New president/CEO appointed to VGS

The Vocational Guidance Services Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Susie M. Barragate as the organization’s new president and CEO.

Barragate will succeed Robert Comben who is retiring at the end of this year, and has held both titles since 1997.

According to an agency news release, Barragate has served with VGS for more than 22 years, most recently as vice president of human resources and Lorain County Rehabilitation Services.

Barragate officially assumed the title of president Sept. 17 and will continue working alongside Comben until the end of 2018, at which time she will have the additional title of CEO.

Joe DuBois, chairman of the VGS Board, said the organization is honored and pleased that Barragate has agreed to serve in an expanded capacity, adding that an extensive hyperregional search was undertaken to find the right successor.

“After our first cut, we still had 90 candidates to consider,” he said. “Susie stood out to us, not only because of her extensive knowledge of the organization, but because we were impressed by her strategic vision and dedication to our mission.”

Joining the VGS human resources department in 1996, Barragate took on the additional responsibility of overseeing vocational rehabilitation services for the VGS Elyria facility in 2012, the release stated.

“I believe in this organization and am proud to be a part of the VGS success story,” Barragate said. “Under Bob’s leadership, VGS has grown tremendously and continues to provide award-winning services and programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

“I am excited about the possibilities for growth and look forward to building upon Bob’s legacy in establishing VGS as a leader in workforce development.”

Barragate has earned a degree in personnel and industrial relations from the University of Cincinnati, and is also a graduate of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Bridge Builders Class of 2013.

“Given that VGS is focused on helping people with disabilities reach their full potential and prepare them for the workforce, we believe that Susie’s operational experience, combined with her insights into the hiring process and job training, make her an ideal fit for expanding our work with our corporate- and government-based clients, as well as the individuals we serve,” DuBois said.

The organization serves more than 4,000 individuals with physical or mental disabilities, a history of incarceration or addiction, or other conditions that may limit employment opportunities, including wounded veterans or those diagnosed with PTSD.

The agency operates facilities in Cleveland, Elyria, Painesville and Columbus.

“Susie stood out to us, not only because of her extensive knowledge of the organization, but because we were impressed by her strategic vision and dedication to our mission.” — Joe DuBois, chairman of the VGS Board

For more information about VGS, visit vgsjob.org.

Barragate