CEO Blog Archives - Penn-Mar

We’re Here: Then, Now, Always

ggorham — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:15:08 +0000

Recognizing the lasting presence, progress, and promise of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) selected “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always” as the theme for this year’s National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Building on last year’s campaign, the message reminds us that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have always been part of our communities and always will be. By connecting the past, present, and future, the theme highlights a simple but important truth.

While the lives of people with IDD have significantly improved since 1987 when then President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed the designated month, millions still face barriers every day that make it harder to access the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to flourish.

National data gathered by peer organization AbleLight reflects these ongoing challenges:

Some 710,000 people with IDD are on waiting lists for Home and Community Based Services (US Congress).

Less than 1 in 5 adults with IDD have paid employment in their communities (National Core Indicators).

Less than 3 in 10 adults with IDD participate in community groups or activities (National Core Indicators).

The work our team members do every day at Penn-Mar is critically important to serving a need. I often remind them that someone born today with IDD will require our support services 21 years from now. Since 1981, we have been ready and more than able to answer this need.

Penn-Mar’s services over the years have evolved from “taking care” of people with disabilities to providing them with person-centered support that allows them to live courageous lives of their choosing.

In our early days we were often removing people with IDD from horrible living situations to a much better environment, but we were still the ones “calling the shots.” Today, the people we support call the shots. We empower them to make good decisions by providing education, experiences, and exposure to opportunities that help them to choose and achieve the life of purpose they deserve.

Long ago we closed our Sheltered Workshop program and have embraced an “Employment First” mentality to help people with IDD pursue skills training, paid employment and career advancement.

Our Day Programs have branched out with a multitude of community-based offerings, ranging from restaurant, shopping and museum trips; to nature walks and fitness center workouts; to church attendance and volunteer engagement.

At Penn-Mar, “the future is now” as we have increasingly streamlined our services with assistive technology (AT) tools, Smart Home designs and equipment, and a transformative multi-purpose space at our new Washington Heights building.

Our mission at Penn-Mar is to promote courageous living and leadership for everyone connected to our organization. We do this by continually looking for innovative ways to make our services even better. When our strategic planning process begins next month, our board will be addressing more exciting changes for the future.

Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of NACDD sees National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month as “a reminder that people with IDD are always here, and that all of us have a responsibility to keep learning, engaging, and building communities where everyone belongs – every day of the year.”

Amen to that!

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Breaking the Groundhog Day Funding Cycle

ggorham — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:16:41 +0000

How innovation and advocacy keep Penn-Mar moving forward despite frozen budgets.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Are you feeling trapped in these endless cycles of freezing days and nights? When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this February and predicted six more weeks of winter, it felt all too familiar.

Certain aspects of routine, like waking up to the “Big Chill” every morning, can feel like the “Groundhog Day” movie theme of “eternal recurrence.” Each year at this time, our work with government legislatures over funding takes on that same repetitive rhythm. The conversations are familiar. The challenges are predictable. And too often, the outcomes are as well.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently delivered his 2026-27 budget address, and funding for our services will basically remain the same. That leaves little room to absorb rising costs or cost-of-living increases for our amazing workforce.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s FY 2027 budget reflected the financial crisis the state has been battling. It includes an overall increase of just eight-tenths of one percent, alongside nearly $900 million in targeted cuts and cost-saving measures. For providers like Penn-Mar, that means another “Groundhog Day” moment in an all too familiar funding cycle.

February and March are intense months for us. We work diligently with both state governments to keep the funding from sliding backwards and to secure every dollar needed to sustain essential services. At the same time, we are engaging our Corporate Partners to secure sponsorship revenues for our March Gala, which funds the innovations that push us beyond basic services.

There are two sides to our annual funding story.

The hard work involves our advocacy efforts to keep legislators in Annapolis and Harrisburg keenly aware that the budgeting decisions they make have a profound impact on our ability to do our life-changing work every day. We are dependent on government funding, but it is becoming more challenging to get traction when year after year the process and outcomes are unchanged.

We deeply appreciate the bipartisan support expressed by governors and legislators for the work Penn-Mar does to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). But the frustration comes from competing with hundreds of other constituents who are also looking for critical resources. We understand that there is only so much money to go around, but the status quo in funding our services has been, frankly, exhausting.

While we remain fully committed to delivering exceptional day-to-day support, the most energizing work we do involves creating change that allows us to take greater control of our future. We refuse to remain stuck in a “Groundhog Day” cycle defined only by basic services funding.

Innovation is one of our core values. It’s transformative and serves as a key driver in our efforts to secure the outside funding needed to develop programs and services beyond the basics. These initiatives greatly enhance the quality of life for individuals with IDD and their dedicated team members.

Innovation strengthens the services we provide, enhances career tracks, and creates incentives for our team members. It’s what excites our partners, families, friends, and donors to generously support the Penn-Mar mission.

Critical to that support is the thoughtful guidance and vision of our Penn-Mar Human Services and Foundation Boards that has enabled us to grow despite routine and often disappointing “Groundhog Day” funding cycles.

If there is an “eternal recurrence” we welcome, it is our shared commitment to keep moving forward, innovating, and advocating, no matter how predictable the funding cycle may be.

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Your Stories Shape Policies: Why Advocacy Matters

ggorham — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:10:13 +0000

At Penn-Mar, our commitment to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and encourage them to live courageously never changes. What does change is the environment around us. Policies shift. Funding priorities move. And the systems people with IDD rely on are often shaped by decisions made far from their everyday lives.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Advocacy is how we bridge that gap. It is how we help decision-makers understand the real impact of their choices on real people.

As we enter a new legislative session, our advocacy efforts directed at the decision makers in both Maryland and Pennsylvania will play an increasingly important role.

When legislators make funding decisions, it’s imperative that they understand there are real lives behind those choices. That’s why we must continue telling the stories of the people we support and the families who rely on these services every day.

As we move ahead, a clear strategic vision is necessary to ensure that everyone understands and values what we bring to the system, and that any barriers to providing the highest quality support to people with IDD are eliminated.

Last February, our advocacy efforts were working to prevent the proposed elimination of Maryland’s Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program, funding that was improving quality of life for over 2,000 families, helping them increase or maintain independence and participate in their communities.

Your powerful advocacy voices helped the LISS program survive — but at a 50 percent decrease. My goal this year is to see that the legislators restore it to the original funding that was provided, at minimum. We need to be crystal clear to help decision makers understand the impact of potential cuts on the program and how it will hurt hundreds, if not thousands, of families supporting a child with IDD.

Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar’s Associate Director of Development, Volunteer and Donor Relations, has done a remarkable job engaging our families in advocacy and building the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective (PMAC).

PMAC exists to help lawmakers see the people behind their policy decisions. By sharing real stories, we bring humanity and context to issues that are often only discussed on paper.

In November, the group hosted an inspiring and empowering Legislative Roundtable discussion with our Pennsylvania representatives. The conversation was led by a team of Penn-Mar self-advocates, families, and team members.

The Roundtable showcased PMAC’s operating principles, and alongside the Pennsylvania Advocates and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities (PAR), shared real-life experiences that show how policies and regulations impact people in real time.

On February 11, PMAC will host its annual Advocacy Training to update families on policy changes that affect their loved ones. The session will share easy, effective strategies to make each person’s advocacy efforts impactful.

PAR is currently inviting people who live in Pennsylvania to share their stories that are critical to ensuring policymakers understand the real-world impact of their budget decisions.

And in Maryland, to coincide with Maryland Developmental Disabilities Day on February 18, there will be an event dedicated to making a difference for people with developmental disabilities. Self-advocates, families, and team members will speak with legislators virtually to discuss key issues and advocate for restoring full funding to the LISS Program.

The purpose of advocacy is to help people understand how this system works. It’s to explain what’s effective, what isn’t, and where change is needed. Funding matters, but it’s also important to consider the way that resources are used and if they truly support people in their everyday lives. That responsibility is one I take seriously.

If you want to learn more about the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective or take part in upcoming advocacy opportunities, reach out to Tina Chan Sweenie TinaChanSweenie@Penn-Mar.org.

Your voice truly matters!

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Our Future Shaped by Design

ggorham — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:25:37 +0000

Why intention matters, and how your generosity helps shape what’s next.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe the holiday season is here again! Imagine if we didn’t prepare for it and just “showed up.” Christmas would feel like just another date on the calendar.

Have you ever considered reimagining your holiday routine? Wishing alone will not do it. A design and thoughtful plan are needed to achieve that new vision.

Progress of any kind rarely happens by accident — it happens by design. To underscore that point, Penn-Mar Human Services recently launched our year-end giving campaign with the theme “Shaped by Design.” Throughout the campaign, we are highlighting personal stories and examples to show how our programs and services foster independence, innovation, community, and dedication.

While every program, success, and life impacted at Penn-Mar is the result of a relentless focus on our mission, it’s also shaped by your intentional generosity. When you choose to invest in Penn-Mar, you are helping us design a better world for people with disabilities and their families.

Thanks to your support, Penn-Mar is a leading provider. But it would be a mistake for our organization to get too comfortable doing things the way we always have. Our partnerships remind us that standing still is not an option because the needs and goals of the people we support continue to evolve.

By taking a thoughtful approach to the future, Penn-Mar can continue creating opportunities that lead to greater possibility for the people we support. Those efforts are made possible through the generosity of people like you who choose to stand alongside this work.

Here are a few examples of how that intentional approach is taking shape at Penn-Mar:

The 2026 relocation to a multi-purpose facility in Westminster, to provide a day program that responds to the needs and desires of the people we support, their families, and our team members.

Creating a culture of excellence by thus far supporting 57% of all Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at Penn-Mar in pursuing Career Ladders national accreditation in addition to launching a new Frontline Supervisor training program to ensure the highest quality person-centered services.

Focusing on the future of housing and investing in one-story residences so that the people we support can age in place living life on their terms.

Expanding our Assistive Technology services to strengthen the impact of our DSPs by offering people with disabilities greater choices.

There will always be uncertainties in government policy and funding, but those resources only help us meet our most basic needs. Your generosity goes beyond standard programming; it changes lives.

With a plan that serves as an organizational anchor, and your continued support, we can dream bigger and provide services that are truly person-centered, not just today, but for the future we’re designing together.

“By design” does not mean by my design. It’s made up of a collective mindset, especially by the people who are providing life-changing services every day to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Your gift is more than a donation. It’s a design choice. We’re counting on you to once again help us design an even brighter and more impactful year ahead.

I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season, designed with creative twists, love, and life-long memories.

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Family Engagement Essential to Success of Penn-Mar’s Mission

ggorham — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:40:04 +0000

“Fall Family Update” offered open forum for exchanging information and perspectives

Penn-Mar has earned its reputation as a transformational leader for the supports we provide for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To maintain that position, it’s important to continually collaborate with our families and remain perpetual “students” in our field, always curious, listening, and learning.

No matter how hard we work or how committed our team is, nothing can replace the love and connection of family. That’s why we’re focused on deepening those partnerships and finding new ways to keep families involved.

We hosted a “Fall Family Update” night in October. As the leader of our organization, I wanted to offer families the opportunity to learn more about our team and services, innovative initiatives, and advocacy efforts. More importantly, I wanted to listen to their perspectives and concerns and assure them that their input is essential to all our success.

I also want to be sure that families understand they do not have to wait for a scheduled meeting to ask a question or raise a concern. I welcome and encourage family members to contact me or other members of our leadership team if they think it’s warranted. And of course, our team of professionals — who know and work with their loved ones every day — are always available to provide information and the appropriate response.

Many who attended the “Fall Family Update” commented that they learned a lot of new information that helped shape their perspective. Communication is a two-way street, and I will own our responsibility to ensure we are being as transparent and forthcoming with families as possible.

One of the challenges of family involvement is that every family is in a different place. Some we see often, some live out of state and can only connect occasionally, and others are deeply involved every day. What doesn’t change is that customer satisfaction is as important to families as it is to the people we support.

We never want to shut families out of the process, nor are we looking for quick fixes rather than long-term solutions to issues that may crop up. We are striving to develop strong relationships with families that in every area of life require intentionality and a lot of hard work.

Penn-Mar’s person-centered support helps people with IDD be more in control of their life. However, as their loved ones become more independent, this can often be hard for families to accept.

Respectful conversations to explore differences of opinion with the person’s best interest in mind can only be successful if we have a strong relationship with the family members. Their voices are important; their life experience with their loved ones is a vital part of the equation.

Our success must be grounded on a platform of trust between Penn-Mar and our families with a clear focus being on the person we support and what they want in life.

Part of staying curious is continually looking for different ways to set up the people we support for success. That means new Assistive Technology solutions to increase independence and skills for people with IDD, for example.

Our new Washington Heights facility will meet the needs of people with IDD and their families in Carroll County who were asking for support service options at a central hub that could provide community-based programming in an environment where people can learn, recharge, and connect as needed. 

At the end of the day, our goal at Penn-Mar is centered around helping the people we support live their fullest life and become the best person they can be.

I believe in my heart that our families want that too. Nothing can ever replace the love of your family. Where we come in is to work with families to help their loved ones pursue their goals and live courageously.

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Join Me in Honoring Two Amazing Board Members

ggorham — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:49:30 +0000

At Penn-Mar, the guidance and support of our Boards of Directors have been essential to every achievement we’ve made and each goal we continue to pursue. That’s why I want to take a moment to celebrate two long-standing Board members who have gone above and beyond to support our mission and inspire us to dream bigger.

Though they are retiring from our board after many years of service, the dedication of Mort Zifferer and Jill Golueke will continue to have a lasting impact for many years to come. Their invaluable insights and ongoing support have been such a blessing in both my professional and personal life. Please join me in honoring my two great friends and the legacy of their service.

Mort Zifferer

Mort joined our Human Services Board in 1996 and served for 29 groundbreaking years. He has been a driving force behind Penn-Mar, and his passion for our mission and the people we support is astonishing. Mort’s devotion to Penn-Mar was not formed due to a personal connection to someone with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), yet from the moment he was exposed to our mission so many years ago, he fully embraced it. His leadership was instrumental in helping to grow our organization and the number of people we now serve.

A principled man of incredibly high standards, Mort is the guy you want on your side — not across the table — when you’re fighting a battle. Prior to his retirement, Mort served as Chairman and CEO of New Standard Corporation, a privately held metal products manufacturing firm, since 1983. His expertise in continuous improvement processes and sophisticated supply chain strategies made him an invaluable board member.

A voracious reader, Mort sent me a list of book recommendations which I would dutifully read and later discuss with him for more than a decade. No one has invested more in my leadership than Mort, and he was heavily involved in my 2012 transition from President/Chief Operating Officer to my current CEO position. I consider him a mentor and very good friend.

Mort also served many years on our Foundation Board and was one of the visionaries who challenged us to reach a $25 million endowment at a time when we had a small fraction of that in reserves. Today, the Foundation assets under management are approximately $20 million and quickly heading towards his $25 million vision and beyond.

When Mort speaks, people pay attention. He was highly respected by his fellow Board members. He saw government as our partner, not our adversary, but was a strong proponent of keeping government accountable. Whenever possible, he used his influence to help provide us with access to government legislators who funded our support services.

Penn-Mar honored Mort with our Distinguished Humanitarian Award in 2023, recognizing him as someone who courageously dedicated his life to service and showed unwavering support for Penn-Mar’s ongoing mission.

Mort and his wife Carolyn are also champions of the greater community. They supported and served on the boards of many of the region’s art and humanitarian nonprofits including WITF public television, York College of Pennsylvania, and the Appell Performing Arts Center. He also helped found the Cultural Alliance of York County.

Mort inspires all those who know him to dream big. We are so fortunate that he has been willing to invest whatever it takes to ensure that Penn-Mar will continue to reach its full potential. In recognition of those efforts, I’m pleased to report that on September 25, 2025, our Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Mort a Director Emeritus.

Jill Golueke

Jill Golueke joined Penn-Mar’s Human Services Board in July 2008 and was also one of the first members of our Foundation Board. After stepping down in June following 17 years of service, she is looking forward to spending more time with her family and grandchildren.

To know Jill is to love her. Many people have experienced her big personality in action as she has volunteered for a number of organizations, including Penn-Mar, for some 25 years.

A simple coaster with a Penn-Mar logo caught Jill’s attention at a luncheon she was hosting, and it was our lucky day when she asked, “I wonder what this organization does?” It wasn’t long after that moment that she requested a tour of the facilities for herself and her husband Steve. Since then, the couple has never stopped advocating for Penn-Mar.

Jill started out as a committee volunteer for our Gala, and soon she was the chair of the event. She continued as chair for 18 years! Her efforts helped turn a modest fundraiser into an annual Gala that became the “must attend” social event of the season, raising millions of dollars for Penn-Mar’s services.

In fact, our Gala was moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland to take advantage of the Golueke’s vast network of potential supporters. Jill and Steve introduced Penn-Mar to Breakthru Beverage, the distributor who has donated wine to the Gala for the past 25 years. She also hosted pre-Gala receptions at her home and encouraged one of her friends to do so as well.

Our Galas would never have achieved their current level of success without Jill’s personal involvement. Now, the next generation, guided by her expertise, is ready to take the event to the next level of excellence.

Fittingly, Jill and Steve were our Impact Award recipients at the 2020 Gala, where we publicly acknowledged and thanked them for the selfless dedication of their time, efforts, and resources on behalf of Penn-Mar’s mission.

We are deeply thankful for Mort and Jill, whose leadership, friendship, and generosity have left a lasting mark on Penn-Mar and the people we support. As they step into this next chapter, we wish them joy, fulfillment, and the same sense of purpose they have shared with us for so many years.

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DSP Week Formally Recognizes Our Direct Support Workforce

ggorham — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:17:57 +0000

DSPs are team members we value and appreciate year-round.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

From September 7–13, the nation will be observing Direct Support Professional Recognition Week.

When launching this special designation, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) emphasized that “Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are at the heart of in-home and community-based disability services. They deliver essential long-term supports that empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live independently, work in the community, spend their days meaningfully, connect with family and friends, and more.”

ANCOR advocates for inclusion and provides resources and support to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Its 2,500 members employ nearly 750,000 DSPs, who together support more than one in five people with IDD in the US.

The value of our DSPs is something that can never be assumed or overlooked. The quality of our services and ability to deliver on our promise to support people with IDD to live courageously in pursuit of their best life is dependent on these team members who provide direct support on a day-to-day basis.

Yet despite the array of valuable supports DSPs deliver in every corner of this country, this is a workforce in crisis.

Turnover and vacancy rates within the DSP ranks have skyrocketed in recent years, with turnover rates hovering just below 40% nationally and as many as one in eight DSP positions remaining vacant.

Despite the national shortage, Penn-Mar’s DSP retention rate is above average due to significant investments in career training which has improved our retention and advancement opportunities.

Programs like our Belonging initiative are designed to engage our workforce by having them collaborate with leadership to continually impact their work experience in positive ways.

Thirty percent of our DSP workforce has participated in our Career Ladders Program to learn how to weave Penn-Mar’s core values and standards of excellence through the credentialling process to find practical, positive ways to make them come to life for the people they support.

Our DSP workforce is highly motivated to pursue other educational opportunities as well. Some are in the process of pursuing college degrees in human services, while others are active participants in industry-related continuing education workshops, conferences, and seminars.

Other training opportunities like our Frontline Supervisor Certification Program Training are also available to DSPs and don’t require them to leave their person-centered supports behind. Their DSP experience only serves to strengthen their leadership roles as they transition to becoming mentors and managers.

We all have people in our lives that play invaluable roles. Occasionally, I find myself taking a step back to consider when the last time was that I told them how much I care about them and value our relationship.

During DSP Week, we formally take the time to thank our DSPs and acknowledge the daily, often unsung moments of connection and care that define the true spirit of this essential workforce.

As an organization, we are committed to cultivating an environment where appreciation is not reserved for a single week but rather embedded in our culture year-round. We strive to ensure our DSPs feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow — both professionally and personally — because their contributions form the foundation of our mission.

On behalf of the entire Penn-Mar organization, the people we support and their families, I am delighted to extend 24/7 heartfelt thanks to all our dynamic and committed DSPs, especially during their special week!

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Strategic Plan Identifies Four Priorities

ggorham — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:01:40 +0000

Focus on tech, growth and support opportunities

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Our mission at Penn-Mar is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live courageously in pursuit of their best life.

Our success in fulfilling this promise relies on thoughtful strategic planning that evaluates best practices and areas of improvement, aligned with a bold vision for future opportunities.

In our current Strategic Plan, we have identified four priorities that will build upon the many innovative initiatives already established within the organization.

Empowering Technology

We envision amazing opportunities in the tech space that will give the people we support the independence to live the life of their choosing and allow our team members to devote their time and energies to person-centered supports. We are piloting 25 tech-enabled community homes that will provide everything from voice activation systems to Smart equipment, safety, and energy enhancements. To help us adapt these life-changing technologies, the Aegon Transamerica Foundation has awarded us $25,000 for innovative Smart Home Technology for an additional 30 residences. The Arc Maryland’s SpArc Tank Initiative provided $6,500 to fund Smart Home technology for 10 additional houses.

Mission Based Growth Opportunities

I am passionate about how we take care of our team members. It’s imperative that we create an environment where they feel they have everything they need to be successful at their job. Our “Belonging” initiative was developed to use their input to explore and develop ways to make them feel more connected to our mission. We are highly motivated to retain and attract good talent. To become the employer of choice, we have supported our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) with growth opportunities such as the Career Ladders credentialling program, made possible thanks to the Michael James Pitts Endowment for the Advancement of DSPs, and have expanded that training to include a program designed for Frontline Supervisors. In addition to the Michael James Pitts Endowment supporters, we are also indebted to the generosity of Mike and Dawn Zgorski, who created the Zgorski Family Endowment for the Staff Training and Aid Fund. Part of that $1 million gift supports this essential new staff training. For the second year, Northrop Grumman has contributed funds to continue expanding our SHIFT Training to include additional DSPs, Community Job Developers, and team members within our organization to attain a credential that encompasses knowledge of technology integration, best practices, and person-centered assessment.

Exploring External Growth Opportunities

This strategy basically says that our leadership will continue to keep our eyes open for other organizations who may want to partner with us for all the right reasons. It’s not about getting to a certain size by a certain time through mergers and acquisitions. Rather, we want to have a good understanding of what is on the landscape. If there are opportunities for partnerships, we need to consider having those conversations. There are a lot of folks out there who do what we do. Could Penn-Mar be part of their succession plan for the benefit of both organizations? That’s what we will be exploring.

New Models of Support

As a learning organization, one of Penn-Mar’s core values is innovation. And while we continue to innovate our processes, we have enough humility to know that other providers are doing some incredible, cutting-edge things from which we could learn. This is not about doing something different just to do it. It’s about embracing the entire environment out there with an open mind for any thoughts or ideas that will help improve the lives of the people we support.

I am grateful to our Board of Directors for their dedication to our mission and their tireless efforts in helping to develop our Strategic Plan. I would like to pay tribute to Joy Keller-Brown, a former Penn-Mar Board Member, who died unexpectedly on June 16. With her husband Jeff, she spent over 40 years growing Keller-Brown Insurance Services in Shrewsbury. Joy served her community in leadership roles too numerous to mention and we were privileged to have had her support over these many years. Rest in peace, Joy.

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What Does It Mean to Belong at Penn-Mar?

ggorham — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:52:25 +0000

Creating a culture where everyone feels respected, heard, and empowered.

Everyone has a fundamental right to feel included in their workplace and community, although feeling “included” and “belonging” are not quite the same thing.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

To “belong” is to feel accepted and valued within a group or community, to experience a sense of connection with others, and where one’s presence and contributions are recognized and appreciated.

At Penn-Mar, we’ve spent time listening, learning, and looking inward to explore how our team members can feel more connected to our mission — supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live courageously and pursue their best life.

Our “Belonging” initiative doesn’t stop at fostering connection, and it is not designed to be a top/down process.

It is rooted in listening to individual voices and navigating the complexities of shared organizational experiences. By fostering open, candid conversations, we seek to bridge the gaps between diverse work responsibilities and create consistent practices that uphold respect, mutual understanding and equitable treatment across all levels.

Our approach for ensuring that all Penn-Mar team members feel a sense of belonging is to dig deep, leveraging the different life experiences we all have, in a positive rather than negative way, to unite rather than divide us.

The WHY of all this is to constantly improve our ability to attract and retain good team members and most importantly, for them to have a positive impact on the lives of the people with disabilities we support.

Foundationally our research with team members identified three specific areas needing improvement:

Connections: How we can better connect to the organization as a whole.

Consistency: Create consistent practices throughout the organization that are not situationally based on a person’s job or boss to foster respect and better job performance.

Leadership: Improve engagement between leadership team members so everyone understands what is going on at different levels of the organization.

To address these core areas, we created four workgroups under the umbrella of a Belonging Council to find ways to turn these identified goals into everyday practice.

The groups are now meeting on a routine basis to establish creative ways to make Socialization, Learning, Consistent Practices and Communications operational and integral to our mission to ensure that all team members feel respected, heard and empowered.

There is no “sell by” date to this process. In fact, we have publicized the names of Council members to allow for direct contact to keep the dialog open for any additional issues team members feel should be addressed.

Part of my agenda as the leader of Penn-Mar is to become a student of what our workforce is experiencing. As an organization we are saying we want to improve specific areas. The work of the Council is to ensure that we do.

So far, the feedback we have received from our initiative has been very validating. We are on track to do the right things to ensure a cohesive and dynamic culture.

You can train people to be proficient in anything, but you can’t train someone’s heart if it isn’t in the right place. Treating our team members with respect speaks to their hearts. It has a direct impact on the quality of support they provide each day to people with disabilities. When they feel respected, they are successful. And when they are successful, we remain true to our mission.

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Two Penn-Mar Team Members Walk Away with Honors at ANCOR Conference

ggorham — Thu, 22 May 2025 15:20:06 +0000

Strong leadership is more important than ever in uncertain times.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources), the leading voice in Washington for community-based providers like Penn-Mar, held their Annual Conference in San Diego last month.

This year was particularly special for two Penn-Mar team members who were publicly recognized for their leadership and commitment to providing supports for people with disabilities. It was a proud moment for our organization and an honor for me to be able to see both women receive the recognition they so deserved at this prestigious industry gathering.

After two years of training, Jen Skelly, our Director of PA Operations, graduated from the ANCOR Foundation Leadership Academy, where she took advantage of its training, mentoring and networking opportunities to help her grow as an influential leader in the field and to foster continuous growth for Penn-Mar’s team members.

At the conclusion of the training, participants were required to create a Capstone Project on the topic of their choice. Jen wanted to focus on something that would directly benefit Penn-Mar. She put all her efforts into a presentation entitled, “Advancing and Sustaining Leadership Development Activities at Penn-Mar.”

Within 24-hours of her presentation she was contacted by organizers at The ANCOR Foundation to develop and co-present a Conference seminar on her training experience called “Reimagining Leadership Development; Insight from the ANCOR Foundation Leadership Academy class of 2025.”

Another Penn-Mar team member, Christal Lovelist, was honored at the Conference as the Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year for Maryland. Over 500 DSPs from across the nation were nominated for this Award and Christal was one of only 53 chosen and recognized for their hard work and dedication to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Christal joined us in 2023 and made an immediate impact. An active participant in our Career Ladders Program with DSP-1 Certification, she supports 80 people in our Freeland Maryland Day Program. She is known for her innovative Day Program activities and willingness to cover shifts for Residential DSPs. Christal always goes above-and-beyond to meet the needs of the people she supports with compassion and creativity.

With its 2500 national members and the excellent programming at the annual Conference, ANCOR enhances providers’ ability to support individuals with IDD to be fully included and empowered in their communities. The association is a tireless champion for DSPs. They value the essential services DSPs provide and understand that they are not just a part of what providers do but the main component.

There was a lot of talk at the Conference about “uncertainty” as it relates to Medicaid funding. There is no question that cuts to that revenue stream would have a significant impact on how we deliver our services.

ANCOR does an outstanding job of making sure our federal legislators understand the importance of stable funding for programs that support people with disabilities and we as a provider will continue to collaborate with them to advocate for our fair share in federal budgets.

At Penn-Mar we’re guided by our Core Values. We are not one to walk around saying, “The sky is falling,” even during the toughest of circumstances. Our team members know we have an important job to do and are ever vigilant using the resources we have at hand in the most effective manner possible.

And in times of uncertainty, the strong leadership we cultivate becomes even more valuable as we navigate unknown territory. It can be scary, but it can also open the door to unforeseen opportunities.

My message to all of you following the many conversations last month with fellow industry professionals is that we at Penn-Mar will not be leading with fear but with innovative thinking and problem solving.

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