FORMER UNITED WAY CEO JOINS FACULTY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The Professional Development Center (PDC) of Westchester Community College, one of the premier training organizations in Westchester County, today announced the addition of Ralph Gregory, former CEO of United Way, as a member of its faculty. Gregory will focus attention on professional and volunteer development programs for not-for-profit organizations. 

The PDC was founded in 1984 as a resource to help local businesses with their training and professional development needs. It delivers courses in a wide range or area, such as leadership, IT, and communications. The PDC customizes programs for it clients and works in partnership with them to ensure positive results. 

Gregory brings to the PDC a lifetime of experience in the field of non-profit management. He served as the President and CEO of the United Way for Westchester and Putnam from 1981 to 2008. Gregory was previously the executive director of the Hall Acres Residential Treatment Center for neglected and abused children in West Virginia and a multi-site senior center operation in Ohio. He joined the United Way in Dayton, Ohio in the mid-1970s as the associate executive director.

“This is a pivotal time for non-profits. A weak economy means that many non-profits will need to find new and innovative ways to raise money and work with their boards,” said Harry Horowitz, Director of the Professional Development Center. “The PDC is committed to making sure that non-profits have everything that they need to succeed.”

The PDC has provided training for many of Westchester’s non-profits, such as Neighbor’s Link in Mt. Kisco, the Friends of Parks, and the Richmond Group. It has provided training on strategic planning, business communication, and public relations, all with the aim of helping the organizations reach their strategic goals.

“Non-profits are an essential part of our community. In these tough times they are being called on to play an even larger role in helping the growing number of people who are hurting financially,” said Ralph Gregory. “Non-profit volunteer boards and professionals are being asked, in spite of unusually difficult challenges, to respond in ways that make the greatest difference. That is why the Professional Development Center’s expanded offerings for non-profits are a critical resource for those in leadership positions today.”

The Professional Development Center, one of the premier training organizations in Westchester County, provides training and coaching services in topics ranging from information technology, language, and organizational development that make individuals and organizations more productive. The PDC is a department of the Division of Continuing Education at Westchester Community College. For more information, please contact PDC Director Harry Horowitz at 914- 606-6669 or visit www.sunywcc.edu/pdc.