Leadership
Renee A. Filip
President & CEO
Welcome to Our Aspire Website!
For 75+ years, we are proud to celebrate a passionate commitment to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities!
Our story begins with Sherwood Moss, who was born in 1945. A year and a half after his birth, his parents learned he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. At that time, there were no programs to support their son’s needs. They worked with the area Junior League and community leaders to garner support for their son. In September 1947, the Cerebral Palsy Association of Western New York was founded. After decades of growth, learning, advocacy, and a name change, we now provide a full scope of services for all diagnoses, beginning with Early Intervention through palliative care – and all services in between.
We are proud of our beginnings. We are proud of the impact that we have been making on the individuals we support and our impact on our community. We are most proud of the impact each and every individual has made for themselves and those around them!
I invite you to browse our website. Feel free to ask questions. We want to be your resource for whatever it is you need. We look forward to always serving the Western New York community!
Stay well, and be good to yourself!
Carrie Spence
Chief Operating Officer
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
– Nelson Henderson
Jennifer Ball
Chief Financial Officer
“We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.”
– Maya Angelou
Melissa Roth
Chief Human Resources Officer
“Leaders don’t look for recognition from others, leaders look for others to recognize.”
– Simon Sinek
John Cole
School Administrator
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller
Mary Anne Coombe
Vice President of Day Habilitation Services
“Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feeling.”
– M. Scott Peck
Michele Dodson
Director of QA and Compliance Officer
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
– Walt Disney
Martha Farewell
Executive Vice President of Clinical Services
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, compassion, humor, and style.”
– Maya Angelou
Christine Lalka
Vice President of Community and Independent Living Supports
“Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different.”
– Indra Nooyi
Jeffrey Nail
Vice President of Environment & Safety
“If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be more than you are now.”
– Shifu
Bob Pettit
Executive Vice President of Service Operations
“All is well since all grows better.” – Andrew Carnegie
Megan Rechin
Vice President of Communications & Growth Opportunities
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words. But rather, short easy words like: What about lunch?” – Winnie the Pooh
Carrie Spence
Chief Operating Officer
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
– Nelson Henderson
Jennifer Ball
Chief Financial Officer
“We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.”
– Maya Angelou
Melissa Roth
Chief Human Resources Officer
“Leaders don’t look for recognition from others, leaders look for others to recognize.”
– Simon Sinek
John Cole
School Administrator
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller
Mary Ann Coombe
Vice President of Day Habilitation Services
“Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feeling.”
– M. Scott Peck
Michele Dodson
Director of QA and Compliance Officer
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
– Walt Disney
Martha Farewell
Executive Vice President of Clinical Services
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, compassion, humor, and style.”
– Maya Angelou
Christine Lalka
Vice President of Community and Independent Living Supports
“Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different.”
– Indra Nooyi
Jeffrey Nail
Vice President of Environment & Safety
“If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be more than you are now.”
– Shifu
Bob Pettit
Executive Vice President of Service Operations
“All is well since all grows better.” – Andrew Carnegie
Megan Rechin
VP of Communications & Growth Opportunities
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words. But rather, short easy words like: What about lunch?” – Winnie the Pooh