Jeff Paterson

President & CEO

960 West Maple Ct
Elma, NY 14059 

Phone: 716-805-1555 

Bio

Jeff Paterson has led sasi since June 2022. He has focused on workplace culture to make sasi an employer of choice, and on keeping sasi at the cutting edge of supports and services.

Jeff is known for his passionate advocacy. As chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York and a board member of New York Disability Advocates, he is one of the region’s most visible advocates for better funding and public policy in the field. He is also a Board member of Person Centered Services Care Coordination Organization, and led the creation of the Class C Collaborative, a group of independent providers that is a part owner of the CCO.

Jeff has a long history of community volunteerism and leadership. In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Niagara Frontier State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission. He serves on the Board of Recovery Options Made Easy, a peer-based mental health service provider. He is a past Board member and chair of OLV Charities, part of Father Baker’s family of organizations, as well as a past Board chair of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. He previously served as vice chair of the Niagara Falls Human Rights Commission and has served on numerous other municipal and county entities.

Jeff came to sasi after serving for eight years as CEO of Empower, a Niagara County-based provider. Under his leadership, Empower became the first provider in New York State to complete the mandatory sheltered workshop transformation process. He worked in eldercare for more than a decade, holding senior leadership positions at the Health Association of Niagara County, Inc. There, he played a lead role in establishing a managed care program for frail elders in Niagara County, enabling them to remain at home with wraparound services. He served as HANCI’s interim CEO for several months before moving on to Community Music School of Buffalo as executive director. At the school, he established a music therapy practice and a grant-funded music program for children on the autism spectrum.

While Jeff is proud to be a CEO, “Dad” is his favorite title. He and his wife, Michele, live with their son, William, in Niagara Falls.

Jeff Paterson