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About : Senior StaffRobert D. PidgeonChief Executive Officer Mr. Pidgeon joined CSI after an extensive career serving as Connecticut's director of
juvenile justice. Before that he was deputy director of the New Hampshire Division for
Children and Youth Services and was assistant commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of
Youth Services. Mr. Pidgeon is a retired Colonel with the U.S. Army Military Police Corps
and served as the Chief of the National Prisoner of War Information Center during Desert Storm.
Mr. Pidgeon holds a bachelor degree in psychology from Penn State University, a master's degree in criminology from Florida State University, and a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. He has served as vice president of the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors, a member of the American Correctional Association At Risk Children, Youth, and Families Task Force, a Regional Affiliate of the American Probation and Parole Association, a member of the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council, an associate member of the Council of Juvenile Corrections Administrators, and as member of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Sherry AlbertVice President of Adult Services
Sherry has more than twenty years of experience in the criminal justice field and oversees nearly
20 programs at CSI for adult offenders referred by the Department of Correction, Federal
Bureau of Prisons and the Court Support Services Division. In addition, she has an extensive
career in human services that includes the management and supervision of programs such as
Section 8, energy assistance, weatherization, rental assistance and eviction prevention.
Sherry holds a bachelor's degree in legal studies and sociology with a concentration in
criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts. She is an active member of Connecticut
Nonprofits, the American Correction Association, the International Association of Community
Corrections and the Coalition of Community Corrections Providers of New Jersey.
Richard M. Lutz, ACSWVice President of Youth Services Richard
has more than 38 years of experience as a child welfare and behavioral health care social worker,
supervisor, administrator, trainer and consultant. As senior consultant and director of the
Child Welfare League of America's National Center for Field Consultation and vice president of
the Council on Accreditation, Richard has provided consultation and technical assistance
to hundreds of private and public sector organizations in more than 45 states. Richard is a graduate of LaSalle University in Philadelphia and holds a master's degree of social
work degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City. He is a member of the
Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a peer reviewer and team leader for the
Council on Accreditation.
Terri Saiya WilliamsVice President of Adult Program Development Terri has more than
15 years experience in the criminal justice system, including holding various managerial
positions with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC). A graduate of Washburn University
with a bachelor's degree and the University of Kansas with a master's in public administration,
Terri came to CSI in 2001 having served as the director of the Kansas Parole Board, during
which time she was awarded the Non-Uniformed Employee of the Year by former Governor Graves. She
was appointed as the state's first director of release planning, overseeing offender re-entry
services for the KDOC.
Susan PribysonVice President of Youth Program Development
Susan came to CSI in 1997 and has more than 25 years of experience in social services specializing
in substance abuse and evidence-based treatments for offender populations. She was the first
clinical supervisor for CSI's Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program, a model whose quality drives
continued growth and has become CSI's largest home-based program. Susan holds a master of social work
degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Doug McAvay, PhDDirector of Clinical Services Doug has
more than 30 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse treatment,
primarily in the area of juvenile justice. He has provided direct service, clinical supervision
and consultation as well as managed programs for residential and community based service systems.
Doug is skilled in program development and evaluation, performance based quality improvements,
mental health/substance abuse screening and assessment, treatment planning and clinical
service delivery within several program modalities. Doug is a graduate of Williams College and holds both a master's and doctoral degree in
clinical psychology from Clark University. He is licensed as a clinical psychologist in both
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Edward J. PalasekVice President of Administration Ed joined
CSI after a 35 year career in human resources which has included responsibilities in
compensation, employee relations and training for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company.
Ed has served on the boards of a variety of area nonprofits such as the United Way of
Greater New Britain-Berlin, the Boy's and Girl's Club of New Britain, and the Stanley
Works Employees Federal Credit Union. He currently is a resource investment volunteer for the
United Way of the Capital Area. Ed is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's
degree in history and a master's degree in business administration.
Sam AhilanChief Financial Officer A graduate
of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a master's degree in finance, Sam came to CSI in 2002
with more than 15 years experience in senior level, nonprofit, public accounting and financial
management, most recently as vice president of finance and administration for Easter Seals of
Connecticut. He has served as a treasurer for the town of Andover, CT and is an adjunct
faculty member at Eastern Connecticut State University. Sam is a certified management accountant (CMA), an associate certified management accountant
(ACMA- London- England) and completed the certified public accountant (CPA) examination.
Marlene ThomasVice President of Finance
Marlene joined CSI in 2002 with an extensive career in finance with area CPA firms. She also
operated an accounting business which provided accounting services to small businesses. Marlene
and the accounting department oversee CSI's compliance with state(s) and federal fiscal
requirements. Marlene is a graduate of Bay Path College with a bachelor's degree in
business administration and accounting.
Linda ZhangDirector of Contracts
Linda joined CSI in 2002 after graduating from American International College in Springfield,
MA with a master’s degree in business administration. Before coming to America, Linda was teacher
and Vice Dean of a university in China. She is responsible for program and contract budgets,
contract compliance, reporting, and acts as fiscal liaison to funding sources.
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