Woodstock, CT – After a COVID hiatus last year, United Services once again recognized long-serving staff and welcomed new board members with its Annual Dinner Thursday at The Mansion at Bald Hill.

United Services President/CEO Diane L. Manning reflected on the tumultuous past two years, which has brought record increases to United Services behavioral health programs, and recognized the agency’s staff and board for their creativity and innovation to continue to serve the community.

United Services is the non-profit, community-based outpatient behavioral health center and Local Mental Health Authority for northeastern Connecticut. The agency operates more than 30 programs under its one administration, including outpatient mental health and addiction services, parenting and family programs, youth programs, crisis programs, domestic violence programs and community education and prevention programs.

Founded in 1964, United Services marked its 57^th anniversary this year.

“Meeting our communities’ needs has always been at the heart of everything we do,” said United Services President/CEO Diane Manning. “In northeastern Connecticut, that has always required creativity and innovation, and luckily for us we have a board and a staff that are always ready to answer that call.”

United Services elected new board leadership for the 2021-22 year as well as five new members at its annual meeting Wednesday.

United Services’ new board leadership includes chairman Diane Sauer of Storrs, and vice chairman Peter Manilow of Willington. Carol Kent of Canterbury will continue to serve as the board’s treasurer and Linda Parsons of Brooklyn will be the new board secretary.

Newly elected to the United Services Board of Directors were Kevin Bernier of Woodstock, Dr. Roland Lupien of Dayville, Dr. Carlita Cotton of Mansfield Center, Christopher Dooley of Brooklyn and Terry Berthelot of Mansfield.

Returning board members include Terri Pearsall of Putnam, John Deary of Pomfret Center, Anne Konczakowski of Windham, Michael Turano of Canterbury, Jeanne Nuhfer of Columbia, Sandra Flores-Gonzales of Glastonbury, Valentine Iamartino of Thompson, and Stephanie Harrington of Chaplin.

United Services also honored retiring board members Idun and Preston Green of Eastford and Todd Pearsall of Woodstock, all of whom served six years on the board.

United Services staff were honored for their long-standing service to the organization. As the agency did not hold an annual dinner in 2020, longevity recipients for the past two years were honored Thursday.

Celebrating 25 years was Physician’s Assistant Jackie Wackerman. Celebrating 20 years with the agency were: Executive Assistant Lydia Basnight, Senior VP/CFO Rob DeVerna, Case Manager Teresa Ducharme, Windham Area Support Services Manager Sandra Pambuku, Case Manager Kerrie Sisavat and Client Access Specialist Cheryl Vargas. IT Director Josh Longiaru, Medical Records Secretary Denyse Jones, Child Advocate Patti-Sue Brown, Community Living Counselor Debra Sullivan and Family Services Manager Tina DuVall all marked 15 years with the agency. United Services also recognized 14 employees who have been with the agency for five and 10 years.

About United Services, Inc.

United Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit and comprehensive behavioral health center, creating healthy communities throughout northeast Connecticut for more than 55 years by providing psychosocial, behavioral health, chemical abuse, primary care, care coordination, wellness and prevention services to the community, and employee assistance program services for business and industry.  With 12 locations and a staff of over 200, United Services operates more than 30 separate behavioral health programs, including the only domestic violence shelter for women and children in the region.  United Services, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  To learn more, visit  www.UnitedServicesCT.org.