CP Rochester and Happiness House Enter into Executive Staffing Agreement, Happiness House CEO to tak

Rochester, NY (May 23, 2013) With the planned retirement of CP Rochester President Brian C. Klafehn, the agency has signed a Executive Staffing Agreement with Happiness House/Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy (FLUCP), Inc. to provide senior leadership to CP Rochester. Effective May 20, 2013, Mary Walsh Boatfield assumed the position of President/CEO at CP Rochester, while continuing her role as CEO of Happiness House.

This is a complementary joint venture poised to create an opportunity for growth as well as endurance in today's difficult business climate,” said Boatfield. “Our 550 employees remain committed to our similar missions and will work together to provide the highest quality services to children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities.”

“The agreement will strengthen ties between the two vibrant organizations and provide a lifelong continuum of care to more than 3,600 individuals with and without disabilities. In addition, the creation of a more efficient administrative structure will allow both agencies to direct more of their funding toward the enhancement and expansion of much needed programs and services for children, adults, and families in Western New York.

Both CP Rochester and Happiness House will continue to operate as separate entities, retaining independent Boards of Directors. However, the agreement will allow the agencies to more easily conduct feasibility studies to determine if and when a more formal partnership is mutual beneficial to the organizations and the individuals they serve.

“It’s a very strategic move by both organizations to leverage resources, enhance quality programs and services, and become more cost-effective,” said Joyce Weir, Chair of CP Rochester's Board of Directors.

Boatfield, who has a degree in education and speech pathology, has been the CEO of Happiness House since 2001. An administrator for most of her career, she has been in the field of developmental disabilities for the past 33 years. Happiness House, a private non-profit educational, residential, health and human service organization, has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York since 1969. Klafehn, joined CP Rochester as Vice President of Operations/Chief Operation Officer in 1993 and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2007. CP Rochester, a partner member of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, was established in 1946 by parents if individuals with cerebral palsy and serves the greater Monroe County region.

Happiness House- Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association is a private nonprofit health and human service agency that has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York since 1969. Today with sites in Geneva, Canandaigua, Gorham, and Waterloo, Happiness House offers an array of educational program, recreational and family support services for children and adults with and without disabilities who reside in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. On average Happiness House serves 1,000 individuals and their families each year.

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