Access Services - Creating Better Ways To Serve People With Special Needs

Rob, President and CEO of Access Services, oversees services to 2,000 people in need of specialized supports in eastern Pennsylvania.  He is responsible for a $22 million operating budget and manages over 550 employees, 250 foster families and 100 therapist and other independent contractors. Beginning his career at Access Services in 1980 as an entry level program staff employee, Rob was able to advance within the organization to his current position.  

Rob graduated from Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania in 1980 with a degree in social work.  From there he went on to receive his Masters of Social Work from the Marywood Graduate School of Social Work, Scranton, Pennsylvania and achieved the status of Licensed Social Worker from the state in 1995.

Dedicated to serving the community, Rob founded The Peacemaker Center in Chester County and is also a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Resources (PAR) which serves people with autism and intellectual disabilities.  In addition, Rob serves as a member on multiple professional associations, including MAX, an association of Southeastern Pennsylvania mental health and mental retardation providers.

Rob is committed to providing exceptional services for children and adults with special needs and he embraces the challenges that arise in the field of social work. His career is more that just a job; it is a way of life.  For more than ten years, Rob and Judy, his wife, opened their home as Foster Care and Lifesharing providers. The Reids reside in Downingtown, Pennsylvania with their three children and are members of the Calvary Fellowship Church in Downingtown.

“The most rewarding moments come when you see people make positive changes in their lives and realize you played an important role.”

Robert brings his commitment to excellence and large nonprofit management experience to the role of Chairman of the Board.  Overseeing the accounting for the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s $1 billion in assets, Robert serves as Accounting Manager for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Before working at Children’s Hospital he served as Accounting Manager for Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania where he oversaw system-wide tax issues, prepared monthly financial statements for Holy Redeemer Physicians Services & Drueding Center (a women’s shelter) and reviewed all Form 990 submissions among other tasks. Robert earned a BS in Accounting and a BS in Marketing from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.

In her first term on the Board of Directors, Helen chairs the newly formed Resource Advisory Committee that raises much needed funds to further Access Services’ mission. Currently a full-time mother and diligent community volunteer, Helen is an experienced social worker specializing in nonprofit administration and fund development. She is a former independent consultant helping community groups, nonprofits and Michigan’s State government plan the delivery of homeless assistance, develop strategic plans and apply for Federal homeless assistance. From 1995-1997, Helen served as Executive Director for the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness in Lansing, Michigan. She holds a BA in Urban Community Policy from Michigan State University and a Master of Social Work with a Community Organization & Social Administration concentration from the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

Bill is serving his third term on the Board as he holds the position of Secretary. An entrepreneurial Certified Public Accountant, Bill founded Barbera & Associates of Huntingdon Valley out of his vision to provide small business owners comprehensive services including business consultation, tax compliance, preparation and planning together with regular accounting services. He has over 20 years of accounting, tax and business experience with a broad based public and private management background. Bill is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University with a degree in accounting. He lives in Bensalem with his wife and three children

In his third term on the Board, Rob serves as Treasurer & Assistant Secretary. Rob is a Director and Practice Leader of the International Assignment Services (IAS) group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia. He has over 23 years of public accounting experience, 13 of which have been with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Having worked with several multinational corporations, Rob has assisted companies in assignment policy design, accounting and reserve planning, administrative outsourcing, effective U.S./foreign tax planning as well as compliance services. Rob holds a BS in Accounting and Finance from Drexel University and is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Financial Planner and he has been granted the Personal Financial Specialist designation.

Barbara  Matyszczak (aka Barb Matty) Serving her first term on the Board of Directors, Barb provides leadership to the Agency’s church relations efforts and serves on the Resource Advisory Committee. Since obtaining her real estate license in 1991, Barb has successfully built a referral based business in which over 98% of her business comes via referrals from happy customers. Barb is a 2005 inductee into the ReMax Hall of Fame for lifetime commissions earned. She holds a BS in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky, earned the Graduate of the Real Estate Institute (GRI), the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designations throughout her successful career. Barb is active in many church and Christian organizations and loves quilting and scrap booking memories for her family.

Carol served as Executive Director of Access Services in the 1980s and brings that experience to the Board of Directors on which she has sat since 2005. Her life-long commitment to the nonprofit sector began with the American Red Cross during the Vietnam War era. Carol then moved to medical social work before going into hospital administration when she retired as the Administrator of a continuing care retirement community in Philadelphia from 1986-2000.  Carol enjoys spending time with family, traveling, entertaining and pursuing world missions. She holds a BS in Bible and Christian Education from Philadelphia Biblical University and a Masters degree in Social Work from the Temple University School of Social Administration.

Former Chairperson of the Board and previous Development Committee Chair, Linda has help steer the growth of Access Services as a Board member from 1992-1997 and then from 2003 to the present. Linda brings extensive fund development experience to the Board while she serves as Director of Development at Elwyn Inc. At Elwyn, Linda oversaw the development income increase from $674,000 in 1995 to $3.7 million dollars in cash and pledges in 2008. The winner of numerous awards, Linda won the Pennsylvania Association of County Human Service Administrators (PACHSA) County Employee of the Year award in1993. Linda earned a BA in English from Temple University and a MA in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University in South Carolina. She also holds the highly recognized Certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

In his first term on the Board, Tom will hold the position of Secretary.  He is a Staff Nurse at Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in congestive heart failure, IV devices and electrophysiology regarding cardiac resynchronization therapy.  Tom also worked at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the Electrophysiology Lab.  Prior to his nursing career, Tom was a teacher and athletic director and taught health, earth science and chemistry.  He has a B.S. in Physical Education and Health from the King's College-Briarcliff Manor and a B.S. in Nursing from Temple University.  Tom resides in Fort Washington with his wife and children.

Wakaki is serving his first term on the Board of Directors.  He is currently employed as a systems architect for IBM and provides consulting services for various Fortune 500 companies.  He is an Open Group Master Certified IT Specialist and participates on IBM's IT Specialist Board.  Furthermore, he was a primary contributor on a team that authored an IBM Systems Architect Redbook.  Wakaki attended Drexel University where he received a B.S. majoring in Systems Analysis and Development from the College of Information Science and Technology.  While in college, he established his own computer consulting business.

In addition, Minister Thompson enrolled in Bethel Seminary and received a Certificate in Theological Studies and is continuing his studies to attain a Masters of Divinity degree.  Wakaki is licensed as a Minister by Bethlehem Baptist Church and resides in Abington with his wife and son.