Carmen F. Ambrosino

A Profile of Career Highlights

ACADEMIC/BACKGROUND DATA

• Bachelor of Arts, English, King's College, 1970
• Masters in Health Administration, Wilkes University, 1984
• Is currently a Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC) and Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and former President (1990-1994) of Pennsylvania Chemical Abuse Certification Board (PCACB); body which certifies professionals in the Commonwealth in both counseling and prevention.
• Pennsylvania National Guard, 1970-76
• Wife, Bernice (Married 1971)
• Son, Carmen, Jr.
• Son of Rose Ambrosino and late Carmen Ambrosino.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Thirty-Two (32) year employee of Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc., as the Chief Executive Officer.
• Presented over 2,500 presentations on chemical dependency during 32-year career.
• Selected as community delegate for 1997 Presidential Summit, Philadelphia, for contributions and service to community.
• Script consultant on chemical dependency videos and television specials for television and film industry.
• Author of an award-winning role-play presentation entitled, "A Family in Conflict", which has been presented to over 250 groups in Pennsylvania and New York and was awarded a National MARKIE Award for excellence in alcoholism communication.
• Chairman, Friends of Sharon Committee - pro-active Driving Under The Influence (DUI) citizen activist group whose focus is prevention, education, and legislative initiatives.
• Developed "Students Assisting Students" program at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; peer training designed to establish peer intervention and referral network to assist impaired college-level students.
• Former board member of National Certification Reciprocity Consortium (N.C.R.C.) representing Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Region of N.C.R.C.
• Developed fifteen (15) credit (5 course) concentration on chemical dependency for College Misericordia, Dallas, Pennsylvania. Curriculum adopted by National College and University as chemical dependency model program to be used in Sociology Departments.
• Developed innovative forty-five (45) hour graduate course for educators on early detection, identification of high risk behavior children, intervention/confrontation techniques, co-dependency, ACOA, etc. Program has been approved for federal and state grants due to significant impact - Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
• Contributed hundreds of articles to newspapers on timely drug and alcohol topics and wrote a weekly column for six (6) years in Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice and Pittston Sunday Dispatch.
• Founded first Chapter of National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) in Pennsylvania and was National Board Member representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for two (2) years.
• President of marketing, publishing, and consulting firm, Rainbow Educational Productions, from which he has authored six (6) nationally released publications for young people entitled, "A Student Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse," "Slugger," "The New Student Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse," "Ingredients For a Drug Free Life," "The Parent Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse," and "Ryland and Willoughby Talk About Drugs and Alcohol" (informational coloring book).
• Served as a consultant to a nationally released film for youth, entitled "Drugs; Values and Decisions", produced by Sunburst Communications.
• Developed School-Based Drug/Alcohol Policies and Procedures to assist industries in complying with regulations of Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.
• Serves as consultant to schools, colleges, industry in the development of drug/alcohol curriculum and employee assistance programs.
• Author of a statewide publication on personnel management for drug and alcohol facilities.
• Developed first-ever "Impaired Educators Program" for statewide educators on chemical dependency.
• Charter Member of National Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates.
• Developed Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania "Drug Free Community Festival," which attracted 100,000 people annually in a celebration of drug-free living.
• International consultant for Dominican Republic.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

• Selected as the Outstanding Young Pennsylvanian in 1979 by the statewide Jaycees for contributioins to community
• Inducted to the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, Philadelphia, for contributions to community and fellow man.
• Received Achievement Award from Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, October, 1989, in recognition of dedication and commitment to community.
• Marquis Who's Who in the World (1991/92).
• 1994 Award from Knights of Lebanon for distinguished services to community.
• Inducted into Strathmore's Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders (1996/97) for demonstrated leadership and achievement in drug and alcohol profession.
• Nominated by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge for 1996 Prevention Professional of theYear in United States.
• Named Who's Who Among Human Services Professionals, nationally, for educational accomplishments and recognized leadership in the human services area.
• Received National Community Services Leadership Award from Veterans of Vietnam War, Inc.
• Distinguished Leadership Award for Distinguished Leadership in Chemical Dependency Field, 2nd Edition.
• Received award from CORE 5 Festival Committee for development and implementation of Drug-Free Festival.
• Received community award from Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley for outstanding commitment to community.
• Advanced Member of American College of Addiction Treatment Administrators nationally for accomplishments in the addiction field.
• Received Ronald J. Russo Community Service Award for distinguished service in public service in Luzerne/Wyoming Counties.
• Named to Who's Who in the East, 22nd Edition and Who's Who in Finance and Industry, 26th Edition.
• Special Recognition Award from Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Association.
• Inducted into the national Who's who of Italian Americans for accomplishments in drug and alcohol field.
• Directory of Distinguished Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Chemical Dependency Profession, 5th Edition.
• Young Alumnus of the Year Award for 1998; presented by Wilkes University.
• International Who's Who of Professionals, 1999.
• National Register Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, 1999-2000.