Contact:
518-861-2579
Karen Carpenter has been a government and organizational leader for over 30 years, having held positions for five governors, and has been a Chief Executive Officer for over 20 years. She is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderheyden, a child welfare organization serving over 700 individuals and families each day in educational, residential and community-based programs.
Previous to Vanderheyden, Ms. Karen Carpenter was the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), overseeing over 4,000 providers serving over 100,000 residents of New York State each day in prevention, treatment and recovery programs.
In addition to her duties as New York State OASAS Commissioner, Ms. Carpenter’s leadership roles in nonprofit, health organizations and public service have included:
- President and CEO of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
- Vice President Regional operations for the American Cancer Society
- Executive Vice President for Government Programs of CDPHP
- Director of Children and Families of the New York State Office of Mental Health
- Assistant Secretary for Human Services for New York State Governor
Ms. Karen Carpenter holds bachelor and master’s degrees in social work from, the Rochester Institute of Technology and Adelphi University. She was a 1990 Fellow for the Center for Women in Government. She has served on numerous professional and community service boards, and is currently on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, SUNY Albany Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, WMHT Public Television, B´ÎÔª, Albany Waterway Inc., Hope House, COFCCA, NACoA and The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Ms. Carpenter is the recipient of many National and State awards for her innovation and leadership in health, public policy, and community service, including the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce Woman of Excellence award, and the Capital Region Women Who Mean Business award. She is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and Forum of Executive Women. Karen lives in Guilderland with her family and several rescued Old English Sheepdogs.