Aspire of WNY is proud to formally announce recent additions and promotions within our agency’s administration team. These promotions and additions are critical as we continue to better work towards an innovative future focused on efficiencies, health and safety, and executing our lived mission.
Michele Dodson
Vice President of Quality & Compliance, Corporate Compliance Officer
First, join us in congratulating Michele Dodson on her recent promotion to Vice President of Quality & Compliance. She will also maintain her role as Corporate Compliance Officer.
Michele joined Aspire of WNY as a Direct Support Professional in 1996. She holds a BA in Psychology from Buffalo State College. Michele has volunteered her time at Dance Special Inc. using her skills as a certified dance instructor to teach individuals with I/DD the joys of expressing themselves through dance. Michele has held multiple roles within the agency as a Team Coordinator and Behavior Management Coordinator before moving to the Quality & Compliance Department in 2012. Michele is a DDAWNY Compliance and QA/QI Committees member, a Labor Relations Alternatives Level 1 Certified Investigator, and a Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics member.
As VP of Quality & Compliance, Michele’s goal is to improve the overall quality of services provided to the individuals we support and build upon our current compliance processes to help make Aspire of WNY the preferred service provider in our area.
Michele enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, especially attending sporting events where they can cheer for the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, or any other Buffalo sports team. Congratulations, Michele!
Tracy Harrienger, Esq.
Executive Vice President of Safety, Security & Risk Management
Tracy joined us in 2024 as a consultant and was recently asked to become a permanent Aspire of WNY senior administration team member. Congrats to Tracy! Tracy is an attorney with decades of experience in private practice and as general counsel to one of the largest not-for-profit agencies in the region.
In private practice, he was involved in hundreds of litigations, complex negotiations, and transactions where he practiced before all levels of courts in New York, including local, family, surrogate, supreme courts, the Fourth Department Appellate Division, the NYS Court of Appeals, and a successful appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice.
In his role as general counsel, he helped establish statewide industry precedent through court process and regulator interaction while overseeing the massive expansion of operations from affiliations and mergers to the creation of new entities. Additionally, he oversaw many departments and programs, all of which provides him a very unique and broad industry-focused skill set.
As Executive VP of Safety, Security & Risk Management, Tracy’s goals are to help make Aspire of WNY one of the premiere service providers in the region by focusing on risk mitigation, processes, proactive planning, and utilizing experience to help create a strategic, safety-always culture at the agency. Congratulations, Tracy!
Nicole Gallagher
Vice President of Residential Opportunities
Nicole joined Aspire of WNY towards the end of Q4 in 2024. Nicole brings 25 years of career experience in healthcare operations within post-acute care organizations. She strongly emphasizes delivering high-quality clinical care and services to individuals with complex clinical needs.
She holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology. Her passion for the healthcare industry is rooted in her desire to give back to those who need assistance and improve their lives by providing the highest quality of care. Nicole aims to elevate the Residential Opportunities Division beyond expectations, ensuring quality care while promoting independence for those we serve. She looks to work with the Residential Opportunities team to foster a progressive vision that empowers individuals to achieve the level of independence they deserve within the community.
Personally, Nicole is a proud mother of two beautiful daughters. Her eldest daughter, currently pursuing a nursing degree, was originally a twin to a brother. Tragically, Nicole’s son (her daughter’s twin brother) passed away due to complications arising from the twins being born early, at 24 weeks. Nicole’s son would have required Aspire of Western New York’s services if he had survived. Nicole shares that this connection brings her life experiences full circle and is one of the biggest reasons she wanted to work for Aspire of WNY, stating, “I can now give back to the community and contribute to the exceptional care Aspire of WNY offers—care that would have supported my family had he survived.” Nicole also has an adopted daughter, and the process of securing her adoption through Baker Victory Services has further aligned with our agency’s mission to ensure individuals in need find care and support.
Nicole is excited to begin her professional and personal work at Aspire of WNY. Congratulations and welcome to the team, Nicole!
