Prime Highlights
- Cindy Lee continues to lead OLV Human Services after retiring from education.
- She says helping people remains her biggest source of motivation.
Key Facts
- OLV Human Services provides social, health and human services in Western New York.
- Lee also runs a dog training business and supports therapy dog initiatives.
Background
Cindy Lee, Chief Executive Officer of OLV Human Services, says her commitment to helping others has kept her active long after her retirement from public education. Although she retired from her education career in the early part of the last decade, she soon returned to work, taking on new leadership roles in education and human services.
After retirement, Lee helped establish a school for children with autism at Westbrook Preparatory School on Long Island. She later worked as a consultant for Baker Victory Services before joining OLV Human Services as a full-time employee. She became the organisation’s CEO and now leads programmes that provide social, health and human services across Western New York.
Lee said working with colleagues and the people supported by the organisation continues to motivate her. She added that while she may slow down in the future, she expects to remain involved in developing programmes that improve lives.
In addition to her position at OLV Human Services, Lee is the owner of VIPK9, a dog grooming and training company. She is also active with True North Therapy Dogs and supports several OLV-related charitable and community initiatives.
Originally from Le Roy, Lee earned degrees in speech pathology, developmental disabilities and education administration. She described herself as an approachable but fair leader who sets clear expectations for her team.
Lee also stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and understanding the needs of the people receiving services. She said the most rewarding part of her work is seeing individuals return to share how the support they received helped them overcome challenges and achieve success.
