STAFF
Executive
Director
Kathy Vecchioni, M.S.W.
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Administrative
Assistant
Whitney York, B.A.
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Kathy
Vecchioni has been By Their Side's
Executive Director since 2012. Since that time,
the organization has expanded the range of
advocacy services offered- including to
non-member families- and people served. She has
also served as a BTS advocate since 2006.
Kathy began her advocacy career with the Arc
of Frederick County's Service Coordination
division where she worked for 20 years,
including serving as a director for central and
western regions of Maryland. During that time,
the program grew to serve over 6000 people.
Highlights included helping people move from
institutions into community homes with support,
assisting families on the DDA waiting list to
plan and access services, and developing grants
that assisted aging caregivers to plan for the
future of their relatives.
Whitney York Since 2018,
Whitney has provided part time operations and
administrative support to By Their Side. She
has experience in marketing, publishing, and
database management.
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ENRICHMENT
CONSULTANT
Tracy Wright, Kensington, MD
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CONSULTING
ADVOCATES
Advocates are
listed in their primary region of service.
Theywork from home offices.
Central Region
Advocates
Susan Buehl, M.
Ed., Baltimore, MD
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Ron Christian, MSW, Baltimore, MD
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Kathy Grey, M.S. Severn, MD
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Catherine Raggio, M.Ed., Columbia, MD
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.Joan Rumenap, M.B.A. Glen Burnie, MD
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Kathy Vecchioni, M.S.W. Phoenix, MD
Bill Webster, B.S. Baltimore, MD
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Tracy
Wright is skilled at discerning
interests of people who may not communicate
their wishes directly. With Arc Maryland's Ask
Me! program, Tracy interviewed and supported
people to evaluate their provider agencies. She
was Director of the Self Advocacy Network
working with people residing in the Holly and
Potomac Centers, and continues to serve as a
Voting Advocate with Disability Rights
Maryland.
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Susan
Buehl has advocated for Marylanders
with disabilties for over 30 years, as a
Service Coordinator and Supervisor and now By
Their Side Advocate. She also has
experience with aging of people with I/DD.
Ron Christian Prior to his
work as a By Their Side Advocate, Ron directed
residential and community living services at
Arc Baltimore for 20 years. He also worked as
a service coordinator/supervisor and pastoral
counselor.
Kathy
Grey is well known to families in Anne
Arundel County where was a Service Coordinator
for 11 years until her retirement in 2018. Her
background also includes 10 years in
vocational rehabilitation.
Before becoming a By Their Side Advocate,
Catherine Raggio served two
terms as Cabinet Secretary of the MD Department
of Disabilities. Her 30 years of experience
includes serving as Executive Director of: UCP,
Independence Now, and the MD Developmental
Disabilities Council. Cathy has a M.Ed in
speech pathology with related work
experience.
Over the past 25 years, Joan
Rumenap has served as Service
Coordinator and Supervisor, DDA Statewide
Quality Assurance Chief, and a Director for
Abilities Network.
Kathy
Vecchioni - see above.
Bill Webster's advocacy
experience includes his previous tenure as a
service coordinator and supervisor, as well as
advocacy for a relative. He has over 15 years
of experience in the field.
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Southern Region
Advocates
Kim Sines Bourque, MSW
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Karen Gipson, B.S. Gaithersburg, MD
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Beatrice Rodgers, M.S.W. Greenbelt, MD
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.Gail Singletary, BA, Columbia, MD
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Portia Willis, B.S.W. Columbia, MD
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Kim Bourque has 20 years of
experience with the Charles County Health
Department, with both aging and disability
waiver services.
Karen Gipson has over 20
years of advocacy experience including work as
Resource Coordinator and Program Manager for
Montgomery County DHHS Resource Coordination,
and the Autism Waiver.
Beatrice Rodgers served two
terms as Director of the Governor's Office on
Disabilities. Her 30 years of experience
includes serving as Executive Director of:
Resource Connections in Prince Georges County,
Prince Georges County Department of Family
Services' Division of Individuals with
Disabilties, and Prince Georges County
Commmision on Disabilities.
Gail
Singletary was Parent's Place
of Maryland's first parent educator. Over the
past 20 years she served as a Charles County
Service Coordinator and in various roles with
DDA's Southern Maryland Regional Office
including Acting Director.
Portia Willis has 30 years
of advocacy experience serving as a resource
coordinator and resource coordination program
manager for Montgomery County DHHS.
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Western Region
Advocates
Nancy Berger, B.A. Newville, PA
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Christine Boggs, B.A. Frederick, MD
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Nancy Berger was a service
coordinator and supervisor in western Maryland
for 20 years before her retirement, leading a
team in Statewide efforts to transition to
individual self determination and control over
services and funding.
Christy Boggs'
20 years of experience spans service
coordination and management, vocational, and
residential services. She also served as a
Trust Administrator of a Pooled Special Needs
Trust
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Eastern Shore
Advocates
Rob Chirnside, B.A., Port Deposit, MD
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Paul Mysak, M.Ed. Allen, MD
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Rob
Chirnside served 26 years with the Cecil
County Health Department's Service Coordination
program including 24 years as Program Manager.
Paul Mysak Before
consulting with By Their Side, Paul served many
years as Service Coordination Program Manager
for Wicomico County Health Department. His 30
years experience also includes work as a
Service Coordinator and in various capacities
in vocational services.
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