News
December 17, 2020Consumer Directed Choices Names New Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors of Consumer Directed Choices (CDChoices) is excited to announce that Christopher Graber has been appointed to serve as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the $42 million nonprofit organization. Since 1997, CDChoices, headquartered in Albany, N.Y., has helped seniors and individuals with disabilities maintain or regain independence by empowering them to manage their own home care.
CDChoices Board Chairperson, Jane-Marie Schaeffer, Esq., said, “Chris is a proven leader who has excelled at strategic planning, execution, growth and fiscal responsibility. His business acumen, integrity, passion for diversity and inclusion along with his strong track record for initiating change will further transform and move the organization forward. Chris has a wealth of industry knowledge and institutional tenure which makes him uniquely qualified to lead CDChoices today and into the future. His philosophy aligns with the guiding principle in which the organization was founded by the late Constance Laymon—change the way home care service is delivered.”
Graber has been employed with CDChoices since 2006, appointed to Interim CEO in July 2020 and, immediately prior to that, Graber was the corporation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for nine years. As an integral part of CDChoices’ financial operations, Graber gained institutional and intimate knowledge of the organization’s operations, finances, and unique services that CDChoices provides to disabled individuals in the community. Throughout his tenure with CDChoices, Graber was instrumental in developing and implementing innovative initiatives within CDChoices which greatly improved operations and drove the organization’s growth. With his experience and a keen eye for growth, Graber is determined to lead CDChoices towards expansion and new heights of success.
Graber was selected following an extensive multi-state search process which resulted in a field of exceptional CEO-level candidates. The high level of interest in the position made the Board’s selection process challenging, but it is a strong testament to CDChoices’ reputation in the business community. Ultimately the Board’s selection of Graber to lead CDChoices in this crucial role is a strong affirmation of the exceptional skills and experience that he has brought to the organization for nearly fifteen years along with the Board’s commitment to growing CDChoices.
“It is truly an honor to lead this exceptional organization of creative, dedicated and talented team members that work tirelessly to provide a choice for our Consumers. I look forward to working closely with the Board, members of the leadership team, and all our team members to build an even stronger foundation for the organization moving forward in support of our most important assets, our Consumer community. Over the last few months, we have made so much progress together and I continue to be incredibly impressed by our team and am now prouder than ever to lead us to continued success. This is a terrific opportunity that any leader would welcome, and I am grateful to the Board of Directors for the trust they have in me to guide CDChoices into the future.”
CDChoices Board Vice Chairperson, Scott Cehowski, who is also a Consumer using CDPA said, “Chris is the right choice to lead CDChoices into the future because he has been dedicated and shows a tremendous admiration and compassion for the Consumer and their Personal Assistants. Chris’ leadership style aligns with CDChoices’ mission and values because he truly believes the main goal is to empower independence for all of those in the program.”
Chris was born and raised in Troy, N.Y. He currently lives in Clifton Park with his wife Naomi. Chris graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
About Consumer Directed Choices: Consumer Directed Choices, Inc. (CDChoices) is a private, nonprofit corporation that acts as a Fiscal Intermediary providing payroll and program administration services to seniors and people with disabilities (Consumers) who employ consumer-directed Personal Assistant workers. CDChoices empowers Consumers who receive home care to enjoy greater flexibility and freedom of choice in obtaining services. The organization continues to be run by a diverse group of individuals with disabilities and by others who share the dream of changing the way home care service is delivered. CDChoices is an organization structured around self-determination – the fundamental principle that individuals should have the ability to determine their own care and thus, their lives, to the greatest extent possible.
Headquartered in Albany, New York, CDChoices has served more than 3,250 Consumers in the Greater Capital Region, Hudson Valley and North Country, who have employed more than 9,900 Personal Assistants since 1997. In 2019, CDChoices was recognized by the Capital Region Chamber as ‘Nonprofit of the Year.’ Learn more by visiting cdchoices.org.
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