News
July 20, 2016Gettman Begins Tenure as Northern Rivers CEO
The Northern Rivers Family of Services board of directors is pleased to announce the official start of William (Bill) T. Gettman, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Gettman, who began his official duties earlier this week, will work together with President and Chief Operating Officer Audrey LaFrenier, LCSW-R and the Executive Leadership Team, to enhance the system of care that the 1,300-strong workforce of Northern Rivers and member agencies Northeast Parent & Child Society and Parsons Child & Family Center provide to the 11,000 children, adults and families they serve each year throughout New York State.
Gettman brings more than 30 years of executive management experience in nonprofit, private and public sector organizations. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of St. Catherine’s Center for Children in Albany. He also held the role of Executive Deputy Commissioner/Chief Operating Officer for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). He has also held leadership positions for private and public sector organizations focused on providing child welfare services, including MAXIMUS, the NYS Child Support Processing Center (formerly Lockheed Martin IMS), the NYS Department of Social Services and UNISYS Corporation.
Gettman earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Religion from Ohio Wesleyan University and his Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University. He serves as Chairman of the New York State Justice Center Advisory Council and is a Member of the New York State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council. He is a member of the Albany County Homeless Coalition, a treasurer and board member of the State Children’s Mental Health Coalition and serves on the Board of Directors of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA).
“Bill joins us at a transformational point in our history,” said Kimberleigh Phelan, chair of the Northern Rivers Board of Directors. “We are confident that he is the right person to lead us in developing an infrastructure that will support us in continuing to provide care for those we serve – and guide us forward.”
“I am looking forward to jumping right in and getting to know the team who provides our care, and the children, adults and families who receive it,” said Bill Gettman, Northern Rivers CEO. “The Executive Leadership Team and I are committed to supporting the rich traditions of care the Northeast and Parsons workforce have provided for more than 300 combined years, while keeping an eye toward the future.”
Please contact Eugene White at 518.701.4927 or Eugene.White@northernrivers.org if you would like to coordinate an interview with Bill.
