Leah’s passion for Family Services’ mission and agency values have made clear that she is the proven leader who, working with our capable and committed staff, board and community partners, will bring Family Services to new heights of success.

In addition to Leah’s achievements within Family Services, Leah is revered throughout the community and New York State for her staunch advocacy and thoughtful leadership within the human services arena, often championing cutting edge, promising practices that soon prove to be best-in-field approaches to working with some of those intractable challenges within the field. Leah obtained her bachelor’s degree from Siena College and her Master’s in Public Administration from Marist College.

Our current CEO, Brian Doyle, had this to share regarding Leah’s appointment, “In my work with Leah over the past 11 years, I have been profoundly impressed by her commitment to both the big picture of the agency’s work and always from the most compassionate person-centered approach we look for in leaders. I am thrilled that Leah will now be leading Family Services for years into the future”!

Leah will start her transition beginning the week of November 21, and will commence her role, full-time, as of December 19. We appreciate Brian’s offer to assist during Leah’s transition.

Special thanks to the members of the search committee for their hard work these past few months. I speak for us all in saying that we are excited for this next chapter with Leah at the helm. Join us in congratulating Leah on her appointment.

Sincerely,

Freddimir Garcia

Family Services Board Chair