Elmcrest Children’s Center has chosen its next director
Previous director is retiring SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–based Elmcrest Children’s Center has chosen its next leader following a pending retirement. James Muldoon, chairman of the Elmcrest board of directors, announced the appointment of Ruth Ann Riposa as Elmcrest’s new executive director, per a […]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–based Elmcrest Children’s Center has chosen its next leader following a pending retirement.
James Muldoon, chairman of the Elmcrest board of directors, announced the appointment of Ruth Ann Riposa as Elmcrest’s new executive director, per a news release the organization issued.
She is succeeding Joseph Geglia, who was scheduled to retire, effective June 30, after serving for more than a decade as executive director. In total, Geglia has worked for Elmcrest for more than three decades, the nonprofit noted.
About Riposa
Riposa brings a leadership background in nonprofit, for-profit, and government entities, including as a health-services administrator in correctional health care and, most recently, as COO for Arc of Onondaga. Riposa came to Elmcrest during the spring.
“This well-planned leadership change has allowed me to immerse myself in the world of Elmcrest since mid-April — it is extremely evident that there is a true culture of caring amongst the employees for both the children and families we serve as well as for each other as team members,” Riposa said in the release. “It has been a true joy to interact with the teams across the agency and see and feel the heartbeat that they share for the incredible work they do.”
About Geglia
Geglia began his career at Elmcrest as a development advisor in 1985 and joined the staff five years later. He was later named executive director in 2010.
During his tenure, Elmcrest has developed 16 outreach community-based programs in Syracuse, Binghamton, Mexico, Cortland, and Casey’s Place. That’s in addition to its residential program on the Salt Springs campus, Elmcrest noted.
In his role, Gegila has been responsible for 551 employees and net assets of $25.8 million and had a “genuine concern and caring for the children who come to Elmcrest,” the organization said.
Geglia also sought funding to build a literacy center on campus, which was part of “his vision for the education of the boys and girls at Elmcrest.”
During his time, hundreds of children have worked with a specialist to recover credits to get back on their proper grade level. Geglia also set up a scholarship program that has helped several students pursue a college education, Elmcrest said of its retiring director.
