About Us
Pinnacle Community Services provides a wide range of services to the residents of the Niagara region. Our services assist people at every stage of the life cycle: expectant parents to parenting the young child; family help during the teen years; and help for youth and adults dealing with mental health or other chronic illness, domestic violence, or the everyday stress of life.
Healthier individuals. Healthier communities.
We define “family” as those people who—whether by birth, by choice, or by circumstance—we are connected to by culture, tradition, shared experiences, emotional commitment, or mutual support. Each of us is molded by those around us.
As a family service agency, we recognize that help and healing for each individual occurs within this personal network of relationships.
Our job is to help people help themselves. We provide a positive relationship with a caring professional to help people strengthen connections to others and repair what is damaged, leading to a healthier life for the individual and a healthier community.
Our Mission
Side by Side, Step by Step… we strengthen our community by supporting and empowering individuals and families on their journey.
Our Values
Integrity
Accountability
Respect
Compassion
Board of Directors
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Bernadette Franjoine
CHAIRPERSON
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Open
1st VICE CHAIR
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Dana Radatz
2nd VICE CHAIR
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Ken Tirohn
SECRETARY
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Steven Sinclair
TREASURER
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Michael Piette
AT LARGE
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Amanda Aversa
MEMBER
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Najja Bouldin
MEMBER
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Steven Carmina
MEMBER
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Ryan Erwin
MEMBER
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Sue Jacobi Franjoine
MEMBER
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Karri Gebhart
MEMBER
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Sharon Lomison
MEMBER
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Karen Lyle
MEMBER
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Nicolette Mazzarella
MEMBER
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Pastor Craig Pridgen
MEMBER
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Holly Shaw
MEMBER
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Thomas Sy
MEMBER
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Peter Wiltenburg
MEMBER
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Ronald Zenon Piaseczny
MEMBER
Management Team
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Laura Pennington
PRESIDENT & CEO
lpennington@pinnaclecs.org -
Larissa Bachman
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
lbachman@pinnaclecs.org -
Vacant
VP, FUND DEVELOPMENT & STEWARDSHIP
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Mindy Gray
HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
mgray@pinnaclecs.org -
Paul Swanson
CORPORATE COMPLIANCE OFFICER
pswanson@pinnaclecs.org -
Natalie Cuddahee
DIRECTOR OF CARE COORDINATION
ncuddahee@pinnaclecs.org -
Caleigh Skinner
DIRECTOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
cskinner@pinnaclecs.org -
Natasha Almonte
DIRECTOR OF PARENTING SERVICES
nalmonte@pinnaclecs.org -
Jonelle Gordon
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES
jgordon@pinnaclecs.org -
Vickie Shank
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & PROPERTIES MANAGER
vshank@pinnaclecs.org
Our History
Pinnacle Community Services has met the ever-changing needs of our community for more than a century by providing the residents of the Niagara region with a wide range of community and social work services. On June 1, 1895, sixteen women met to form the Charity Organization Society with $156 in the treasury. The rest is history.
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In the early years, the work of the organization was carried out by the unpaid, volunteer efforts of the members themselves. As the needs of the community became more complex, the need for trained staff became evident.
The organization held its 18th annual meeting in their new building at 826 Chilton Avenue in January 1913. All but one room in the new building was rented out to pay for expenses. The agency remained on Chilton Avenue until April of 2010, when the new Family Center on Main Street was completed.
The first paid staff was hired as a General Secretary of the agency in 1917; the first telephone was installed.
With the onset of the flu epidemic in 1918, a district nurse was hired to coordinate a staff of 17 volunteer nurses, a sliding fee scale was established and 24-hour service was provided.
Since December 1925, the agency has operated with a staff of paid professional social workers.
Over the years our name has changed and our services have been modified to meet the needs of the community in the 21st century, but our work of helping people help themselves has remained. Thousands of children, adults, and families have turned to the agency for compassionate, affordable, and professional help to meet their needs.
Pinnacle Community Services is truly a “family” service agency providing a mosaic of inter-related services for the benefit of the entire family, from infants to adults.
Annual Report
Download our most recent Annual Report to the Community.
Funding Sources
Learn more about our funding sources and affiliations.