The New “Face” of the Council on Chemical Abuse – Announcement Reveals the Next Executive Director

Reading, PA: A familiar face will be stepping into the Executive Director position at the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) beginning September 25. Announced today, the Board of Directors selected Stanley J. Papademetriou as the third leader of the organization.

Papademetriou currently serves as COCA’s Drug & Alcohol Assistant Administrator and has worked with the organization for over 30 years. Hired by COCA in 1985 as a Youth/Adult Case Manager, he has worked closely within all areas of drug and alcohol services in Berks County.

“It is truly exciting to hire COCA’s next Executive Director,” said Search Committee and Board Secretary, Jobany Bedoya. “We have confidence that Stan will be a great leader at the Council on Chemical Abuse, and I am honored to have been part of the search process.”

When asked what he plans to do as the new “face of COCA,” Papademetriou said he will maintain and, where appropriate, enhance COCA’s current prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery activities. Papademetriou said he will also seek to expand services to underserved populations. “Not all members of our community seek out or take advantage of existing services. Addiction is too serious an issue for individuals not to use any and every resource available to combat this devastating and deadly disease,” he said.

Papademetriou’s extensive resume includes playing an integral role in the establishment of Treatment Access and Services Center (TASC) as a private non-profit organization. He served as its first Executive Director for two years and in 1994 came back to COCA as the Drug and Alcohol Program Specialist. He is a Certified Recovery Specialist with a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling/Administration.

“I have been, and always will be, grateful for my years being with COCA. Now, as Executive Director, I plan to use my experience to lead the organization into continued success for years to come,” said Papademetriou.

“This is a deserving appointment by the Board. I could not be happier with the Board’s decision, to hire Stan as my successor. As someone who has worked with Stan for many years, I have no doubt he will continue the gains we have made over the past many years,” said George J. Vogel, Jr., the outgoing Executive Director.

In June, Vogel announced his retirement, which becomes effective this Sept. 30. As a result of Vogel’s retirement announcement, a search committee was established consisting of five COCA Board members, the current Executive Director and Dr. Edward Michalik, the Administrator for the County’s Office of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Aging.

About the Council on Chemical Abuse

Established in 1972 by a group of community members, the Council on Chemical Abuse was formed as a private non-profit organization to address rising concerns of drug and alcohol use in Berks County. The Berks County Commissioners contract with the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) as the Single County Authority for Berks County, PA. As the coordinating agency for publicly supported drug and alcohol programming in the county, COCA and its partners provide an array of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services.

To learn more please visit www.cocaberks.org.

For comments or additional information, please contact Jennifer Kaucher at (610) 376-8669, Ext. 122, or by email at JKaucher@cocaberks.org.