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Adult Services Staff

P.L. Keene, M.B.A., brings over 30 years of management experience to The Institute with an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and a Professional in Human Services (PHR) Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. P.L. came to the agency in 2001 working in the Human Services department and then transitioned to Residential Services in 2003. Since 2005 he has served as the Administrative Project Director for Residential and Community Services where he oversees a variety of programs included Supported Living Assistance (SLA), Community Training Home (CTH), Community Living Arrangement (CLA), and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF).

Mary Pat DeCarlo, B.A. joined the staff of I.P.P in May of 1997. She has a bachelor’s degree in special education from Southern Connecticut University and over 25 years experience managing a variety of residential settings. During her time with The Institute Ms DeCarlo has worked with people with developmental and other disabilities as well as those on the Autism spectrum. Mary Pat has served as the Residential and Community Services Project Director for Programming and Quality Assurance since 1999.

Shayne O’Rourke-Testa is pursuing her degree in Special education and has over 13 years of experience within the human services field. She began managing day and vocational programs in 1999. In addition to her work with individuals with developmental disabilities, autism and psychiatric disorders, she also worked as a Direct Care Counselor with troubled female adolescents for several years. Recently, she has worked on the DDS Autism Pilot Program as The Institute’s Day and Vocational Project Director.

Susan Pomarico has been working in the non-profit sector for over five years. She has worked with people with developmental and other disabilities including those with autism spectrum disorder and those identified as sexual offenders. Currently she is a Job Placement Coordinator and has been working with the State of Connecticut Pilot Program for Autism. Susan just completed a web based certificate program for Supported Employment for individuals with mental illness. She also has a paralegal degree for business law, contracts, real estate and family law. She has studied through the State of Connecticut to complete a certification program as a Global Career Development Facilitator.

Malia Nesbitt, is a Program Coordinator for the Connecticut Career Mentoring Program and the Rehap Services and Vocational Program. She is a Buckeye native who graduated from Kent State University with a degree in sociology. Malia started working with CETA as a Work Evaluator where she assessed the work skills of individuals with low incomes, individuals with disabilities, those who are homeless, parolees, people with addiction, dislocated workers and youth at risk. She continued her career at a local community mental health center where she worked as a Training Consultant and Group Facilitator for a job-support-group. She has also worked as a program coordinator for United Rehabilitation Services Pennsylvania, a Community Employment Manager for Akron’s United Disabilities in Ohio where she facilitated numerous job placement and training contracts between her agency and other organizations, increasing placements by 300% during her tenure.

Zbigniew Golonka, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is the Director of Adult Behavioral Services in Connecticut and a licensed psychologist. He is responsible for the quality of behavioral supports provided to the adults served by the agency. Dr. Golonka also provides behavioral consultation services to a number of Connecticut schools, agencies, and families and oversees a large staff that provides services to children on the spectrum. He is one of the founding member of the Institute’s collaborative Master’s Program with Fitchburg State College, a degree designed to provide students with a MA in Applied Behavior Analysis. He has taught courses in applied behavior analysis (ABA), supervised students to obtain applied behavioral competencies identified by the ABA board, taught research and supervised Master’s Projects. Dr. Golonka’s professional experiences include serving as a Behavioral Consultant for Columbus Medical Services, as the Clinical Supervisor at the Biobehavioral Unit at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, and as a Supervisor of the Neurobehavioral Stabilization Unit of Bancroft Neurohealth in New Jersey. He obtained his Ph.D in Educational Psychology from the University of Iowa.

Sandra Appellof, M.Ed., BCBA is the Clinical Program Supervisor for the Adult Residential and Day Services programs in Connecticut. She is a long time employee of The Institute joining the organization in 1985 as one of the first Projects Directors. She has worked in the adult service program in both New Hampshire and Connecticut filling the role of Project Director and Clinical Coordinator. Ms. Appellof received her Masters from Johnston State College, specializing in applied behavior analysis and is a board certified behavior analyst. Her interests include Dialectic Behavior Therapy and she has co-developed a DBT curriculum for people with disabilities.

Scott J. Evon, MA, BCBA is a Clinical Coordinator for the Adult Residential and Day Services programs in Connecticut. Mr. Evon is a long time employee of The Institute joining the organization in 1991; first as a Residential Instructor then as the Facility Coordinator and Program Manager. He has worked in many models of adult services, vocational programs, and in the Autism Pilot Project. Mr. Evon completed his BA from the University of Connecticut with a double major in psychology and sociology. He received his Masters from Johnston State College in Vermont, specializing in applied behavior analysis and is a board certified behavior analyst. He has been a certified instructor for over 15 years in various curriculum related to physical management techniques and de-escalation strategies including PMT, SUPPORT, and PSI.

Paul Earley is a Clinical Coordinator for the Adult Residential and Day Services programs in Connecticut.. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University obtaining a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. Paul has been a Behavior Analyst since 2004 starting his career in a non profit organization that worked with individuals served by the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health and Addictive Services in Connecticut. Paul is a PMT instructor and an investigator for the Department of Developmental Services. Paul has been with The Institute since November of 2008.