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Staff Changes – July 2021

FOND FAREWELL

  • Clare Walsh Miller, Chief Program Officer

It is very bittersweet for us to announce that Clare will be retiring on October 1st. Our athletes and mission have been at the center of everything Clare does. Her love for them and passion for our mission just oozes from her pores each and every day.

Clare started her Special Olympics journey as a volunteer aquatics coach in New Jersey and then served on the staff at Special Olympics International.  She began with SOPA as the Eastern Field Coordinator in 1989.  A few years later she accepted the PR Director position, but she really knew her passion was with Field Services.  She returned there when she accepted the VP of Programming role and rose to become the organization’s first Chief Program Officer.  Along the way Clare started, nurtured, and grew programs that have truly impacted thousands of lives. 

Please join us in thanking Clare for touching the lives of countless Special Olympics athletes, families, volunteers and staff.  We are all better because of her love and dedication.

  • Trang Nguyen, Senior Staff Accountant

It is with sadness that we report the resignation of Trang Nguyen effective on July 16, 2021.

Trang was a valuable team player of the Finance Department for the past 8 years.  She will be missed and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.

  • Coryna Barberis, Regional Administrative Manager

Coryna Barberis has decided to take another position.  Her last day with SOPA will be July 23rd.  In her new job she will be working as a fulltime Volunteer Coordinator, getting back to where her heart is. Coryna has done a fantastic job as the first Regional Administrative Manager, having been instrumental in setting up new systems, processes and our regional office. 

Please join me in wishing Coryna well in her next position. 

  • Beth Boardman, Programming Department Coordinator

Beth Boardman will be retiring in September. Working with her for more than four years has been a joy for many reasons. Not only is she a true professional who could be counted on to complete work and projects without a fuss, but she could also be trusted to manage sensitive information.

Beth oversaw our background check process and more recently, developed and implemented SOPA’s renewal process as well. Her last day will be on Thursday, September 2nd. Please join us in thanking Beth for her years of dedication to SOPA and wish her the very best in her family focused future!

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

  • Nate Garland, Chief Mission Officer

We are pleased to share that we have hired Nate Garland as our Chief Mission Officer. We completed a very comprehensive search process that attracted more than 60 applicants, and the team that interviewed Nate included 2 Board members (one of whom is an athlete), the entire Senior Leadership Team, and all 4 of our VPs. Nate’s first day will be Monday, July 26th.

Nate’s first connection with Special Olympics was when he volunteered at SO Maryland’s Spring Games when he was in high school. But, the real magic of Special Olympics happened when the Myrick family moved to Kent Island in approximately 2001. The family became regulars at the restaurant Nate’s family owns there. Nate was the GM at the time and hired Jimmy Myrick (SOMD athlete) to work at the restaurant. Jimmy then pulled Nate into SO, first as a Unified partner and then as a corporate sponsor. That eventually led to Nate being recruited for the SOMD Board of Directors where he served for 5 years. Nate voluntarily stepped down from the Board in order to pursue a staff position on the program team as the Director of Outreach for SOMD. He was promoted to Vice President of Field Services & Outreach and then to Chief Program Officer. After approximately 7 years with the program team, the CEO of SOMD asked Nate to lead their development team. Nate became the Chief Development and Marketing Officer in 2013 and served in that role for another 7 years.

His passion for our mission and love for our athletes are clear, and we’re thrilled to have Nate joining the SOPA team.

OPEN POSITIONS

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the SOPA team, please pass the word along about our open positions under employment opportunities.