Leadership

Willow Baer is honored to serve as Acting Commissioner at OPWDD. Prior to stepping up as Acting Commissioner, Willow served as OPWDD’s Executive Deputy Commissioner and oversaw the agency’s operational management, including planning, fiscal planning and oversight, and policy development. She was also responsible for oversight of agency staff in a broad range of capacities, including direct care support, clinical and medical staff in residential and non-residential settings, maintenance and operations.

Willow has served twice as Assistant Counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul, overseeing legal priorities and legislation across the fields of Human Services and Mental Hygiene. Additionally, Willow previously served as General Counsel to OPWDD, General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Children & Family Services, and as Counsel to the NYS Justice Center.

Willow has spent her entire career working to protect and advocate for underrepresented populations. She will continue the agency’s work to ensure that New York is a state that is inclusive, supportive, and one that those with developmental disabilities live with meaningful choice and are proud to call home.

Eileen M. Haynes oversees the Office of General Counsel which provides legal guidance and support to the Commissioner, Executive leadership and OPWDD staff on the myriad of issues arising from the delivery of supports and services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  Issues include litigation, employment and personnel concerns, consent to treatment, certification/decertification and regulatory compliance of not-for-profit providers, eligibility for services, retention in secure facilities, corporate governance, community site selection, guardianships and special needs trusts and Medicaid interpretation/compliance. Counsel's Office also coordinates OPWDD’s legislative and regulatory programs, working with the Governor's Office and the Legislature on bills and regulations to support OPWDD’s mission.

 

Adrienne V. Mazeau serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration for OPWDD which includes oversight of Human Resources and Labor Management, Facility Operation and Maintenance, Emergency Services, Training and Professional Development and Workforce Policy and Innovation.

Adrienne has 20 years of New York State government experience. She began her career at the NYS Assembly Ways and Mean Committee as a legislative analyst and later moved to the Division of Budget where she worked within the health area for over a decade. Most recently, Adrienne was part of the Department of Health's Executive Team and served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Public Health. Adrienne was a key leader in the Department's COVID-19 response efforts.  

Adrienne holds a Master of Public Administration degree from SUNY Albany's Rockefeller College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Villanova University and a graduate certificate in Public Management from Cornell University. 

Abiba Kindo serves as the Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Service Access, Program Implementation and Stakeholder Support (Regional Office).  The Division is organized into two central office-based Bureaus that direct and oversee major statewide activities (Service Access and Program Implementation) and one Bureau that is regionally based with Central Office oversight and is responsible for day to day operations and implementation of statewide initiatives. Program activities and operations are carried out through a network of five Regional Offices, one Central Office and Thirteen district offices. 

The division has a key role and  is responsible for assisting individuals and their families with accessing disability services while assuring equity, diversity inclusion, fairness and sustainability, ensuring an adequate provider network, and educating individuals, families, providers, and stakeholders on OPWDD services and initiatives.

Prior to this current role, Abiba served as the Associate Deputy Commissioner for the regional offices at OPWDD.  Before joining state services in 2014, Abiba worked in the voluntary sector where she held several executive and leadership positions.  Abiba has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Dr. Jill Pettinger is OPWDD’s Deputy Commissioner of Statewide Services.  In this position, she is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and oversight to the Division of Statewide Services.  Statewide Services is currently comprised of 9 Bureaus encompassing Research and Data Analytics, Health Services, Intensive (Forensic) Treatment Services, Assessment Oversight and Coordination, Behavioral Services, Statewide Clinical Programs, Clinical Project Management, Technical Support, and Service Allocation, Research and Review, as well as the Institute for Basic Research.  Dr. Pettinger and her staff facilitate and oversee multiple projects and initiatives that directly impact the mission and vision of OPWDD which has at its core the goal of helping individuals with developmental disabilities lead richer lives. 

Before assuming her current position, Dr. Pettinger served as the Deputy Commissioner of State Operations & Statewide Services in the Division of Service Delivery from June 2016 through May 2022, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of OPWDD’s Statewide Services from July 2012 through May 2016, the Assistant Commissioner for OPWDD’s Bureau of Behavioral and Clinical Solutions from August 2007 through July 2012 and was the Chief Psychologist for OPWDD from January 2003 through August 2007.  Dr. Pettinger worked as a licensed psychologist at the Capital District DDSO, a regional office of OPWDD from 2001 through 2003.  She also served as the Clinical Assistant Director of Psychology at the Center for the Disabled and as a licensed psychologist for the Schoharie County ARC, not-for-profit agencies providing services to persons with developmental disabilities in the Capital District area. She has worked in private practice and served as an Adjunct Professor at the University at Albany, Sage College Graduate School, the College of Saint Rose and Hudson Valley Community College. 

Dr. Pettinger is a graduate of the University at Albany (Psy.D. 1995, M.S. 1991) and St. John Fisher College (B.A. 1990).

As Deputy Commissioner of the Division of State Operations, Dr. John Barbuto leads all of OPWDD’s State Operated Residential and Day Programs, Clinics and other related services. This portfolio includes providing guidance and oversight to over 1,000 state operated programs and over 12,000 staff.  

Dr. Barbuto brings broad leadership skills and experience in human services, healthcare and research fields to this critical position within the agency. He began his career providing direct care in residential services for children. He then transitioned to supervising day treatment services and managing multiple residential programs in Capital District OPWDD provider agencies for over 15 years.  Upon completion of master’s degrees in public administration and social work at the University at Albany, he also provided clinical services and consultation to those provider agencies. Later, Dr. Barbuto moved to the Stratton VA Medical Center, where he applied his clinical and management skills to supporting Veterans with serious mental illness, homelessness and geriatric care needs.  He served as the Director of Operations for research in the last ten years of his tenure at the VA Medical Center. During this time, he also conducted research and completed his Ph.D. in Social Work, partnered in research projects and publications, and taught as an adjunct lecturer and field instructor at the University at Albany’s School of Social Welfare. John has also been a psychotherapist in private practice for over 20 years, locally.   

Dr. Barbuto began his career at OPWDD in January of 2018 and served as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Statewide Services until December of 2020 when he transitioned to overseeing both Statewide Services and State Operations as Associate Commissioner. Dr. Barbuto’s knowledge of direct operations, certified residential, clinic and day program management, labor management, and research have allowed him to successfully fill critical roles at OPWDD formerly in Statewide Services and now in State Operations. 

Tamika Black serves as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Data Officer for OPWDD and oversees the Division of Data Strategy and Management. Tamika’s current responsibilities include promoting innovation and a data-driven approach toward achieving positive outcomes for people with disabilities.  Her contributions encompass building OPWDD’s data and IT strategy, modernizing IT infrastructure, establishing data governance processes and public reporting, and increasing transparency for individuals and families around quality measurement and benchmarks. Tamika has had a 17-year career in public service with a focus on finance and budgeting, performance improvement and strategic planning, and she continues her commitment to mission driven organizations.  Prior to leading her current Division, Tamika served as the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Director for OPWDD’s Division of Quality Improvement and she has worked for the NYS Department of Health, NYS Division of the Budget Executive Department, and the City University of New York. Tamika received her doctoral degree in Public Administration and Policy from the University at Albany. Her areas of study included organizational behavior and theory, government implementation and accountability, and non-profit/public sector management. She received her master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from New York University.

Megan O’Connor-Hebert has recently returned to OPWDD as Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Quality Improvement. In this role, she oversees the Bureau of Program Certification, Incident Management Unit, Continuous Quality Improvement Unit and the Data Analysis and Evaluation Team. Megan began her career as a direct support professional and her career has included progressive leadership positions in the Developmental Disabilities field. Megan has over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector and 10 years in government leadership at both the NYS Commission on Quality of Care as well as OPWDD.  Most recently, Megan served as Chief Administrative Officer for a Care Coordination Organization. Megan received her BA in Psychology at Siena College and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Albany. Megan has served on various boards through the years.  Megan is excited to be back at OPWDD as part of the Leadership team and looks forward to advancing the quality strategy ensuring that New Yorkers with developmental disabilities receive quality supports and services to live fulfilling lives.

Kevin currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of OPWDD’s Division of Fiscal Policy and Management.  In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for budgeting, rate setting policy and other fiscal matters.  Kevin joined the OPWDD management team in 2013.  Prior to his appointment at OPWDD, he served with the Division of Budget’s Mental Hygiene Unit for close to 15 years where he was responsible for revenue management, and the OPWDD, DDPC and OASAS budgets.  Kevin received a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1998, and a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, from the State University of New York, College at Oswego, in 1996.”

As the Director of Communications, Jennifer Mauer O’Sullivan is a senior advisor to the commissioner and liaison to the Governor's office. Jennifer oversees internal and external communications, marketing, digital and social media, press inquiries, messaging, event coordination, correspondence, photography, video production and the OPWDD Infoline. Jennifer has also served as Director of Communications for Kathy Hochul when she was Lieutenant Governor, Interim Director of Communications for current Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and the Director of Communications at the New York Lottery. She left state service for several years from 2007-2014 to join the NY Daily News as Director of Communications in NYC before returning to Albany. 

Jennifer graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor's degree in American History and attended New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies for Digital Media Marketing. Jennifer is also a 2021 graduate of the NYS Leadership Institute program at SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy and has received formal Crisis Communication training from Helio Fred Garcia of Logos Consulting Group.

Greg Roberts has been OPWDD’s Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs since 2012. The Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Office serves as the point of contact for elected officials, legislative staff, government agencies, and lobbyists/advocacy groups. The unit also represents OPWDD's interests before the New York State Legislature, tracks legislative initiatives, and keeps the OPWDD leadership team apprised of current events. The Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs team oversees OPWDD’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, assists self-advocates, and supports the New York State Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board.

Prior to coming to OPWDD, Greg worked for the New York State Senate as a Program Director in Majority Program and Counsel Office and as a Government Relations Representative for the New York State School Boards Association.  Greg has a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Political Science from Michigan State University.

 

Dr. Hirah Mir serves as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of OPWDD’s Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Dr. Mir oversees the DEI Office in the following areas: language access, community engagement, equity policy, workforce support and outcomes, learning and engagement, grants and research, data analytics, and program evaluation.

Dr. Mir has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Methodology from the University at Albany/State University of New York and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hunter College. Dr. Mir has more than 10 years of experience in research and statistics. She focused her doctoral research on the ethnic identity of children of immigrants and how factors such as family cohesion and discrimination impact a person’s development. Her passion for equity comes from her experience being unhoused and receiving section 8 housing, food stamps, and other important services for families living in poverty.

Dr. Mir has been with OPWDD for more than five years. As a research scientist in the OPWDD Division of Data Strategy and Management, she was responsible for agency-wide research agenda and served as the state coordinator of the National Core Indicators In-Person and State of the Workforce Surveys. Dr. Mir also helped oversee the Regional Centers for Workforce Transformation to build the competency and capacity of the direct support workforce. She is one of the founders of the NYS Community of Practice on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities.

Michael Ridley oversees all the technology-based investments, and IT infrastructure modernization efforts to support the mission and enable the strategic plan laid out by the Commissioner and executive leadership.  These modernization efforts will serve to create a data-driven approach to enabling, empowering, and maximizing all service areas of the agency. 

Michael has a 25-year career with the NYS government serving in multiple executive-level positions in high technology policy, planning, and deployment. His state career has spanned many governmental entities including working in the NYS Legislature, the Science and Technology Foundation (NYSTAR), the NYS Department of Economic Development, and most recently, the NYS Department of Health where he served as the Director of Operations for the New York State of Health, Health Plan Marketplace (NYSOH). In addition, he has served in many federal and state advisory capacities such as being a member of the NYS CIO Advisory Council, NYS Broadband Council, and was Governor Paterson’s appointment to represent NYS in the FCC’s Emergency Response Interoperability Center’s technical advisory committee.

Michael holds a Master of Science from the College of Saint Rose in Computer Information Systems, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Utica College of Syracuse University in Public Administration, and an Associates in Science from Mohawk Valley Community College. 

 Rachel serves as Chief Strategy Officer at OPWDD. Rachel is responsible for managing the implementation of strategic initiatives within the agency and externally, and advising the Commissioner and Executive Leadership on policy, operations, and day-to-day management of the Commissioner’s Office.

Prior to joining OPWDD Rachel worked for the New York State Executive Chamber for four years, where she most recently served as the Assistant Secretary for Health. In this role, she was responsible for managing cross agency and interagency initiatives, budget negotiation and implementation, State of the State development and implementation, and stakeholder communications and outreach. Rachel was with the Executive Chamber's State Operations Health Team throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted in the management of COVID-19 policy and operations, including coordinating with the state’s leading epidemiologists and clinical experts to provide guidance on best practices for COVID-19.

Rachel has a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and began her State career as an Excelsior Service Fellow on the Executive Chamber's Health and Human Services team.

As the Chief of Staff, Deb supports the Commissioner in coordinating and advancing large agency projects and oversight of agency operations.

Deb has been dedicated to helping people with developmental disabilities and their families for nearly 20 years in a number of roles at OPWDD including: Statewide Field Office Operations Director for OPWDD’s Division of Service Access, Program Implementation and Stakeholder Support, Chief Administrative Officer in the Division of Administration, Director of both the Office of Agency Planning and Coordination and the Office of Advocacy Services, Director of Transition and Integrated Supports in the Division of Service Delivery, and supervisory roles in both the Division of Person-Centered Supports-Waiver Unit and the Division of Enterprise Solutions-Capital Financing Services. 

She is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.

 

Richard Cicero serves as the Director of the Office of Audit Services which is responsible for external audits of OPWDD service providers, internal audits of OPWDD state operations and oversight of OPWDD internal controls.  Prior to joining the leadership team in 2018, Richard spent thirty-one years protecting the fiscal integrity of the state’s mental hygiene system working for the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and its predecessor, the Commission on Quality of Care.  He started his professional career at a public accounting firm specializing in audits of not-for-profit service providers.

Richard received a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Union College and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Siena College.  He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Management Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner and has earned the COSO Internal Control Certificate.

Peter Scalise serves as Director of the Office of Investigations and Internal Affairs (OIIA) which is the independent investigative arm for OPWDD. OIIA has an investigative presence in all of OPWDD’s six state operational regions. 

Prior to coming to OPWDD, Peter worked in law enforcement for nearly two decades, starting as a patrolman and rising to the level of Senior Confidential Investigator to Oneida County’s District Attorney.  After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, he was appointed as a U.S. Congressional Constituent Services Manager subsequently rising to the position of Deputy District Director in the former 24th Congressional District in the Central, Southern and the Finger Lakes Regions of New York.  

Peter is a graduate of Utica University/Syracuse University earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.