CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership is announcing changes to its Board of Directors, including the appointment of new officers, as well as the addition of Desiree Loucks Baer as a board member. Effective January 1st, 2020, the following members have been named as officers of the Board of Directors:
- Trina Sieling, Chairperson
- Laura Vegas, Vice Chairperson
- Linda Timmons, Treasurer
- Tia Nelis, Secretary
“There’s so much depth in the experience and expertise of our board, and they provide so much insight to improve our organization and continuously move us forward,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President & CEO of CQL. “We’re also greatly benefited by Desiree joining our board!”
Baer will serve as the representative of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), a member organization of CQL. She replaces NADSP’s previous representative – Joseph Macbeth, NADSP President and CEO – who had completed his eight year board of directors’ term. Baer is the Chief Operating Officer for NADSP and the Supported Decision-Making Coordinator for the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation.
“Desiree has worked for many years in a variety of areas, including supported decision making, organizational culture, and issues affecting direct support professionals,” adds Rizzolo.
Desiree has spent her career advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a focus on the facilitation of cultural change in the delivery of services to individuals with intellectual disabilities, achieved through person-centered supports reflective of individual’s personal needs, and valued outcomes for integrated opportunities, the development of new leaders and strong teams in a variety of settings, and the promotion of direct of support professionals in the areas of role recognition and professional development. Desiree has a Master’s Degree from Sage Graduate School in Health Services Administration.
“I’m truly excited to be invited to sit on the CQL Board,” says Baer. “It is such an honor to be given the opportunity to work with such a great organization and some amazing industry leaders.”
You can learn more about CQL’s Board of Directors on our website:
https://www.c-q-l.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
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Since 1969, CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. CQL offers accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to agencies that share our vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.
CQL Announces Board of Directors Changes