Rivershore appoints new director

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 31, 2005

Jeff Sanderson, the newly appointed director at Rivershore Inc., poses with Rosamond Siegwarth, who retired from that position on Dec. 19.

Rivershore Inc., the Lewiston-based service agency aiding the developmentally disabled, recently named Jeff Sanderson as its new director. He replaces Rosamond Siegwarth, who retired on Dec. 19 after 18 years at the helm.

Sanderson held the position of director of operations at Rivershore for 18 months before being promoted. He was previously employed as vice president of residential and transportation services at Continuing Developmental Services in Rochester.

Locally, Sanderson worked for Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara for 18 years between 1980 and 2000, and at Community Missions from 1989 to 1991.

Sanderson holds a master of science degree in human services administration from Buffalo State College and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Empire State College.

He is married to Trudy Sanderson. They have one daughter, Rina. The couple lives in Youngstown.

Siegwarth, a graduate of Syracuse University and former teacher, joined Rivershore in 1984. She was brought in to manage the agency’s business and finance departments when the executive director was on maternity leave. She became financial director in late 1984, and then executive director in 1987.

She plans to stay in the Niagara County area and do community work.

Siegwarth and her husband, Heinz, Youngstown residents, have two children, Matthew Presutti and Rebecca Presutti Goris, and two grandchildren.

Rivershore, which marked its 25th anniversary in July, maintains eight Niagara County group homes and three apartments. It employs 130 people and provides services for150 individuals.

In 2002, Rivershore was bestowed the prestigious “Approved O.M.R.D.D. C.O.M.P.A.S.S. Provider” citation, a distinction awarded to a total of eight out of more than 700 private non-profit agencies providing like services for individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the state. C.O.M.P.A.S.S., the Consumerism, Outcomes, Management Plan, Agency Self Survey program, is a creation of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.