Board and Staff Leadership

Staff Leadership Team


      • Diane Baehre

        Executive Director
        Diane’s Email
        Diane has been working in the developmental disability field since 1979 and joined the Empower team in 1998. She served as Chief Quality Officer before being appointed Executive Director in 2022. She has a BA in Social Work/Human Services.


      • Patrick Cosgrove

        Chief Financial Officer
        Patrick’s Email
        Pat joined Empower as Accounting Manager in 2020 after many years of work in the business and finance world. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2022.


      • William Krayss

        Director of Quality Assurance
        William’s Email
        Bill has been with Empower since 2000 and has an AA in Liberal Arts from NCCC and a BA in Human Services Management from SUNY Buffalo State. From Direct Support Professional to a variety of supervisory roles, Bill took on the role of Director of Community Housing in 2016.


      • Petrina Sciandra

        Director of Human Resources
        Petrina’s Email
        Petrina joined Empower as Human Resources Assistant in 2018 and was promoted to HR Manager in 2020. During that time, she earned an MBA. She was promoted to Director of Human Resources in 2022.

         


      • Kim Kiely

        Director of Job Training & Day Programs
        Kim’s Email
        Kim has been with Empower since 1990 and has been in the developmental disability field since 1979. Kim has a BS in education with a specialization in therapeutic recreation, and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 


Empower Board of Directors

Russell J. Petrozzi, President

Owner
Capitol Cleaners

Donald Napoleon, First Vice President

Owner
VSCO, Inc.

Robert DiFrancesco, Second Vice President

Principal
Niagara Catholic and Niagara Falls High Schools (Retired)

James D’Angelo, Corresponding Secretary

Educator, Educational Administrator and Student Teacher Supervisor (Retired)

Olivia Linke, Recording Secretary

Community Affairs Director
Univera Healthcare

Stanley Fera, Treasurer

Branch Manager
KeyBank

Robin Warren, Self-Advocate Board Representative

Thomas J. Caserta, Jr., Esq.

Attorney-at-Law

Daniel Vitch

Community Advocate

Yvonne Anderson

Family Advocate/Executive Assistant, WTS (retired)

Alice Kozen, PhD

Associate Professor of Education
Niagara University

Noelle McCoy

Program Manager
Leadership Niagara

Richard Sawicki, DPM

Doctor of Podiatry

Empower Foundation Board of Directors

Donald Napoleon, Chair
Owner
VSCO, Inc.

Charles Dieteman
Student
Niagara University

Eric McGuire
Controller
TM Montante Development

Robert O’Leary
Vice President
Parkview Health Services, LLC