Anyone asking George J. Krcelich about his priorities as the new chief executive officer at the Center in the Woods in California, Pa., will learn quickly that he has a full agenda.
Krcelich, who for the past 21 years has held several key human services positions throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, began his new duties at the center Jan. 9. And, says Dr. Richard Hart, personnel committee chairman of the center's board of directors, he "hit the ground running."
"We have already seen some very positive action on his part," Hart said. "George brings seasoned management experience gained in the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors, and that expertise has been evident in just a short period of time. His expertise in budgetary matters and personnel management and his excellent communications skills make him the right person to take the Center in the Woods to the next level."
Krcelich, 56, said one of his top priorities for the center, located along Route 88 between California and West Brownsville, is to heighten awareness of the facility's Adult Day Care services in California and its satellite Acorn Adult Day Care Center in Monessen.
"We feel we have an excellent program for adults requiring the services offered here and in Monessen," he said.
Krcelich also emphasized that the CITW and Acorn adult day care services are available to individuals who use feeding tubes and colostomy pouches.
"Our staff has cared for and treated patients with these special needs for many years," he said. "In doing so, they have become involved in meeting those needs by sharing their anxieties and concerns."
As part of the efforts to increase awareness of the adult day care programs, Krcelich said staff members are visiting physicians' offices in the area and, "in reality, spreading the word any way we can."
Krcelich and Hart also called attention to the center's partnership with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc., in its Meals on Wheels program.
"We serve a large number of people in this immediate area with Meals on Wheels," Hart said. "The program has been well received over the years, and we want to emphasize that those who are interested can contact us as well as the Area Agency on Aging."
Lunch also is served weekdays at the Center in the Woods, and the meals served in the facility's spacious and comfortable dining room are open to anyone 60 years of age or older.
"It's a great deal for the price ($1.50)," Krcelich said. "Good food, fun and fellowship all in one place. All we ask is that people who want to attend call in advance to register."
Hart pointed out that Krcelich's fundraising experience will be instrumental to the center's continued growth, especially as it enters the second year of its Strengthen Our Roots campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise $500,000 to develop leadership, maintain and update the multipurpose senior center and support and develop new programs that serve older adults and their families in the center's five-county service area of Washington, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
Krcelich said those involved in the fundraising campaign have been "tireless in their efforts," and he lauded the leadership of the co-chairmen, attorney Charles Keller and Ken Donahue, CEO of Rose Plastics in California. The campaign has raised $300,000 to date and is now encouraging legacy gifts from individuals interested in making a donation in honor and/or memory of a family member of loved one.
Krcelich also said the center will be stepping up its efforts to obtain corporate gifts and governmental grants. He said state Rep. H. William DeWeese, a Waynesburg Democrat, has provided help in this area with state funding and the center is hopeful other area legislators will follow suit.
Krcelich said another of his goals is to "get close to" California University of Pennsylvania. The university previously helped with funding and personnel at the center but was forced to cut back its support a few years ago because of budgetary belt-tightening.
"We've continued to maintain some relationships with them, but I'd really like to see our partnership strengthened again," Krcelich said. "We want to work hard to make it work."
Hart, who is retired from the university, offered similar sentiments.
"The university is a valuable community resource," he said. "They have excellent academic programs, staff and students that could offer support to us. It's important to have young people around, and we welcome the students from the university. As part of our strategic planning to accommodate the social, wellness and other needs of the people we serve, we want to encourage a partnership that will benefit both parties, California University and the Center in the Woods. We feel George will be an asset to our efforts to make that a reality."
Prior to becoming chief executive officer at the Center in the Woods, Krcelich served as executive director of the Pittsburgh Disability Employment Project for Freedom, where he was responsible for the development, administration and management of education-to-work technology skills training programs for individuals with disabilities.
His previous experience also included serving as executive director of the Washington County Department of Human Services, where he oversaw the administration, coordination and planning of social service programs for Washington County. He established the Washington County Transportation Authority and was credited with cutting administrative costs while increasing operation funding.
In addition, he received national recognition for developing the best Welfare to Work transportation program in the United States.
"George certainly brings a wealth of experience to the table here," Hart said. "He's already done some good things with pulling our budget into shape."
Hart said Krcelich came to the Center in the Woods at a "very opportune time in our history."
"We, like other senior facilities across the country, are heading into a transition period in terms of the people we serve," Hart said. "The majority of the people who utilize our facilities and programs are in their 70s and 80s and have their own ideas about what best serves them. Now we have the baby boomers, those who are entering their 60s, and they also have thoughts about what they feel should be available. Obviously we need to be able to meet all of those needs, but it's going to be a tough balancing act. We feel George is the person to create a harmonious atmosphere and bring everything together."
As CEO of the Center in the Woods, Krcelich is in charge of the administration and day-to-day operations of the facility. He has overall responsibility for programming, including its on-site health clinic and the Expanding Horizons educational program.
"We're currently talking with several sources regarding the health clinic," he said. "The people who are here each day have come to appreciate those types of services, programs and wellness screenings that help them lead healthier lives. Leslie (Wright, health clinic director) does an excellent job in this area and we're hopeful of enhancing what is already in place.
"While the center is a senior center, activities and programs are for people of all ages and all regions," Krcelich said. "And we're conveniently located to most people. We like to say we're the best-kept secret in the area, but we're close by and here for everyone."
Pointing to the most recent of a series of monthly dances featuring Barry Niccolai and The Best of Times band at the center as an example, Krcelich smiled at the turnout.
"We had a group of people from Carmichaels who called to reserve a table of 10 for the dance," he said. "They're faithful followers of Barry and his band and they enjoy coming here to meet and have an evening with fun with the others."
The recent dance was so successful, Krcelich said, that he had to make a quick trip to a nearby supermarket to replenish the food supply.
"We had more people than we had anticipated," he said. "That's a good thing because it points to the popularity of the dance. But we discovered we didn't have enough lunch meat for sandwiches, so I got in the car and drove to Foodland to get more. Everything turned out OK."
In addition to his duties at the center, Krcelich also helps oversee The Oaks, a supportive living facility located adjacent to the center that enables its residents to live independently. The facilities, linked by an enclosed walkway, operate in a partnership between the center and Presbyterian Senior Care, and Krcelich hopes to strengthen that alliance.
"Tami Sealy, our case manager, works directly with the residents of the Oaks," he said. "There's a strong rapport between them, and we want to build on that relationship of trust and respect to perpetuate the partnership."
In accepting the CEO position at the Center in the Woods, which traces its roots to the 1960s, Krcelich enjoyed a homecoming of sorts. A native of Isabella, he and his wife, the former Pam Kovach, and their son, George, 10, reside in Blainesburg, which is only about a mile away from the center.
"I truly love this area and its people," said Krcelich, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam. "I'm excited about joining the Center in the Woods because I see an organization with unlimited potential. The facility lends itself to numerous possibilities, and the center is unique to other senior programs because of its adult day services, the health clinic, the Expanding Horizons educational programs and a myriad of other benefits.
"Our staff and our volunteers have helped the center grow in many ways. I see my job as enhancing and advancing what has taken place so we can serve our community even better."
