Board of Directors
Every Board member has a personal connection to our organization, either through work with and on behalf of individiduals with disabilities or through a family member with special needs. The Board includes relatives of people with disabilities, medical professionals, non-profit executives, and attorneys. Their genuine dedication as advocates for people with special needs and their selfless devotion to serving on the PLAN of MA and RI Board is evident through their tireless work in promoting our mission to enhance our beneficiaries' quality of life, support their integration into the community, and provide peace of mind to their families.
Board Members:
David Wizansky is the President of the Board of Directors of PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. He currently is the President of Specialized Housing, Inc., which organizes and maintains numerous community-based supportive living arrangements for people with special needs. A graduate of Harvard College and Boston University School of Social Work, David has his MSSS and LICSW. He founded the first self-advocacy group for people with developmental disabilities in the United States. He has worked to create residential programs, community diversion and treatment programs for youth at risk and disabled adults. David and his wife, Margot, were part of the team that developed one of the first home ownership opportunities for disabled individuals in the United States. David and his wife are featured speakers at national and international conferences.
Harold (Hal) Fortna, the PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. Treasurer, is an Electrical Engineer who works with a company in Andover, MA. He is a graduate of Auburn University and has significant management experience. He also has expertise in developing proposals for funding and business development. In addition to the financial work that he does for PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. he provides valuable technology assistance to the staff. Hal is also the Treasurer of his local NAMI affiliate and Chair of the Board at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Haverhill.
Charles Silsby, PLAN’s Vice President and Clerk, is the Director of Specialized Housing Inc., an organization that provides property management and clinical support to disabled adults living in shared supportive residences. Prior to this he supervised and trained staff, performed clinical assessments, developed treatment plans, and facilitated individual, group and family counseling sessions for various organizations in Maine serving the disabled and at-risk youth populations. He provided rehabilitation, supportive counseling, and crisis intervention to clients at Project Atrium and served as consultant and house manager where he developed programs for staff orientation and structured therapeutic groups. At Community Health & Counseling Services (CHCS) he was a Rehabilitation Specialist and Quality Assurance Specialist for Children’s Services where he oversaw compliance with JCAHO and DMHMRSAS regulations. Chuck also serves on the Board of the Massachusetts Association of Community Residences for Independent Living.
Phyllis Solomon has been involved in geriatric nursing for over 35 years. While living in Atlanta she served on numerous Boards including the Georgia League for Nursing, the North Central Georgia Health Systems Agency, the Atlanta Area Services for the Blind, the Metro Atlanta De-institutional Task Force, the Visiting Nurse Association of Atlanta, Jewish Family and Children’s Services (in Atlanta and Boston) and the Kahn Group Home for Well Elders. After moving to Boston in 1981 she continued her career within groups devoted to the development and management of programs that provide assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities. Phyllis’ late husband, Albert, was a founding member and major benefactor of MARC Trust, Inc., which subsequently changed its corporate name to PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. He was the driving force in establishing Solomon House and the ensuing Solomon Trust which continues to provide financial scholarships to disabled individuals for activities that help enhance their quality of life.
Larry Heimlich has provided strategic solutions for companies in a variety of disciplines for 25 years. A skilled sales, marketing and business development catalyst, he has contributed to the significant growth and success of companies by helping them advance their software, hardware and business services. His product experiences range from artificial hearts and medical devices to HR software and employee insurance and benefits. Larry has been a speaker and forum participant at industry meetings and has authored numerous articles and white papers. He is a Board of Directors and Finance Committee Member at the Carroll Center for the Blind, and Trustee at Temple Emanuel, both located in Newton, MA. Larry has a BS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Bioengineering and a MBA.
Nancy Ames Slabine is co-founder and senior partner of BoldMoves Consulting dedicated to maximizing resources and impact of nonprofits through strategic fundraising, training and customized client support. After working as senior researcher and project manager for Abt Associates, she served 22 years as Vice President of EDC, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing education and health around the globe. She later started CORE Consulting Services, providing communication, fund development, research and evaluation services to various educational organizations. An expert in middle-grades education, she was founding director of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, and helped launch the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative, offering a variety of services to special education leaders from over 100 school districts. Nancy is an active member of The Boston Club, an organization dedicated to advancing women leaders and serving the non-profit community through board placements and volunteerism.
Elizabeth Lewis Goodman joined the PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. Board in 2005 after an impressive 39-year career in education, where her responsibilities ranged from those of a classroom teacher to those of Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development. In addition to earning AB, MAT, and MLIS degrees, she has developed significant knowledge around the integration of students with special needs into the mainstream classroom. Currently Elizabeth is a consultant to several educational consortiums and serves on the Board of a nonprofit organization specializing in global education.
Seth Haber is a Senior Associate for the Office of Compliance and Review at University of Massachusetts Medical School Commonwealth Medicine where he oversees health care compliance matters and provides legal advice and assistance. He has served as counsel for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Division of Medical Assistance as well as the Massachusetts Rate Setting Commission. In addition, he was hearing officer/counsel for the Cambridge Rent Control Board. He has co-authored publications on the topics of rent control and education of children with special needs, and was a recipient of the Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship. He holds a BA from State University of New York and earned his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School.
Anna McTigue is a project director for multiple technical assistance, educational research and professional development projects. Skilled in special education and middle grades instruction, she works with school districts on inclusive educational practices with focus on accessible mathematics and effective teaching strategies for English Language Learners. She has consulted with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Michigan Integrated Mathematics Initiative and multiple schools in the region. She is a core team member for the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative, and college instructor. Anna has written and co-authored many educational publications, and frequently speaks on the topic of mathematics in education. She sits on the Hyde Community Center Board and the Editorial Boards for The Journal of International Special Needs Education and Teaching Exceptional Children. Anna holds a B.A. in Sociology, M.Ed in Special Education/Middle School, and PhD in Urban Education/Exceptional Education.
