Leadership

YAI Network’s leadership team oversees the day-to-day operations of YAI and its affiliate agencies.

George Contos

Chief Executive Officer

George Contos is the Chief Executive Officer of YAI, a role which he undertook in September 2015 from his position as YAI's Chairman. As a proactive change agent for the YAI Network, George restructured YAI’s senior leadership team; introduced a regional, person-centered operational model; and continues to promote an agency-wide culture of innovation and engagement by integrating technology across the organization, including in the day-to-day lives of people YAI supports. Leading YAI through a...Read more

Kevin Carey

Chief Financial Officer

Kevin directs the financial operations for YAI and its six Affiliate Agencies with combined annual revenues of $215MM and net assets of $34MM. He also oversees the Program Development Department, manages YAI’s expansive real estate portfolio, and oversees the Facilities Department, which maintains more than 180 residences. Kevin has extensive experience in financial management and strategic planning in the nonprofit and public sectors. He began his career as the Operations Manager for the Lower...Read more

Marie Cavallo

Chief Quality, Compliance, & Ethics Officer

Marie oversees the YAI’s adherence to laws, regulations, and the agency’s internal policies. Before joining YAI, she spent 25 years at AHRC-NYC where she served as Director of TBI Services, Associate Director of Adult Day Services and, most recently, as Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer. From 1983 – 1994, Marie oversaw numerous research and training projects at the NYU Medical Center Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Head Injury and Stroke. During that time, she also served on...Read more

Ralph Coloma

Executive Director, National Institute for People with Disabilities/New Jersey

Ralph serves as the Executive Director for the National Institute for People with Disabilities of New Jersey (NIPD/NJ), a YAI Network agency that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). In this role, Ralph has worked to transition the agency from a contract model of health insurance reimbursement to a fee-for-service model. Although he has been with YAI for more than 22 years, Ralph’s experience in the field extends back to his parents’ work with...Read more

Ravi Dahiya

Chief Program Officer

Ravi manages YAI’s programs that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in every aspect of their lives, including residential, day, and employment programs. Ravi rejoined YAI after a decade of service at Innovative Resources for Independence (IRI), where he served as the Associate Executive Director for Program Operations and Quality Improvement. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, Ravi has been a pioneer in advancing quality services for people...Read more

Rae Eisdorfer

Executive Director, Manhattan Star Academy

Rae is the Director at Manhattan Star Academy (MSA), a YAI network agency and nonprofit private school that serves students with a wide range of disabilities. Rae and her team were fundamental to the founding of MSA, which began in 2011 with nothing more than two students, their families, and financial support from YAI. Prior to joining MSA, Rae was the Senior Principal of the New York League for Early Learning Gramercy School in Manhattan, which was cited by the New York State Department of...Read more

Hope Levy

Executive Director, Premier HealthCare

Hope is the Executive Director for Premier HealthCare, a YAI Network agency that provides primary care and specialty outpatient services to patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). In this role, she is charged with revitalizing Premier’s medical, dental, and mental health services. For more than 20 years, Hope has held increasingly senior roles in the I/DD field. Before joining Premier, Hope served as the Senior Director of Business Development and Government Relations...Read more

Russell Miness

Corporate Counsel

Russell brings almost 15 years of legal experience to YAI where he oversees the legal function of the organization, advises departments and staff on pending legal issues that affect the organization and the people it supports, negotiates contracts on behalf of YAI, oversees all judicial actions involving YAI, and supervises YAI’s external legal counsel. Additionally, he ensures that YAI and its Board of Trustees engage in best practices regarding corporate governance while conforming to the...Read more

Anthony Ottrando

Chief Human Resources Officer

Anthony oversees one of YAI’s strongest assets: its staff. Since joining the organization in 2015, he has strengthened talent acquisition and performance management, and has made dramatic improvements to systems and administrative processes throughout YAI. Anthony has led interdisciplinary teams to address retention throughout YAI’s 4,000-person workforce, resulting in incentive initiatives, enhanced benefits, and new compensation structures. A career human resources professional, Anthony has...Read more

Peter Taback

Chief Engagement & External Affairs Officer

Peter has worked at some of the healthcare sector’s most effective organizations to build public understanding of health disparities, access, and new research. At YAI, he has applied this experience to disseminate core ideas about the critical need for comprehensive services that improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to joining YAI, Peter served as Chief Communications Officer at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, working...Read more