Community Options National Staff
The strength of Community Options has always been its people. The careful selection and training of staff members has created a culture based on commitment to community-based support and respect for individual dreams. The corporate structure provides national support and local autonomy. The early decision to maintain one corporate entity nationwide and to centralize functional departments has proven effective. Planning, human resources, fiscal services, technology, training and public relations support are all based in Princeton, New Jersey.
This allows executive directors to concentrate on people and program issues. National staff members maintain a sharp focus on the corporate mission through connections with the people receiving services. This convivial atmosphere allows employees at every level to celebrate individual triumphs and to understand the direct link between job performance and the quality of life for people with disabilities. Employees are valued for the professional and personal talents they bring to their positions.
Robert P. Stack
Robert Stack founded Community Options in 1989 as one of the first nonprofit organizations in the nation to develop community-based housing and employment supports for persons with disabilities. Holding an MBA and BA from the University of Dayton, he also studied at University of Fribourg, University of Rome, and University of London. Robert taught at Kent State University and was a recipient of its Graduate Student Teaching Award. He also served as an adjunct professor for the graduate school at Kean University. Robert authored three books: I Matter-So Does Your Cause – Starting a Nonprofit, Meaningful Day: Day Program Services Curriculum and Staff Guidebook, and Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights, scheduled for release in September 2025.
David P. Sweeney
David graduated from Rutgers Business School with an MBA from LaSalle University. He has a CPA license in PA and is responsible for financial operations. David spent his career working in the healthcare sector managing operations. He has twenty years of comprehensive financial management experience.
Courtney Eidel
Courtney has an MBA from Georgian Court University and a BS in International Business and Management from Montclair State University. Courtney has over twenty years of experience in employee relations, talent management and compensation and benefits in both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Svetlana Repic-Qira
Svetlana oversees operations in Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. She earned a BA in Psychology MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Connecticut. Svetlana joined Community Options in 1998 as a Senior Direct Support Professional. She has also served as an executive director for North Jersey, a community support coordinator, and administrative coordinator.
Kerry Brady
Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of New York
Kerry received her BA in Psychology from Mercy College and holds a MA in Counseling Psychology from Long Island University. Kerry brings with her over 20 years of non-profit experience in compliance and operations management.
Lisa Smith
Lisa has worked over two decades at Community Options. She began her career as a Direct Support Professional and eventually promoted to executive director for southern New Jersey. She is responsible for federal, state and local compliance oversight, licensure, quality assurance and administers oversights for platforms memorializing individual plan monitoring and auditing.
Wei-Han Zhou
Wei-Han has a BA from Rutgers in Political Science. He worked for a Congressional leader and eventually Governor Christie. He joined Community Options in 2017 and has been promoted to Vice President. He oversees Government Relations, Media, Marketing, Grants and Fundraising. He interfaces with government leaders and funding entities for continued development and marketing.
Lacie Parker
Lacie joined Community Options in 2012 as a Direct Support Professional. After finishing her MA from Pennsylvania State University, she was appointed as Vice President. During her tenure she held various roles within the organization to include Program Manager, Program Specialist and Executive Director. Lacie began her career as a mental health worker for families with at risk youth.
Michael Burnett
Michael oversees operations in Arizona and Utah. Michael received a Master of Science in psychology from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Northern Arizona University. He brings nearly twenty years of experience to Community Options, including direct care, operations management, program development, and executive leadership. In addition to his work in the human services sector, Michael is a licensed counselor and holds a faculty position as a lecturer at Benedictine University where he teaches undergraduate courses in psychology and disability law.
Elizabeth Nelson
Elizabeth holds a BA in Criminal Justice and Sociology and a master’s in social work from Indiana University. She has over 15 years of experience in managing Medicaid waiver services across the country.
Tigest Alemu
Tigest began her career as a direct support professional, progressively building 15 years of experience and education in developmental disability and healthcare management. She recently became a Certified Project Management Professional and has a Master of Business Administration from Wilmington University in Delaware.
Hannah Bellefeuille
Hannah received her BA in Psychology from Saint Anselm College. Hannah brings over a decade of experience supporting people with disabilities, starting as a Direct Support Professional. Throughout her career, Hannah has held several leadership positions and was most recently Director of Operations for a provider agency in New Hampshire.
Noemi Rivera
Noemi received her BA in Sociology and MBA in Healthcare Management from New Mexico State University. Noemi joined Community Options in 2009 as a Direct Support Professional in Las Cruces, NM. Her career steadily progressed to Program Manager, Service Coordinator, Director of Program Services, Associate Executive Director and then to Executive Director.
Lindsey Daniel
Lindsey received her BA in Sociology from the University of South Carolina. Lindsey started her career with Community Options in 2007 and has 20 years of experience in the Human Services field. During her tenure with Community Options, Lindsey has worked in various positions to include Program Manager, Residential Director, and Executive Director.
Meika McClendon
Meika has a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Kentucky University. She began her career at Community Options three years ago as executive director of the Nashville region. Meika brings more than twenty-five years of experience in progressively responsible roles within the disability field including direct support professional, program manager, case manager, residential director, and corporate conservator.
Ashlyn Visser
Ashlyn received a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from Weber State University. She joined Community Options in 2024 as Utah State Director. A native of Utah, Ashlyn has over 11 years of experience in direct care and management for long term services and supports.