Success Stories
Working at The Arc Greater Hudson Valley is more than a job. It can be a lifelong career. Below are success stories of staff who have grown with us and gone on to management positions.
Regina McKenny-Snead, Executive Director
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
I was hired in March of 1991 as a Relief Instructor in Day Treatment. I was a college student and would work for the organization when I was home for breaks.
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
I have climbed the proverbial career ladder while working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley. In January of 1994, upon graduation from college, I was hired into a full-time position of Assistant Program Coordinator and then promoted to Program Coordinator in Day Treatment. I applied for the Assistant Director of the Bennett Residence, our Intermediate Care Facility, and was offered the position. When the Director resigned, I was promoted to Director of the Bennett Residence and I transitioned 40 people from the intermediate care facility to community-based homes. In 1999, a few months after closing the Bennett Residence, I took on the role of Director of Human Resources and then moved into my current role as the Associate Executive Director.
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
I can’t think of one single defining moment; it’s rather been more of a feeling of ongoing satisfaction and comfort that this is the best place for me to be.
What are the benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
The benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley are the competitive benefits package, the variety of positions that offer flexibility in hours, organization-sponsored events for staff and people support, and a family-like atmosphere.
What are you most proud of?
A little over 15 years ago the organization began to plan strategically for its future. Part of that planning involved developing a mission and core values. To this day, I am extremely proud of the fact that we are an organization driven by mission and values. All of our decisions derive from a place of staying true to those principles.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
Kevin Larragy, Associate Executive Director
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
September 2014
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
I started as the Director of Residential for Orange County - over the years since joining the organization I have had the opportunity to take on the Assistant Executive Director role, and most recently, the Associate Executive Director role in 2016.
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
During my interview – I had the chance to be interviewed by a group of people supported who shared their hopes, priorities, and desires. After that, meeting with staff and supervisors and seeing firsthand how deeply people cared about the organization’s mission, and how eager they were to make sure people had the opportunities in life that they wanted, and the support they needed to achieve them was confirmation of what I had seen during my interview.
What are the benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
You get the opportunity to work with some amazing people, those receiving support, and those you work with. Every day brings new challenges, regardless of your role. Life is varied, and our job is to support people to live their chosen life…that variety never stops. Some days the work is hard, emotionally and physically, but seeing firsthand how the work we do empowers people we support to achieve the outcomes most important to them is one of the greatest pleasures of working with the Arc.
What are you most proud of?
The growth I have seen in the people we support, whether it is someone getting their first job, taking the first steps to move into their own apartment, or making the decision to try something new and exciting like moving from a site-based program to a community-based program.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
Annemarie Benitez, Program Manager
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
I started in October of 2015 as a DSP Overnight part-time at TAFT Ira House
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
I Became a Program Manager of the TAFT Ira House in May 2018
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
The people I support demonstrate daily that anyone can overcome challenges in life when they continue to learn and work hard for what they want. Being able to help them grow and become their most authentic self is what helped me to make the decision to work here and stay.
What are the benefits of working for Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
I have always wanted to work in a field where I can help people to move forward in life, The Arc gives me an opportunity to do that as well as provide me with work experience in the medical field, to one day become a nurse.
What are you most proud of?
The personal growth of the people I serve has changed in such a positive way since I started here in 2015. I am proud to see the staff who have been here since the beginning of Taft or shortly after the house opened to still be here and willing to continue to commit themselves to our people here at Taft.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
Zechariah Stewart, Program Manager
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
I started in July of 2016.
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
In 2016, I started off as a relief, then I went full-time 6 months later. I became an Assistant Program Manager 10 months later and was promoted to my current position as Program Manager, 10 months after that.
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
I’ve always enjoyed helping others. I knew I made the right decision when I realized how much I could help the people we support and become a small positive influence on their lives.
What are the benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
The benefits, in my opinion, are, knowing that you make a positive difference in the people we support day to day life. It’s a good feeling, which makes you feel good overall.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the smiles I put on the faces of the people we support and how far I have come in my career with the agency.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
Alicia Cayo, Program Supervisor, Community Services & Inclusion Recreation
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
I started here November of 2015.
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
I started out 4 years ago as a Day Habilitation Provider and have since been promoted to Program Supervisor for the CSI-Recreation Program along with working relief as a Direct Support Professional and Community Habilitation.
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
Seeing how happy my individuals were to see me at the start of my shift and knowing that what I do makes a difference in their lives.
What are the benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
Knowing that your work has a positive impact when you’re providing care and support to the people who need it most
What are you most proud of?
The role I have in each of my individual’s lives and being able to provide them with fun experiences and good memories.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
Susan Curry, Program Manager
When did you start with The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
August of 1988
How has your career grown since starting with our agency?
I started as a Direct Support Professional. I worked as a DSP for 30 years. I began my current role as a Program Manager two years ago.
What was the moment you knew you'd made the right decision to work here?
I knew I made the right decision to work here within the first three months of my employment while working with the people we support hands on, knowing that you can make a difference in their lives and yours is very rewarding.
What are the benefits of working for The Arc Greater Hudson Valley?
Besides the on the job training, medical benefits and retirement plan, the best benefit is working with the people we support and making a difference in everyday lives that matter.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of many things. This position has given me the ability to find solutions to any challenge and keep pushing forward. I was very proud when I was awarded with an Everyday Hero Award for assisting one of our individuals in the community with activities he loved. With my support, he was able to become actively involved in the community with this peers through the Elks Lodge, Halloween parties, Cancer Awareness events and the Humane Society. As those you support grow, you learn and grow with them.
See our current JOB POSTINGS HERE.
