Challenge Leadership
Allen began his professional career in the international business arena where he held senior management roles. He has worked in over 20 countries and upon his return to the states, began his own company in the automotive industry. He served as the Executive Vice President of Keystone Independence Management, an organization that offers management and leadership services to non-profits, where he consistently demonstrated the ability to ensure sustainability as well as providing jobs for the people they support.
As the current President & CEO of Mozaic and Challenge, Allen possesses extensive leadership experience in the field of developmental disabilities and an understanding of the challenges facing human services agencies. Allen has a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a Master’s degree in both Business Administration and International Management.
In his free time, Allen enjoys reading and playing golf. Allen and his wife Brenda are now empty nesters; their son and daughter-in law live in Colorado and their daughter and her fiancé live in San Francisco.
Allen Connely
President and CEO
Briggs is our Director of EVS. He became part of the Challenge family 9 years ago when he decided to change careers. Tired of breeding cows in Cortland, he wanted a more meaningful job so he decided to go back into Human Services. Before moving to the Ithaca area in 2005 from Maine he taught creative writing and Human services.
His favorite part of his job is working with the participants. “They are harder workers than most people without barriers and most of them complain less.” I’ve have seen Briggs interact with our participants…he is brilliant!
Briggs wants people to know that we help people become more productive and contribute to the community in a positive way.
When Briggs is not at work he spends time working out both for himself and coaching special Olympians. As a boxing enthusiast Briggs also spends time writing for a boxing magazine.
Something surprising that people may not know about Briggs – He is probably the only person in the US that has an MFA in creative writing and can breed a cow! He also served in Desert Storm as an infantry soldier.
Briggs Seekins
Director of Employment & Vocational Services
Tammy Slayton, SPHR, SHRM-SCP has been a human resource professional for over 25 years. She is currently the Senior Vice President of Administration for Mozaic and Challenge overseeing Human Resources, Training, Payroll, Strategic Planning and Transportation. Prior to her role at Mozaic, she was Director of Human Resources for the Arc of Seneca Cayuga for 7 years and held the same position at the Arc of Steuben for almost 17 years.
Tammy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. Tammy is NYS Notary Public and a certified Mediator for the Center for Dispute Settlement. She is a member of The Arc (US) Board Development Committee and a member of the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Joint Advisory Committee. Tammy is a member and former Vice-President and Secretary for HR-PRO; a member and former Chairperson for the Recruitment and Retention Committee for the Collaborative of NY; and served as the Legislative Chairperson for the Human Resources Association of the Twin Tiers. Tammy has also served as the Chairperson for the Center for Dispute Settlement Advisory Council and was a member of the board for the ArcNY Worker’s Compensation Trust.
In her free time, Tammy enjoys spending time with her dogs and other animals, playing guitar, making jewelry, riding her motorcycle and nature photography.
Tammy Slayton
Senior VP of Administration
Althea Porter
HR and Business Operations Manager
Denise Vreeland has been in the Intellectual and Developmental Disability field for more than 30 years. She is currently the Vice President of Services/COO at Mozaic and Challenge overseeing Day Habitation, Community Pre-Vocational, Supported Employment, Community Supports, Residential, Nursing and Intake. She began her career right out of college at Seneca ARC and has been with the Agency through the merger in 1997 with Comprehensive Technology Center to form Seneca Cayuga ARC and again in 2020 with Arc of Yates to form Mozaic.
She has her Master’s degree in Education as well as a wealth of knowledge in the human services and developmental disabilities field having grown up in a family that opened their home to others in need through foster care. She also has a brother who receives services through Mozaic, making the mission of the organization very close to home. Denise is a member of the I/DD sub-committee in Seneca, Cayuga and Yates Counties.
She’s lived in the area her entire life and is adamant that there is no place better than the Finger Lakes. Denise currently lives in Waterloo with her husband, 2 children, dog, 2 cats, fish and hermit crab. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and spending time with her family traveling to warm destinations.
Denise Vreeland
VP of Services
Dale worked as the COO at JM Murray Center in Cortland. He has three grandsons with one on the way. He enjoys golfing.
Dale Davis
CFO