“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”

- John C Maxwell

Board of Directors

One tenet of Community Action is maximum feasible participation by persons benefitting from agency resources. As such, each Community Action Agency is governed by a tripartite board of directors composed of equal parts of local elected officials, the low-income community, and public and private community stakeholders.

Board of Directors (2025-2026 Term)
Member Position
Lisa Samols President
Fanny Clements Vice President
Dr. Benjamin Friedell  Secretary
David Merzig  Treasurer
Dr. Elizabeth Blasco Member At-large
Douglas Brenner Member At-large
Daniel Butterman Member At-large
Dr. Alan Donovan Member At-large
Marguerite Dykes Member At-large
Amanda Mathewson Member At-large
Tim Parsons Member At-large
Susan Szczepanski Member At-large
Current as of 09.2025

Opportunities for Otsego Board of Director meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held the third Thursday of every month at 6:00PM. Meetings in July and August are to be determined. For more information, contact us.

 

Our History

1966     Opportunities for Otsego is incorporated on July 11th

1966     First offices open in the basement of the Otsego County Court House

1967     The first Head Start center opens

1975     Weatherization Assistance Program grant awarded

1979     Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services begin

1983     Rape Crisis Services (RCS) joins Opportunities for Otsego

1991     Aid to Battered Women (ABW) merges with Opportunities for Otsego

1992     Offices move to the newly constructed building at 3 West Broadway, Oneonta  

1995     RCS and ABW merge to form the “Violence Intervention Program”

2000     Building Healthy Families initiates services for at-risk families

2001     Early Head Start home visiting and center-based services begin

2003     Opportunities for Otsego initiates Wheels to Work

2004     Ribbon-cutting is held celebrating the opening of the homeless shelter

2012     Energy Services expands its fee-for-service program

2018     The Violence Intervention Program opens court-based Family Justice Center

2020     Opportunities for Otsego leads the local Census Complete Count Committee

2023     Emergency Housing Program awarded historic HUD funding to address rural homelessness

 

Affiliations

While Opportunities for Otsego is recognized as Otsego County's primary provider of services to low-income and disenfranchised individuals, our effectiveness is a reflection of the extent of our community partnerships and linkages. In addition to collaborations with various community partners, Opportunities for Otsego is affiliated with a variety of national, state, and regional associations.