About Us: Meet Our Team - In Flight Inc

About us: At In Flight, Inc., we empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach for hopes and dreams and support a meaningful quality of life. Achieving our mission through residential services, day habilitation services, our signature I-SAIL program, and community habilitation services.

After a successful 20-year career in the financial services industry with such firms as Merrill Lynch, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and Smith Barney, Matt initiated the Development effort for the Devereux Foundation (N.Y.) in 2000. After a six-year tenure, he founded Bateman Development Group (B.D.G.), a consulting firm designed to assist non-performing Not-for-Profits with fundraising issues and programmatic difficulties. This led him in early 2010 to In Flight, Inc., a 501(c)3, full-service volunteer agency for people with developmental disabilities under the auspices of O.P.W.D.D. During 2010, Matt assumed a substantial operational role, and in October of that year, was made Executive Director and C.E.O. Within 18 months, he removed In Flight from Early Alert (E.A.) status and acquired Special Needs Program (an agency also on E.A.), as well as Eagle Case Management.

Matthew G Bateman

Chief Executive Officer

Ralph completed his bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy, from Boston University, in 1974. In 1982, he obtained a Master's in Psychology from R.P.I., and in 1984, a Master's in Education from S.U.N.Y. Albany. He played a significant role in the passage of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Bill in New York State. He was president of the Capital District chapter of the New York State Occupational Therapy Association for several years. He was one of the three therapists who established and obtained national accreditation for the occupational therapy assistant program at Maria College in Albany, NY. He also served as a faculty member during the 1980-1981 academic years. Ralph established and operated Regional Rehabilitation, an occupational, physical, and speech therapy company, which employed up to 150 therapists. When he closed Regional Rehabilitation in 2002, he accepted a management position at Restore Therapy, P.L.L.C. While at Restore Therapy, he established relationships with several colleges to train both therapists and assistant-level students. Mr. La Casio is currently Managing Director of Occupational Therapy Services and is a member of the company's compliance team, as well as a founding board member of In Flight, Inc.

Ralph LaCasio

Board President

Administrative Team

Nevena holds a Master of Business Administration in Public Accounting from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant for the State of New York. Nevena has worked as a Special Auditor Investigator for the N.Y.S. Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Prior to joining our team, she worked at K.P.M.G., a global accounting firm located in New York City.

Nevena Ilcheva

Chief Financial Officer

Greg holds various degrees and certifications in C.I.S., Networking, Database Administration, and Cybersecurity. Greg spent much of his career working in corporate America, but after being blessed with the birth of his special needs daughter, he was inspired to utilize his skills and talents in a meaningful way by providing support for people with developmental disabilities. In addition to working for In Flight Incorporated, Greg has been a consultant for numerous non-profit organizations. Greg enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His interests include playing drums, fishing, and restoring muscle cars.

Greg Krom

Chief Information Officer

John joined In Flight in 2010 as Assistant Residential Director and was transitioned to Chief Compliance Officer in 2015. Since beginning his tenure in 1999, John has held many positions, including DSP, Program Manager, Residential Director, Director of Operations, Quality Assurance Director, and now his current position of Vice President of Quality Assurance/Compliance. John holds a degree in Business Management. John's dedication to helping others does not stop at work. He has served his community as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T.) for over 15 years.

John Gambino

Vice President of Quality Assurance/Compliance

Teresa Stivala, a human resource professional in the field for over 25 years, has been at In Flight since February 2010. Teresa started as a consultant that year and later came on full-time to assume her current role in May 2010. Since this transition, Teresa has also consulted for other local not-for-profit organizations. In 2021, Teresa became a certified professional through The Society for Human Resource Management (S.H.R.M.). When Teresa is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and is very involved in her local community.

Teresa Stivala

SHRM-CP Vice President of Human Resources

Dr. Sarah Branham became the Clinical Director in November 2019. She earned her Ph.D. in General Psychology in March 2020. Sarah earned both her bachelor's and master's in Psychology from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz. While finishing her Masters in 2014, Sarah began working at the A.R.C. of Ulster Greene as a residential Staff. At this time, Sarah found her love and passion for this field and decided to make this her career. When she earned her degree in December 2014, she remained at Arc of Ulster Greene and transferred to the clinical department. Sarah worked in the Article 16 Clinic as both a counselor and behaviorist until May 2016. In May 2016, Sarah joined the clinical department at In Flight as a Behavior Invention Specialist and was promoted from within to her current role.

Dr. Sarah Branham

Vice President of Clinical Services

Rebecca joined In Flight in 2010. She applied to In Flight after a Mission Trip to Haiti which changed her perspective on what her purpose in life was. She started out as a per diem staff waiting for a With Out Walls Program to start. After about 4 months, this program did not start, and she took a full time position as a DSP in the Catskill Day Program. Since then she has held many positions: DSP, Program Manager, Senior Residence Manager, Associate Residential Director and now her current position as Director of Residential Services. She continues to be passionate about mission work in tries to incorporate this in her everyday life.

Rebecca Crast

Director of Residential Services

Leslie has worked in diversified fields throughout her career but has found that caring for this population is very special to her. Leslie has worked at In Flight for 12 years and is proud to have helped our people grow and become the best they can be. Leslie is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Nursing and has a goal of earning her Master's degree in nursing education.

Leslie Nadan

Director of Nursing

Jill has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing/P.R. She started her career in corporate marketing working for Simon Property Group, later moving into the world of non-profits. She worked in various charities in Development and Fundraising for CASTLE, a Child Abuse Prevention Charity in South Florida, the S.P.C.A., and now In Flight. In 2022, Jill obtained the Certified Fund-Raising Executive (C.F.R.E.) certification.

Jill Rodriquez

CFRE Director of Development & External Affairs

Jennifer joined In Flight, Inc. in June 2018 after working for The Arc of Dutchess and then New Horizons Resources. Jennifer began her career in 2000 as a DSP, followed by roles including Rec. Manager, IRA Coordinator, M.S.C., and A.D. of Community Programs. Jennifer has a bachelor’s in Sociology with a minor in Mathematics from Saint Joseph's University. She spent a year after college serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Portland, Maine. In 2013 Jennifer was chosen as one of the Dutchess County Chamber's Forty under 40 award recipients. She has always had a passion for working with people with developmental disabilities. In May 2017, Jennifer completed her master's degree in Developmental Disabilities with a concentration in Leadership and Advocacy from Nova Southeastern University. Jennifer is most proud of raising her daughter and coordinating the annual Holiday Formal Dance since 2005, which is a sell-out event attended by over 400 people with disabilities from local sister agencies every year.

Jennifer Wells

Director of Day & Community Services

Board Members

Adeline is an attorney specializing in corporate, tax, real estate and trust and estates work. She attended New York University of Law as well as St. John's University School of Law. She also holds a BA in English Literature from Fordham University. Adeline has served on the Board of the Germantown Student Education Foundation, was Director and VP of the Anderson fund, and was a former community member on the Taconic Farms, Inc. committee for the care of animals. She is also the former Treasurer of the Gardens I Condominium Association.

Adeline Malone

Board Vice President

General Counsel

John currently serves as Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Team Leader for Salisbury Bank & Trust. He joined Salisbury Bank, in April 2017 and has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, specializing in the areas of Commercial Lending, Commercial Credit Administration, Credit Underwriting, and Portfolio Management. He is also a graduate of SUNY New Paltz, holding a B.S. in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance, and a minor in Development Economics.

John has served as the Chairman of the Manufacturing and Trade Committee and Co-Chair of the Employer Resource Committee, for the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, John enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, renovating antique homes, woodworking, and cooking. Most importantly, he is the proud father of a special needs child.

John Trott

Board Treasurer

Richard is a financial services professional with 36 years of experience. He takes pride in developing relationships with his clients through discovering their past experiences, present situations and future goals. Richard and his wife, Barbara, live in Milan, NY where they enjoy many large family gatherings with their 5 children, spouses and 11 grandchildren. In his free time, Richard enjoys music and scuba diving. Serving on the Board at In Flight is a welcomed opportunity for Richard as he has a personal connection to their mission.

Richard Totman

Board Secretary

Steve Bischoff is currently an EVP and Strategic Planning at Atlantic Home Loan. Prior to that Steve was a senior partner and head of the NatAlliance banking and Asset Management teams. He has extensive experience managing risk and building profitable businesses. Steve is known for developing and managing successful teams in the areas of structured finance, derivatives, whole loans and middle market investment banking. He has expertise in trading, risk management and analytical infrastructure. Prior to NatAlliance Steve was a Chief Operating Officer of Debt Capital markets at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York, a Managing Director in charge of fixed income trading at GMAC/RFC Institutional Capital in Bethesda, Maryland and a Founder, Board Member, Managing Director at Amherst Securities in Houston, Texas. Steve is graduate of Bowdoin College and has obtained FINRA 3, 4, 7, 24, 52, 63, 66 and 79 securities licenses.

Steven Bischoff

Board Member