Graber named CEO of Consumer Directed Choices
ALBANY, N.Y. » The Consumer Directed Choices board of directors recently announced that Christopher Graber has been appointed to serve as its new CEO.
Since 1997, the Albanybased nonprofit organization has helped seniors and individuals with disabilities in the greater Capital Region, Hudson Valley and North Country maintain or regain independence by empowering them to manage their own home care.
“Chris is a proven leader who has excelled at strategic planning, execution, growth and fiscal responsibility,” CDChoices board chairperson Jane- Marie Schaeffer, Esq. said in a press release. “His business acumen, integrity, passion for diversity and inclusion along with his strong track record for initiating change will further transform and move the organization forward. Chris has a wealth of industry knowledge and institutional tenure which makes him uniquely qualified to lead CDChoices today and into the future. His philosophy aligns with the guiding principle in which the organization was founded by the late Constance Laymon—change the way home care service is delivered.”
Graber has been employed with CDChoices since 2006, appointed to interim CEO in July 2020 and, immediately prior to that, Graber was the corporation’s chief financial officer for nine years. As an integral part of CDChoices’ financial operations, Graber gained institutional and intimate knowledge of the organization’s operations, finances, and unique services that CDChoices provides to disabled individuals in the community. Throughout his tenure with CDChoices, Graber was instrumental in developing and implementing innovative initiatives within CDChoices which greatly improved operations and drove the organization’s growth, the release said.
With his experience and an eye for growth, Graber is determined to lead CDChoices towards expansion and new heights of success.
Graber was selected following an extensive multistate search process which resulted in a field of candidates. The high level of interest in the position made the board’s selection process challenging, the release said.
Ultimately the board’s selection of Graber to lead CDChoices in this crucial role is an affirmation of the exceptional skills and experience that he has brought to the organization for nearly 15 years, the release continued, along with the board’s commitment to growing CDChoices.
“It is truly an honor to lead this exceptional organization of creative, dedicated and talented team members that work tirelessly to provide a choice for our Consumers,” Graber said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with the Board, members of the leadership team, and all our team members to build an even stronger foundation for the organization moving forward in support
of our most important assets, our Consumer community.
“Over the last few months, we have made so much progress together and I continue to be incredibly impressed by our team and am now prouder than ever to lead us to continued success. This is a terrific opportunity that any leader would welcome, and I am grateful to the Board of Directors for the trust
they have in me to guide CDChoices into the future.”
CDChoices Board Vice Chairperson Scott Cehowski, who is also a Consumer using CDPA added, “Chris is the right choice to lead CDChoices into the future because he has been dedicated and shows a tremendous admiration and compassion for the Consumer and their Personal Assistants. Chris’ leadership style aligns with CD
Choices’ mission and values because he truly believes the main goal is to empower independence for all of those in the program.”
A Troy native, Graber graduated from Siena College with a bachelor of science degree in finance. He currently lives in Clifton Park with his wife Naomi.
More information about Consumer Directed Choices is available online at www. cdchoices.org.