Three of the Region’s Top Professionals Appointed to Nonprofit’s Board
Barbara Passaro, David DeVito and Paul Austin
To magnify its meaningful work in the community, Greystone Programs recently announced the appointment of Barbara Passaro, owner and director of The Children’s Playhouse, David DeVito, commercial real estate lender at M&T Bank, and Paul Austin, senior manager of WebSphere Development at IBM, to its Board of Directors. The nonprofit serves more than 600 children, adults and families living with autism and other developmental disabilities across five Hudson Valley counties.
“We are delighted to welcome Barbara, David and Paul to our Board of Directors,” said Skip Pryce, CEO of Greystone Programs. “We are anchored and inspired by their passion, diverse experience and unwavering commitment to helping Greystone enrich the lives of those we serve.”
Since 1991, Passaro has owned and operated The Children's Playhouse, a New York State-licensed group family daycare based in Dutchess County, which provides a classroom atmosphere with a structured routine learning program geared to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The program gives children up to 12 years of age, including those with developmental disabilities, the opportunity to participate in a wide range of hands-on activities while fostering cognitive and social emotional development. Passaro is the proud parent of two children, one of whom resides at a Greystone Programs Individual Residential Alternative (IRA).
DeVito, who has worked for the M&T Bank since 2015, focuses on new business development for prospects and existing developers, as well as investment real estate customers, throughout the Hudson Valley. He began his career in 2001 as a financial analyst for IBM and has since accrued nearly 20 years of professional experience in commercial lending and financial services. DeVito received his Master of Business Administration from Marist College in 2003, and while attending Marist as an undergrad he worked for Dutchess ARC’s recreational group. His passion for service and volunteerism is inspired by his brother, who has special needs.
With more than 30 years of experience at IBM, Austin has worked in technical writing, customer service, software testing, software development and currently serves as a manager of a team of software developers. In 2015, he was inspired by the work of Specialisterne and worked to diversify IBM’s hiring pool to include people with autism. Austin helped pioneer hiring pilots and, as a result, IBM has recently established an autism hiring program of its own. A dedicated and lifelong volunteer, Austin also enjoys beekeeping, blacksmithing and gardening. He has two children, four cats, a foul-mouthed parrot and lives with his wife in Beacon, NY.
About Greystone Programs
Celebrating 41 years of excellence, Greystone Programs is dedicated to supporting children, adults and families living with autism and other developmental disabilities by enriching lives one person at a time. Established in 1979 by Marc W. Kelley, Greystone offered the first privately run residence in New York State for people living with autism. Today, Greystone offers exceptional services and life-enriching opportunities for more than 600 children, adults and families living with autism and developmental disabilities in five Hudson Valley counties. To learn more, visit www.greystoneprograms.
