Carmen F. Ambrosino
Chief Executive Officer - Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc.

Education:

• BA Degree, English, 1972 - King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA
• MHA Degree, 1986 - Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Professional Career: 

• 1973 - Present
  Chief Executive Officer, Wyoming Valley Alcohol & Drug Services, Inc.
• 1971-1973
  Caseworker, Luzerne County Child Welfare Agency

Professional Affiliations:

• Certified Addiction Counselor Diplomate (Pennsylvania Certification Board); 1979 to present
• Certified Prevention Specialist (Pennsylvania Certification Board)
• Advanced Member of American College of Addiction Treatment Administrators (ACATA)
• Certificate of Competency In Problem Gambling
  

Military Service:

• 1970-1976
  Pennsylvania National Guard, Rank E-7

Professional Accomplishments:

• Employed by Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc .since June 1, 1973, and became Chief Executive Officer in 1974.
• Presented over 2,600 presentations on chemical dependency during 34-year career
• Selected as community delegate for 1997 Presidential Summit, Philadelphia, for contributions and service to community
• Script consultant of chemical dependency videos and television specials for television and film industry
• Author of an award-winning role-play presentation entitled, “A Family in Conflict”, which has been presented to over 250 groups in Pennsylvania and New York and was awarded a National MARKIE Award for excellence in alcoholism communication
• Chairman, Friends of Sharon Committee—pro-active Driving Under the Influence (DUI) citizen activist group whose focus is prevention, education and legislative initiatives
• Developed “Student Assisting Students” program at King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; peer training designed to establish peer intervention and referral network to assist impaired college-level students
• Former board member of National Certification Reciprocity Consortium (N.C.R.C.) representing Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Region of N.C.R.C.
• Developed fifteen (15) credit (5 course) concentration of chemical dependency for College Misericordia, Dallas, Pennsylvania.  Curriculum adopted by National College and University as chemical dependency model program to be used in Sociology Departments
• Developed innovative forty-five (45) hour graduate course for educators on early detection, identification of high risk behavior children, intervention/confrontation techniques, co-dependency, ACOA, etc.  Program has been approved for federal and state grants due to significant impact – Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
• Has contributed hundreds of articles to newspapers on timely drug and alcohol topics and wrote a weekly column for six (6) years in Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice and Pittston Sunday Dispatch
• Founded first Chapter of National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) in Pennsylvania and was National Board Member representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for two (2) years
• Has marketing, publishing and consulting firm, Rainbow Educational Productions, from which he has authored six (6) nationally released publications for young people entitled, “A Student Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” “Slugger,” “The New Student Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” “Ingredients For a Drug Free Life,” “The Parent Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” and “Ryland and Willoughby Talk About Drugs and Alcohol” (informational coloring book)
• Served as consultant to a nationally released film for youth, entitled “Drugs; Values and Decisions”, produced by Sunburst Communications
• Developed School-Based Drug/Alcohol Policies and Procedures for school districts
• Developed Industrial Drug/Alcohol Policies and Procedures to assist industries in complying with regulations of Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988
• Serves as consultant to schools, colleges, industry in the development of drug/alcohol curriculum and employee assistance programs
• Author of a statewide publication on personnel management for drug and alcohol facilities
• Developed first-ever “Impaired Educators Program” for statewide educators on chemical dependency
• Charter Member of National Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates
• Developed Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania “Drug Free Community Festival,” which attracted 100,000 people annually in a celebration of drug-free living
• International consultant for Dominican Republic
• Visited South Africa as a “People To People” Delegate representing the United States on Educational Mission on Drug/Alcohol for two weeks.
• Authored book entitled, “Saturdays, Dandelions, and Roots”; Stories of Inspiration, Hope, and Recovery From Addiction; book signing at Barnes & Noble, Wilkes-Barre, Penna.
• Produced a motivational CD entitled, “Unleash Your Human Dynamo”; CD signing at Barnes & Noble, Wilkes-Barre, Penna.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Selected as the Outstanding Young Pennsylvanian in 1979 by the statewide Jaycees for contributions to community
• Inducted to the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, Philadelphia, for contributions to community and fellow man.
• Outstanding Commitment to Community Award – Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley
• Recognition Award form students of Northwest Area School District
• Received Achievement Award from Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, October 1989, in recognition of dedication and commitment to community
• Marquis Who’s Who In The World (1991/92)
• 1994 Award from Knights of Lebanon for distinguished services to community
• Inducted into Strathmore’s Who’s Who Registry of Business Leaders (1996/97) for demonstrated leadership and achievement in drug and alcohol profession
• Nominated by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge for 1996 Prevention Professional of the Year in United States
• Named to Who’s Who Among Human Services professionals, nationally, for educational accomplishments and recognized leadership in the human service area
• Strathmore Who’s Who 1998/99
• Received National Community Service Leadership Award from Veteran’s of Vietnam War, Inc.
• Distinguished Leadership Award for Distinguished Leadership in Chemical Dependency Field, 2nd Edition
• Received award from CORE-5 Festival Committee for development and implementation of Drug-Free Festival
• Received community award from Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley for outstanding commitment to community
• Advanced Member of American College of Addiction Treatment Administration nationally for accomplishments in the addiction field
• Received Ronald J. Russo Community Service Award for distinguished service in public service in Luzerne/Wyoming Counties
• Named to Who’s Who in the East, 22nd Edition and Who’s Who in finance and Industry, 26th Edition
• Special Recognition Award from Norhteast Colleges and Universities Security Association
• Inducted into the National Who’ Who of Italian Americans for accomplishments in drug and alcohol field
• Directory of Distinguished Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Chemical Dependency Profession, 5th Edition
• Young Alumnus of the Year Award for 1998; presented by Wilkes University
• International Who’s Who of Professionals, 1999
• National Register Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, 1999/2000
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre – Campus Environment Award – 1999
• Paul Harris Fellowship Award – Wilkes-Barre Rotary
• Foxington Who’s Who – Executives and Professionals
• Induction into “Directory of Distinguished Service” for 20-plus years of service to community
• Great Minds of the 21st Century by American Biographical Institute
• Honor of Dignity Award by American Biography – 2003 Edition
• Commitment To Youth Award given by Catholic Youth Center – 2003
• American Medal of Honor, 2004, by American Biographical Institute
• 2005 International Peace Prize from United Cultural Convention sitting in United States of America
• World Medal of Freedom, 2005

Adjunct Faculty (Current):

• Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA
• King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA

                        NOTE:  Past Adjunct Faculty positions with College Misericordia and Penn State University                         (Wilkes-Barre Campus)

Professional Training/Instructor:

• Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Department of Health, Harrisburg, PA (Ethics Trainer)
• Pennsylvania Certification Board, Harrisburg, PA  (Ethics Trainer)