Key Staff
Clyde B. Rush
Senior Vice President; Director, New York Region; and, Director, Human Resources and Training
Mr. Rush joined Phoenix House in June 2000 as Vice President and Director of Human Resources. He was subsequently promoted to Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources in February 2003. In October 2006, Mr. Rush assumed responsibility for the National Training function. In January 2009, Mr. Rush was named Director of the New York Region. Prior to joining Phoenix House, Mr. Rush retired from Bristol-Myers Squibb where he held a number of key human resources positions, most notably as Senior Vice President, Strategic Staffing from 1998-2000 and as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. Pharmaceutical Group from 1991-1997. In addition to over 30 years experience in general management, human resources, and training. Mr. Rush has designed, conducted and presented Leadership, Teambuilding and Management programs throughout the U.S. and numerous foreign countries. He received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Louisville.
Ian Christopher Alcazar
Vice President and Director, Outreach and Admissions
Mr. Alcazar joined Phoenix House in November 2008 as Vice President and Director for Outreach and Admissions. Prior to joining Phoenix House, Mr. Alcazar was the Vice President of Substance Abuse Services at Cornerstone of Medical Arts Center Hospital. Mr. Alcazar has over 17 years of clinical experience including positions as Senior Counselor and Clinical Supervisor for BRC; Assistant Director of Assessment at Samaritan Village; and, Director of Chemical Dependency Crisis Services at St. John’s Riverside Healthcare Network. Mr. Alcazar has an M.S.W in program administration and clinical treatment from the Hunter College School of Social Work. He is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); an Adjunct Professor at NYU; a NYU SIFI Certified Social Worker Field Instructor; and, a NYS OASAS Training Unit Faculty member.
Cari Besserman
Vice President and Director of Long Island Treatment Services
Ms. Besserman joined the APPLE organization as a vocational counselor in 1993 and continued with that program after it was acquired by Phoenix House. After a brief absence, she rejoined Phoenix House in March of 2000 as Deputy Director, Brentwood Mental Health Services. In December 2006 she was named Senior Director, Long Island Adult Services and in June 2007 she was promoted to Vice President, Long Island Adult Services. Ms. Besserman has worked with varied specialty populations such as the severely co-disordered; individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities; special education students with cognitive and physical impairments; and those with traumatic brain injury, chronic debilitating medical illness and mental illness. Ms. Besserman is a founding and current member of the New York Chariots of Fire Board of Directors, a nonprofit organization for competitive disabled sports and is a volunteer coach-trainer for wheelchair soccer. Ms. Besserman holds a B.A. degree in special education from Dowling College and a M.S. in Education with a specialization in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hofstra University. In addition, she holds current certification (CRC) through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
Traci Donnelly
Vice President and Director, Clinical Programming
Ms. Donnelly rejoined Phoenix House in December 2007 as Vice President and Director, Mental Health Services. Ms. Donnelly originally joined APPLE as a counselor in 1990. After a brief departure, she re-joined APPLE in 1996 and stayed with the organization during the timeframe when Phoenix House acquired APPLE. Her roles at APPLE during this period included Supervisor; Assistant Director and Clinical Coordinator of Mental Health Services; Senior Director of Mental Health Services; and Regional Director of Mental Health Services. In 2001 she left Phoenix House to accept a position as a Special Education Teacher in the Port Jefferson School District where her responsibilities providing education and workshops on mental illness and substance abuse. Ms. Donnelly holds a B.A in Psychology and a M.S. in Special Education from Dowling College. She also has a NYS Permanent Certification in Special Education K-12.
Shari E. Feld
Vice President and Director of Finance
Ms. Feld joined Phoenix House in November 1999 as Director of Finance for Phoenix Houses of Long Island. In November 2004, she was promoted to Vice President and Regional Director of Finance for the New York Region. Prior to joining Phoenix House, she served as Vice President of Finance for the Long Island Power Authority; Executive Director of Financial Resources for the New York City Department of Corrections; and, Finance Analyst for the New York City Department of Finance, the New York City Transit Authority and the New York City Human Resources Administration. Ms. Feld holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Public Policy and Program Analysis from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
L. Stephen Grande
Vice President and Director, Operations
Mr. Grande joined Phoenix House in October 2008 as Vice President and Director of Support Services. In this role, he is responsible for food services, purchasing, donated goods, maintenance, warehousing, transportation, and the facilities capital program. Prior to joining the organization, Mr. Grande spent 27 years in retail operations managing logistics, planning, IT, distribution, and facilities start-up and maintenance. He has extensive experience in operations and facility management, including implementation of several large distribution centers for companies such as The Museum Company, Lechters Houseware and IKEA. Mr. Grande has implemented and managed planning departments for companies such as Pierre Deux and TMC. He has also managed the fulfillment process for internet, catalogue and stores for nationwide retailers and he has extensive experience with integrating operations and systems. Mr. Grande holds a B.S. in Business Administration for the State University of New York at Oswego.
Pamela Gubuan
Vice President and Compliance Officer
To reflect the organization’s commitment to regulatory compliance, in January 2008, Pamela Gubuan was named Vice President and Director of Compliance. Ms. Gubuan originally joined Phoenix House as an internal auditor in December 1992, and later was named Internal Audit Director. Prior to joining Phoenix House, Ms. Gubuan held several internal audit and accounting positions at Harvard University, Massachusetts Financial Services, and KMG Main Hurdman, Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Gubuan holds a B.S.B.A., with a concentration in accounting, from Washington University in St. Louis. She is licensed as a Certified Internal Auditor in the State of New York.
Norwig Debye-Saxinger
Vice President and Director of Public Policy and Government Relations
Mr. Debye-Saxinger joined Phoenix House in April 1992 and previously served as Director of Program Planning and Research and Regional Director in New York. Prior to 1992, he was Executive Deputy Director of the New York State Division of Substance Abuse Services and worked with a series of New York State agencies responsible for the funding, licensing and monitoring of drug abuse treatment and prevention service providers. Mr. Debye-Saxinger holds a B.A. from Cornell University, and has done graduate work at both Georgetown University and the State University of New York at Albany.
Elizabeth Tremaine
Vice President and Director of Vocational Services
To reflect the organization’s commitment to expanding client programming, in May 2009, Ms. Tremaine assumed responsibility for the Region’s vocational services. Ms. Tremaine joined Phoenix House in December 1984 and was promoted to Vice President and Director, New York City Adult Services in June 2007. In July 2008, she assumed the position of Vice President and Director of the Jay Street Cluster (a number of Community Residence programs centered in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to her promotion to Vice President, Ms. Tremaine held many key positions including Director, Phoenix House Generations Senior Center; Director, Marcy II Outpatient Program; and Director, Prospect-Taconic Women’s Program. She was promoted to Director, Criminal Justice Programs where she supervised five correctional programs. After the expiration of the Criminal Justice contracts, Liz transferred to Phoenix Career Academy as Director of Aftercare and Re-Entry Programs. Ms. Tremaine attended Fordham University where she received a BA in Art History and Psychology. In January, 2008, she received her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter School of Social Work. She is a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor and was appointed to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Credentialing Board in 2000. She is also an OASAS CPM evaluator and she was recently appointed to the board of the Faith Mission Crisis Treatment Center.
Jose Rosario
Vice President and Director of Yorktown Academy
Mr. Jose Rosario joined Phoenix House in 1995 as the Director of the 185th Street Re-Entry Program. In 1996, he became the first Director of the 185th Street Parole Treatment Program, where he oversaw the operations of three separate programs – the 120 day Parole Residence Program, the 90 day Federal Probation program, and the 60 day N.Y.C. Department of Probation Program. In 1997, he transferred to the Long Island City facility as the Clinical Director. In 1999, Mr. Rosario left the organization to become the Director of BASICS, Inc., where he was successful in transforming the program into a leading Bronx treatment provider. In 2003, Mr. Rosario rejoined the Phoenix House as the Long Island City Clinical Director. In 2005, Mr. Rosario was selected to become the Director of the Prospect Place Re-Entry Program which later converted to a Community Residence. In 2007, he was promoted to Managing Director of the Long Island City campus. In June 2009, Mr. Rosario was promoted to Vice President and Director of the Yorktown Adolescent Academy.