A.N.D.’s New Executive Director

Announcement on behalf of Dr. Shavonne Brathwaite,
President of the Board of Directors, Ability Network of Delaware

On behalf of myself and the Ability Network of Delaware (A.N.D.) Board of Directors, I am happy to announce that we have chosen Carolyn Petrak as the association’s new Executive Director.

Carolyn has dedicated her career to advancing the missions of the Delaware nonprofit community. For the past decade, Carolyn has been an integral part of A.N.D.’s growth and prosperity, leading the organization through a highly transitional period. She has managed some of the association’s most successful projects in recent years, including its complete rebranding in 2016 and the massive public relations campaign that contributed to the passage and full funding of the McNesby Act.

Carolyn’s passion and commitment to the mission of the Ability Network of Delaware and its members has made her a trailblazer in Delaware’s advocacy space, positioning A.N.D as one of Dover’s most respected and successful advocacy groups.

Her reputation as a voice for Delaware community service providers has earned her seats on many influential statewide commissions and legislative task forces including Lt. Governor Hall-Long’s Behavioral Health Consortium, Senate Concurrent Resolution 65 Department of Health and Social Services Reorganization Committee and chair of its subcommittee to review the contractual practices of one of the Delaware’s largest state agencies.

She has used her talent to build strong relationships and coalitions with elected officials, state leadership and partners in the nonprofit community to advance A.N.D.’s public policy agenda to a nearly perfect record of unanimously passed legislation. Most notably, House Bill 303 creating an annual Behavioral Health Well Check for Delawareans, a first of its kind piece of legislation.

Carolyn brings energy and enthusiasm to the leadership of this esteemed organization that will undoubtedly raise its impact on the disability and behavioral communities in Delaware and beyond.