Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (March 20, 2018) – Dina Menzie has joined Abilities First, a Hudson Valley-based nonprofit providing services for over 1,400 individuals people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, as its Chief Program Officer. Dina will be responsible for day-to-day operational oversight of all residential, service coordination, community habilitationThe acquisition of certain skills required for a self-sufficient life., day habilitationThe acquisition of certain skills required for a self-sufficient life., employment, and educational services and programs.

“We are pleased to have Dina join our executive leadership team as we strive for progress and growth in all areas of the organization,” said Jeffery Fox, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Abilities First. “Her experience in program operations and technology will allow Abilities First to makes significant strides in making use of new knowledge and technologies for the benefit of individuals we serve.”

Menzie most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Seamen’s Society for Children and Families, a $20 million charity in New York City where she led a multi-office IT transformation, agency-wide implementation of evidence-basedThis term is often used to describe a particular therapeutic treatment or educational model, and it means the treatment or model has been subjected to rigorous scientific testing that demonstrated it is effective – or more effective than other treatments or models. practice and opened three new business lines. Dina has also worked as Chief of Staff for Special Projects to the CEO and COO of The Children’s Village, a $90 million charity, doing work in NYC and surrounding areas, Michigan, Australia, The Netherlands and Iraq.

Dina’s experience in the for-profit sector includes working on IT and software development teams in the financial industry at companies such as Spear, Leeds & Kellogg (acquired by Goldman Sachs) a leader in trading, execution and clearing technology and Credit Suisse Asset Management in NYC. Menzie has a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and recently completed a Value in Health Care certificate through Harvard Business School’s Executive EducationThe process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits. We believe all children and adults can benefit from quality education. program.