Healthy Community Alliance- Staff

Sharon J. Mathe
Executive Director

Sharon is a registered nurse with an in depth understanding of rural health issues. Prior to coming to the Alliance, Mathe served as Program Administrator for the Chautauqua County Health Network and as Senior Policy Analyst for the Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System. Previously she was Director of Planning & Development for the Southern Tier Health Care System. She also was a grant coordinator for Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Gowanda and an educator at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, Springville.

A Therapeutic Touch Practitioner, Sharon developed a beginner’s learning program for nurses, nursing assistants, Hospice staff, counselors and consumers. A resident of Ellicottville, Mathe is involved in numerous community activities and serves on a number of non-profit boards and committees including HealthforAll of WNY, as vice president of the Maternal & Child Health Network, and treasurer of Coordinated Care.

Mathes@hcanetwork.org

Elizabeth Accordino
Assistant Director & Public Relations Coordinator

Betty is assistant director and public relations coordinator. She is is responsible for developing and producing newsletters, press releases, brochures, videos, public service announcements and other marketing materials. A large portion of her time is spent researching and writing grant proposals.

Betty works with the staff of the youth counseling and parent empowerment programs to ensure their continuation.

She has 25 + years experience in rural health care issues, public relations, grant writing, and fund raising. Betty holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree from SUNY Empire.

She lives in Perrysburg.

Accordinob@hcanetwork.org

Traci R. Hopkins
Management Services Coordinator

Traci graduated from SUNY college @ Fredonia with a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration. She worked as an intern at the Alliance during her senior year and was subsequently hired. Traci is responsible for financial management at the Alliance including grants and contract management, budgets, financial reporting, and accounts payable and receivable. She also oversees human resource services and coordinates all aspects of Personal Wellness Profile health risk appraisals, Traci also supervises Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus enrollment efforts.Traci lives in Chaffee, and was a member of the American College of Health Care Executives through SUNY college @ Fredonia.

Hopkinst@hcanetwork.org

Sharon Noecker
Community Programs Coordinator

Sharon is the Alliance’s Community Programs Coordinator. A lifelong resident of the Gowanda area, Sharon graduated from Jamestown Community College in 1997. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from SUNY Fredonia in 1999.

Sharon is the face of the Alliance's nationally recognized Fit & Fun program, bringing Taste Testing, Fitness Bucks, Sticker Program, and Fit & Fun Family Nights to schools throughout Western New York.

She also oversees the Alliance's Van Transportation Program with Love InC, providing driver orientation, education, and more.

Sharon recently completed a children's book, "Abby Eats a Rainbow," written specifically for the Fit & Fun program and designed to encourage young children to eat healthy foods. Publication and distribution are expected over the next several months.

Noeckers@hcanetwork.org

Nancy Black
Administrative Assistant/Office Manager

Nancy brings a great deal of office management experience with her after working for many years at Danny Heinemann & Sons, Inc. in Sardinia. Most recently she spent a year living in China when her husband’s work required him to be there. She has three children and five grandchildren but finds time to pursue her favorite hobbies - gardening and reading.

Blackn@hcanetwork.org

Stacy Hubbard
Facilitated Enroller

Stacy served in the United States Air Force and received an honorable discharge 1993. Her prior experience includes four years as ER Registration Clerk at Olean General Hospital. In 2000 Stacy obtained her NYS Realtor License from the WNY Association of Realtors. In March 2006 Stacy joined the Alliance through a contract with the Cattaraugus County Department of Aging to assist the elderly and general public with the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. Since January 2007 she has served as the Alliance’s Facilitated Enroller for Child Health Plus helping Erie County residents through the enrollment process for Child health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid. Stacy resides in Cattaraugus, NY with her husband, Dan and two children.

Diane Brooks
Counseling Supervisor, Rural Youth Counseling Program

Diane is retired from Gowanda Central School where she served as School Counselor/Director of Guidance. Diane holds a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education and Advanced NYS Certificate in Counselor Education. She is a licensed NYS Mental Health Counselor. Her years of experience working with children and families are a tremendous asset to the youth counseling program.

Lynda Chudy
Educator, Parent Empowerment Program /
Counselor, Rural Youth Counseling Program

As Educator for the Parent Empowerment Program, Lynda facilitated parenting classes and assists Rural Youth Counseling Program counselors in service coordination and follow up. Lynda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently works full time as a Family Consultant at the Center for Family Unity in Salamanca.

Pamela Grzechowiak Counselor, Rural Youth Counseling Program

Pamela Grzechowiak has Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Violence. She has been working with children and families since 2004 including her position as Community Supervisor & Skill Builder with Erie County's Wrap Around Program.

Patrice Olson

Patrice Olson is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She earned her master's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has many years of experience providing counseling to children and youth, in addition to family and couples counseling. Prior to coming to Healthy Community Alliance, Patrice worked for Catholic Charities which enabled her to work with diverse populations.

Priscilla Stark

Through a contract with the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services, Priscilla works at the department’s main offices in Olean educating clients on how health insurance and Medicaid work together. She also provides information about Family Health Plus and helps people find Primary Care Providers to meet their health care needs. Priscilla is also responsible for mailing information and forms about managed care health insurance to clients that cannot visit the office in person and she assists clients in resolving any billing problems they might have.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Priscilla provided managed care services through Southern Tier Health Care System. She also worked in the Accounting Department of the Castle Corporation in Olean for 21 years prior to the closing of that well known Olean landmark.

Joy Lavelle
Cattaraugus County LTC Insurance Program Coordinator

Joy Lavelle is the Long Term Care Insurance Coordinator, as well as HIICAP (Health Insurance Information and Counseling Assistance Program) Coordinator. Based in the Cattaraugus County Department of the Aging in Olean, NY, Joy is responsible for educating the public on the benefits of Long Term Care Insurance, as well as counseling seniors on their health insurance options.

She does public presentations throughout the county, as well as individual counseling in a home or office setting. She has studied under the Center for Medicare Services and will complete enough hours of study in 2008 to be certified as a Health Insurance Counselor. Joy brings not only knowledge to her position, but a passion to serve those who need unbiased information and assistance in today’s maze of health insurance and long term care insurance options.

Joy lives in Steamburg, NY with her husband Tim, where she happily pursues her other life’s passion – breeding exceptional Doberman Pinschers and doing Doberman rescue.