BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Officer for Intellectual Disabilities & Autism Day Services
Carrie Kontis serves as the Barber National Institute's Chief Officer of Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Day Services. Her scope of responsibility covers statewide day and employment services, as well as project search, agency with choice, family support services, and lifesharing services.
Carrie began her career at the Barber National Institute in 1983 as a Direct Support Professional in the position of live-in manager of a residential group home. During her over 40 years of service, she has held various positions such as a residential manager of an Intermediate Care Facility, program specialist, residential coordinator, associate director, director, vice president of Intellectual Disabilities Services and chief officer Intellectual Disabilities Services. Carrie has helped to lead various projects such as assisting to return individuals to their home community during several State Center dispersals, opening the first waiver residential homes, transitioning from Intermediate Care Facility service to the community RCH group homes, and previous programs such as children's homes, transitional and enhanced supported living services. She assisted in bringing Barber's services to Philadelphia and Allegheny counties. In addition, Carrie initiated and developed Lifesharing services at Barber as well as led the development of Barber services in the counties of Bedford, Somerset, and Warren.
Carrie earned a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from Gannon University, a certificate of behavior management from Edinboro University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Lock Haven University.
Carrie is active on various state committees and advocates for individuals, families, staff, and provider agencies. She co-chairs the Pennsylvania Association Resources Committee on Community Participation and is a member of the Lifesharing State Coalition Leadership team as well as the Regional Lead for the Western Region Lifesharing group.
Why I like best about Barber
Carrie says she works for Barber because she is devoted to assisting others to live person centered lives, make positive changes, and to quote Emerson "leave the world a bit better".
As a valued donor, you will be carrying on the legacy that our founder, Dr. Gertrude A. Barber, established in 1952 - helping our children and adults develop to their fullest potential. Your gift will help transform the lives of the more than 6,300 individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities or behavioral health challenges that we serve in Erie, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Somerset, Bedford, Warren, Corry and Girard. Thank you in advance for a gift that is truly making dreams come true.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- in 2008 As Controller
Jean M. Nielsen, joined the Barber National Institute in 2008 as Controller and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer. She is responsible for overseeing financial operations of all Barber-related entities; including internal and external financial reporting, tax filings, banking, as well as billing, accounts payable, payroll and accounting. She reports to the Barber Center Finance Committee and Boards of all Barber entities.
Prior to joining Barber, Jean spent seven years in public accounting as well as Controller for a manufacturing company. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Penn State Behrend. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). Currently, Jean serves on the Millcreek Education Foundation board and is a past president of the Penn State Behrend Alumni Society. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and two young boys, as well as volunteering at various Barber events.
Job Titles:
- Compliance Officer
- Chief Risk
Jenn Kennedy is the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at the Barber National Institute. She began her career with the Barber National Institute in 2013 as a Compliance Audit Manager and has held several positions within the Governance, Risk, and Compliance service line.
Most recently Jenn was the Vice President of Governance, Risk Management and Compliance and has developed a group of professionals who assist with maintaining and prioritizing compliance with various levels of regulation and oversight.
A graduate of Binghamton University and Widener University, completing a Master's Degree in Healthcare Compliance Law, Jenn has also published several academic papers and articles on the topic of Governance, Risk, and Compliance.
Job Titles:
- Chief Risk and Compliance Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
John Barber, J.D. is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Villanova University Law School. He was admitted to practice law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Federal District Court of Western Pennsylvania. He practiced law for 20 years and founded the firm Barber, Ridge, Foulk and McLaughlin. He is a member of the Erie County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.
John assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Barber National Institute in 1997 and became President and CEO in 2000.
John has served on many corporate and civic boards and has accepted, on behalf of the Barber National Institute individuals and team, a number of honors and awards, including being appointed as a Knight of the Equistrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Laurie Callaghan is an Information Technology (IT) Professional with more than 38 years of experience in both corporate and non-profit organizations and a graduate of Robert Morris University. As Chief Information Officer at Barber National Institute, she is responsible for the technology and information strategies of the organization's various Intellectual Disability, Behavioral, Educational, and administrative programs. Laurie has led numerous software and technology implementations and conversions of Financial, Human Resource, Payroll, Timekeeping and Electronic Health Record systems including spearheading the federal Electronic Visit Verification compliance at Barber across multiple programs involving more than 1,000 staff. She leads a team of 17 IT professionals supporting the organization.
Patrick Barber, CPA serves as the Barber National Institute's Senior Vice President and has administrative responsibility for information technology, finance, human resources and governance, risk management and compliance.
Patrick began his career at the Barber National Institute as a Direct Support Professional in transitional work services and summer camp programs. He has most recently served as manager of accounting, acting controller, and vice president of treasury management for the Institute.
Patrick is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. A Certified Public Accountant, Patrick has extensive experience in public accounting, having previously worked as a Senior Associate for Schaffner Knight Minnaugh & Company P.C. and as an advisory senior staff at the international accounting firm Crowe Horwath LLP where he specialized in Transaction Services.
Patrick is a fan of Cleveland sports, historical and fictional novels and enjoys golf and travel. Patrick is a third-generation Barber serving the Barber National Institute and is the great-nephew of the Institute's founder Dr. Gertrude A. Barber.
Robert Barber serves as the Barber National Institute's Senior Vice President and has administrative responsibility for intellectual disability services, behavioral health services, facilities, and fleet management.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Bob began his career at the Barber National Institute as a Direct Support Professional. Over the years, Bob worked as a DSP in both the residential and adult day service divisions. Since that time, he has held a variety of positions within the Institute, most recently serving as Chief of Staff.
Bob is a graduate of DePaul University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and holds a degree in Business Administration from Mercyhurst University.
Bob is a third-generation Barber serving the Barber National Institute and is the great-nephew of the Institute's founder Dr. Gertrude A. Barber.