Alan Benson currently serves as President & Chief Executive Officer at Lakeshore Community Services, Inc. in Erie, PA. Alan brings 40 years of experience in the field of Intellectual Disabilities. Alan began his career as a substitute DSP at the Dr. Gertrude Barber Center, progressing to a live-in house manager. Alan then moved to Corry Counselling where he served as a Program Specialist. It was here, while developing services for consumers in the “Ruth L” program, that he met Richard Ruedy and was hired to supervise Lakeshore’s “Ruth L” and Specialized Programs. Alan supervised Lakeshore’s expansion into Cameron, Elk & McKean, Clearfield & Jefferson and Warren counties - more than doubling the agency in size. Alan then supervised Lakeshore’s expansion in to the Mental Health Services field through the “Erie Warren Project” where people supported were returned to their home communities with enhanced supports from Warren State Hospital. This resulted in additional Mental Health services programs for Lakeshore. Subsequently, Alan was then promoted to C.O.O. until he was selected to succeed C.E.O. Richard Ruedy in January of 2016.

 

Additionally, Alan serves on the Board of Directors for the Keystone Rural Health Consortia. Alan also served sixteen years in the United States Army Reserves in both enlisted and commissioned positions. In his free time, Alan enjoys traveling (trips with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Baxter), hunting, fishing, woodworking, and photography.