Jawonio Moves Ahead With New Leadership
Randi Rios-Castro, Jawoni
o’s associative executive director, will take the helm of the organization on Oct. 1st, succeeding Jill Warner. Rios-Castro will be the fifth CEO in the agency’s 73-year history.
More than 1,000 employees throughout Rockland and Westchester County provide lifespan services for more than 6,000 children, adults and families with special needs annually. Jawonio is the 6th largest employer in Rockland with a budget of $49 million dollars.
Warner, serving as CEO since 2008, has been with Jawonio for nearly three decades. She plans to officially retire on September 30th and stay on through the end of the year to consult and manage the final stages of the campus redevelopment and capital campaign.
“It has been the honor of my life to work side by side with an incredible staff who are the absolute backbone of Jawonio,” said Warner. “It has been a privilege to be part of this magnificent mosaic supporting the most vulnerable people throughout the communities we serve. Randi is the right person at the right time and will carry forward the mission and values of this outstanding organization.”
Rios-Castro, a Carmel, NY, resident, joined Jawonio as associative executive director in 2018. She brings two decades of experience in the disability services field including six years as Chief Operating Officer at Opengate, Inc. in Westchester. Prior to her tenure at Opengate she held positions at Westchester ARC, New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center and the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District.
She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Roger Williams University and a Master of Science in Leadership & Management from Manhattanville College. She is currently on the Policy and Legislative Committee of New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation and is a board member of the Hudson Valley Service Providers.
“I look forward to continuing the amazing work of my predecessors, especially Jill Warner,” said Rios-Castro. “I am committed to building upon an environment of collaboration while unleashing the potential of everyone in the Jawonio community. Jawonio is a family with a rich history and a strong foundation. There are endless possibilities for Jawonio, our staff and those we serve.”