About - Tri-County Care

Yoel Bernath

Chief Executive Officer

Yoel has established himself as a leader in the health and human services industry for close to 20 years. Beginning his career at an entry level position at a nonprofit agency serving the OPWDD population, he has worked his way up to senior leadership positions, including opening and operating HamaspikCare, a Licensed Home Care Services Agency serving 13 counties throughout NYS. In 2013, under his leadership and direction, the Hamaspik Choice MLTC Plan began operations throughout the entire Hudson Valley region. In his role as the Executive Director of Hamaspik Choice, Yoel and his team have worked to cultivate relationships with community partners and build a strong network of service providers. Yoel was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for Tri-County Care CCO. His unique experiences with both the OPWDD as well as MLTC populations enable him to provide perspective on this Care Coordination Organization. Yoel Bernath is leading the launch of HAMASPIK, Inc- Additional Managed care products.

Regional Director

Nechama Nissenbaum

Chief Operating Officer

Nechama is a Registered Nurse who brings two decades of dedicated experience and a passion for servicing individuals with I/DD. Prior to her current role as VP of Operations, Nechama served as an RN responsible for the health and wellness of individuals residing in group homes. Nechama’s experience also includes MSC Supervisor, Early Intervention Coordinator, TBI and NHTD Manager.

Dr. H. Rizvi, DO, MBA, CPE, FHM

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Rizvi is a board-certified physician with over 15 years of relevant experience. He has served the developmental disabilities population for over 5 years. He has been part of the Hamaspik leadership team managing the MLTC, MAP/D-SNP and Medicare service lines since November 2018 and has been instrumental in creating many quality and utilization management process and protocols. His passion and expertise are centered around quality, performance improvement and transitions of care. As a practicing physician, he is able to look at each case from an up-to-date clinical perspective.

Blimi Kornbluh

Chief of Human Resources & Legal Affairs

Blimi brings extensive business administration skills and HR experience to her role as Chief of Human Resources & Legal Affairs. Prior to assuming the role as Chief of HR and Legal Affairs, Blimi served as the VP of HR at TCC, and previously as HR coordinator for HamaspikCare and Hamaspik Choice MLTC plan for close to a decade. Blimi is devoted to establishing and maintaining a satisfied workforce while ensuring HR compliance across the board.

Judah Zelik

Chief Information Officer

Casey Conley Downey

Chief Quality and Policy Officer

Casey holds a bachelor’s degree in childhood education and quickly found her passion for the I/DD field through her brief teaching experience. In 2008, Casey began working as a Medicaid Service Coordinator and was known for her strong advocacy skills. She went on from there to lead and develop multiple community programs before accepting a position with NYS. Casey has worked on multiple State projects but most notably was her experience as part of the CCO/HH Transition Team. Throughout her career, Casey has maintained her passion and fierce advocacy for those served by the OPWDD service system. Casey brings a unique perspective to TCC and is committed to supporting the team to ensure the highest quality of services for those we serve.

Alan D. Weiss, Esq.

Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel

Alan has experience as an attorney, regulator and compliance professional. Prior to his current role, Alan was a Principal Analyst for FINRA and a Vice President of Compliance for J.P. Morgan Chase. Alan has a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Tufts University, and a J.D. from University of Miami School of Law. Alan is a member of the New York Bar Association.

Dr. Isaac Nagel, MD

TCC Psychiatrist

Dr. Isaac Nagel brings over fifteen years of psychiatry experience – including eight years of telemedicine experience – to Tri-County Care. After attending Columbia Medical School, Dr. Nagel completed his residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan before relocating to New Jersey, where he worked at the Saint Clare’s Hospital In-patient Psychiatric Medical Care Unit. Dr. Nagel also worked for the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley.

Dr. Nagel is a Skypiatrist team member and provides medication-management for various psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Additionally, he has years of experience treating addiction as a co-occurring condition and extensive training in trauma and PTSD.

Dr. Nagel’s approach to treatment is genuinely collaborative. He empowers his patients to take an active role in their health and well-being to feel better and live fuller lives. When he is not practicing medicine, Dr. Nagel enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his wife and five daughters.

Varsha Ramlochan

Senior VP of Care Management

Jason Mazzuca

VP of Care Management

Jason brings 26 years of experience in the field of servicing individuals with developmental disabilities. He has served as Residential and Day Program Manager, Director of Quality Assurance (a position he held for 16+ years), Regional Director, and is currently the VP of Care Management at Tri-County Care. Jason joined TCC for the chance to be aligned with an agency that shares his values and commitment to providing high quality services for individuals with I/DD.

Jennifer Huddleston

VP of Care Management

Jennifer brings 17 years of experience working within the OPWDD field. Prior to her role as VP of Care Management, her career included positions as an MSC, Quality Assurance Specialist/Investigator, Director of OPWDD Services for a Non for Profit serving the downstate area, and VP of Community based services for an agency serving Long Island. Her passion and dedication is to serve individuals with I/DD and provide them with the most fulfilling life possible. Jennifer joined Tri-County Care as an Outreach and Intake Specialist to assist families in need of Care Management services and navigating OPWDD, before being promoted to VP of Care Management.

Goldy Holczler

VP of Care Management

Goldy’s passion has always been with the I/DD population, servicing the needs of individuals and their families to live a happy and productive life. She brings over 10 years experience working in the I/DD field in a variety of related roles. Goldy has been with Tri-County Care since its inception in the role of Care Manager Supervisor, transitioned to a Regional Director, and was then promoted to the position of VP of Care Management.

Michele Ogniewski

VP of Quality Assurance

Hannah Fikes

VP of Clinical Operations & CM Supports

Hannah has been working at Tri-County Care since October 2018 and holds a BA in Psychology and Social Work. Throughout her life, she has held jobs as a personal care assistance, a respite worker, a Medicaid Service Coordinator, a residential Habilitation Manager and a social worker. She grew up with two brothers with disabilities and has always understood the importance of inclusion and acceptance – and how important a strong support system can be. Hannah uses her personal and professional experiences to ensure the intake department runs smoothly and the individuals who reach out to Tri-County Care get the help they need.

Japhe Deliat

VP of Cultural Acceptance/Respect & Staff Development

Japhe joined the TCC team as a Training Specialist in August of 2018 and now serves as the VP of Cultural Acceptance/Respect & Staff Development. Since 2001, Japhe has been working with the I/DD population serving as Direct Support Professional in Residential Programs, Community Habilitation and Respite. Japhe has since assumed the roles of Assistant Director of a Day Program, Senior Residence Manager, and Residence Director. He loves to empower employees to do better at their job and being more passionate about what they do.

Chaya Schlesinger

VP of Communications & Legislative Affairs

Ellie Cunningham

VP of Data Analytics & System Optimization

Ellie is the Vice President of Data Analytics & System Optimization, where she oversees project management and the optimization of Core, our electronic health record (EHR) system. With an extensive background in human resources, training, and care management, Ellie brings a unique understanding of employee and membership needs and workflows. She is responsible for analyzing data and system performance, designing reports to provide actionable insights, and optimizing the user experience of Core. Her expertise in project management, data analytics, and system optimization enables her to deliver high-impact solutions that enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality outcomes.

Leanne Brown

VP of Workforce Excellence

Amy Shulman, RN

Director of Nursing

Rachael Fischer

Director of Behavioral Health

Rachael holds a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and brings extensive experience in behavioral health and I/DD services. She has worked across a range of settings supporting individuals with complex behavioral and mental health needs, and possesses a thoughtful, person-centered approach. Rachael joined TCC in 2020 as a care manager and has advanced through several roles across the agency. Her experience includes Intake Evaluator, Regional Intake Supervisor, and Crisis Support Specialist, where she supported high acuity cases with complex clinical needs.

As Director of Behavioral Health, she brings a deep understanding of OPWDD and CCO operations as well as clinical knowledge, allowing her to support TCC staff and individuals with insight, consistency, and compassion.

Christina Silva-Soto

Director of Member/Family Engagement

Tina Chiarella

Director of Incident Management

Tina has worked serving persons with developmental disabilities for over 30 years and is a USAF veteran. She has an extensive history in the I/DD field. She has worked in Residential Management, Family Care, Training, and has 25 years of Quality Assurance/Incident Management experience. Prior to joining Tri-County Care, Tina served as the Assistant Director of Program/Regulatory Compliance, agency OPWDD/DQI liaison, and chairperson of the Human Rights Committee. She has also acted as a family representative, trainer, and committee member for outside provider agencies. Tina currently serves as the Director of Incident Management for Tri-County Care.

Gabrielle Dessaint

Director of Training & Staff Development

Valerie Hurley-DelSignore

Director of Benefits and Entitlements

Valerie joined Tri-County Care in 2018 with over 25 years of training, education, and experience in the field of public benefits, most specifically Medicaid. She started her career at The Washington County Department of Social Services, where she worked within the Temporary Assistance/SNAP and Medicaid units.

She then moved to the private sector with her Medicaid knowledge, working within several hospitals across New York State, assisting patients at their bedside in obtaining much needed health insurance including Community Medicaid and Long Term Chronic Care Medicaid. As a result of her expertise, she quickly became a New York State Regional Director for that company, with a staff of 10-15 employees located at several hospitals across New York State Northern New York, to Downstate and the Western Part of the State.

Staying with the private sector she then moved onto a Law Firm, furthering her knowledge of Supplemental Needs and Pooled Medicaid Trusts and the benefits these provide to our individuals.

Committed to furthering her professional development, Valerie continues to refine her skill set by attending various trainings through the New York State Statewide Learning Management System and attending various trainings in the community. In the past she attended Adirondack Community College and completed numerous New York State training programs for professionals employed in the social services field.

Valerie loves working with individuals with I/DD and making the Medicaid entitlement process as stress free as possible for them.

Veronica Montiel

Director of Customer Service

Veronica worked under the OPWDD umbrella as a Medicaid Service Coordinator prior to being promoted to Program Supervisor for Respite and Home Care Services within the same agency. In 2016, she moved on as a Care Coordinator Supervisor and Intake Specialist within the same agency. She brings a total of 13 years working with the DD population in different roles.

Veronica joined Tri-County Care as a Medisked Help Desk Specialist and now serves as Director of Customer Service.

Veronica is fluent in Spanish and English and holds an Associates Degree in Mental Health and Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.

Shira Jacobs

Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer

Shira holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and has been part of the Tri-County Care Intake Department since its inception. Prior to joining Tri-County Care, Shira worked in both regular and special education settings for a number of years. Shira has a passion for assisting individuals with I/DD and is an expert in problem solving.

Beverly Masone

Regional Director

Christopher Allen

Regional Director

Devorah Itzkowitz

Regional Director

Jessica Guity

Regional Director

Jessica possesses the qualities to carry out TCC’s mission of creating a culturally sensitive and quality driven work environment. In her previous role as Care Manager Supervisor, her leadership and organizational skills have guided her team to meet and exceed in providing person centered coordination of services for the individuals and families we serve. She is a strong critical thinker with solid communication skills and rises to the challenge of problem solving and conflict resolution. Jessica prides herself in creating an inclusive team-oriented environment with emphasis on keeping her teams focused, motivated, and supported.

Latasha Mann

Regional Director

Latasha has been in the filed of I/DD for over 20 years now. She started as a Direct Support Professional in a Day Hab, then residential, then working with individuals that exhibited challenging behaviors, then as a Medicaid Service Coordinator. In 2019, Latasha started with Tri-County Care as a Care Manager, she was promoted to a Care Manager Supervisor, and most recently to the position of a Regional Director. Although Latasha is a nurse, working with this population is her passion.

Malky Greenfield

Regional Director

Monica Small-Chestnut

Regional Director

Monica has been with TCC since July 2018 when she transitioned as a CM after being a MSC since 2015. Monica was promoted to CMS in October 2018 and RD in July 2022. Monica’s passion for serving the I/DD population comes from years of working as a teacher and being assigned to help out in classrooms with children awaiting evaluations for OPWDD eligibility prior to becoming a MSC. Monica has a Bachelors in Education with a minor in Psychology; Monica has also pursued a Master’s degree from Hunter College in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the field from these studies. Monica strives to empower individuals and their families with the knowledge and services needed to live a meaning life as they see fit.

Nicole Barron

Regional Director

Nicole Barron has been a dedicated member of TCC since 2021, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the customer service field and 7 years of expertise in Care Management. She began her career at TCC as a Care Manager, quickly demonstrating leadership skills and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission. Nicole was subsequently promoted to Care Manager Supervisor and now serves as a Regional Director, where she continues to impact the lives of individuals and their families.

With a particular focus on the Spanish-speaking population, Nicole is passionate about supporting individuals with the Intellectual and/ or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). Her primary goal is to serve as a bridge between individuals and the services they need, ensuring they have access to the care and support required for them to live fulfilling, high-quality lives.

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz, and her career continues to be guided by her dedication to empowering others and fostering holistic, compassionate care.

Perry Zelik

Regional Director

Harboring a passion from a young age for helping families and children with special needs, Perry started out volunteering as a respite worker as a teen. She moved on as a Medicaid Service Coordinator for 3 years and ultimately advanced to MSC supervisor with Hamaspik of Orange county for over 15 years. Currently, Perry directs the TCC Care Managers in her region to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided the highest quality services.

Zoobia Bhatti

Regional Director

With extensive experience supporting individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), Zoobia brings a strong foundation in mental health services to her role as Regional Director. She is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, person-centered care while strengthening community-based supports throughout her region.

Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a specialization in Management and Policy, Zoobia is dedicated to further honing her leadership abilities. Her academic pursuits complement her hands-on experience, equipping her to lead teams effectively, and advocate for equitable, accessible services for the individuals served by TCC.

A passionate advocate for both individuals and staff development, Zoobia is focused on empowering others, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring that the TCC consistently delivers the highest standard of care. Her leadership reflects her commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Here for YOU.

Our story

Lifetime Advocates for You and Your Family

Holistic, Comprehensive Care on Your Terms

We Can Connect You to the Care You Need

Counties we Serve

Your advocates for life

Speak to a Tri-County
Care Specialist Now

We are dedicated to making life better.

Here for YOU.

Our story

Lifetime Advocates for You and Your Family

Holistic, Comprehensive Care on Your Terms

We Can Connect You to the Care You Need

Counties we Serve

Your advocates for life

Speak to a Tri-County Care Specialist Now

We are dedicated to making life better.

Speak to a Tri-County
Care Specialist Now