Optimal Group

11/25/2025

Optimal's November Participant Spotlight is Ezra Maglio.

Ezra has an infectious laugh. It brightens the room and endears him to his friends and family, who all love to see him laughing and happy. He has so much energy, and his parents are always looking for new ways for him to expend it. He is determined, and he feels good about himself when he makes steps towards reaching his ambulation goals, his school goals, or obtaining skills of independence.

He has shown an incredible amount of resilience in his almost 6 years of life. He has been in and out of multiple surgeries, and he is prone to serious respiratory issues, which have him in and out of his doctors' offices and/or ER and Hospital.

He has a large group of friends, and he is constantly going into the community to engage in playdates or birthday parties. He loves to be in physical activities such as swimming, soccer, and horseback riding. He also participates in the Special Olympics whenever he is able. He recently obtained an Eye Gaze through the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and his family and friends can't wait to see what his increased capability to communicate will do for him in all aspects of his life.

In this video, you can see Ezra utilizing his AFO braces in a fun way with the help of his mother, Valerie Maglio. On the side, his father, Tyler Maglio, who is taking the video, is cheering him on. His big brother cheers him on as well and provides a well-deserved high five at the end.

11/19/2025

Thank you Progress Unlimited, Inc. for allowing us to come spend a few hours with you on Tuesday! We had a wonderful time crafting and playing bingo. 12 Optimal employees volunteered.

11/14/2025

Optimal’s November 2025 Employee Spotlight selection is Mark Weldon.

Mark started with Optimal in November 2020 as the Director of Marketing and Business Development. He graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Journalism with a professional emphasis in Public Relations. Prior to joining Optimal, Mark held various marketing and development jobs in the human service and financial service fields. Mark’s favorite part of working at Optimal is getting to know Optimal’s employees through the annual 4DX Meetings and getting to know the communities Optimal serves at fairs and events. One of Mark’s biggest struggles is keeping up with the constant changes in the field.

Originally from Parish, NY, a small town just north of Syracuse, NY, Mark now lives in Chambersburg, PA, with his wife, Adrienne, and two children, Molly and Brantley. They have two dogs, Jovie and Buddy. The dogs are named after the lead characters in the movie “Elf.”

Mark is a huge fan of all things Syracuse University. His family had season tickets to the basketball games when he was a child. Molly is in the high school band and just learning how to drive. Brantley stays busy with his first job and playing video games. When the kids were younger, Mark coached their elementary school soccer teams. Mark and Adrienne have a date night every Wednesday evening and love going to Mexican and Peruvian restaurants. They are also involved in a marriage ministry team at church.

Thank you, Mark, for all that you have done and continue to do for Optimal and those we serve!

10/16/2025

Optimal Case Management's October Participant Spotlight is Evan Brown!

Evan is shy, but he enjoys meeting new people. He is loving and affectionate to the people he loves the most, and he is always willing to give a hug or a handshake. He is very close with his family, with six brothers and sisters who all show their love and support for him, as well as his parents.

With the help of the Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Evan has been able to utilize Personal Supports, Respite, Support Broker, and Behavioral Supports. He shows excitement and enthusiasm for the things he enjoys, such as going out to eat, going swimming, or taking walks with his staff and, of course, his dog. He still goes with his family to Church every Sunday, where he engages in fellowship with the people who have known him his entire life. This is a prime example of a family who has made community integration a priority, and the smile on Evan’s face shows just how much this program provides for him.

Thank you Evan for allowing us to Spotlight you!

10/13/2025

10/09/2025

Karen started with Optimal Case Management in August 2018 as the Assistant Director of Case Management. She was promoted to the Director of Training in December 2019. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Prior to joining Optimal, Karen taught second grade at two Catholic schools and was part of the Arc of Frederick County’s Information and Referral services, as well as their day program. Karen’s favorite part of working at Optimal is working with all kinds of people and being a part of their growth. One of Karen’s biggest struggles is not having the opportunity to work directly with participants.

Karen is from Frederick County and still lives there with her family. Karen is married to Jonathan, and they have three children, Lucy Ann, Lilly, and Caleb. They have one dog named Coco.

Sports play a big part in the Wiese family. Karen has coached college and high school soccer, as well as middle school basketball, and is currently a high school girls' flag football coach. They enjoy attending both professional and youth sporting events. Jonathan and Caleb are both big fans of the Yankees and the Jets. The kids participate in cheer, flag football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and weight lifting.

Thank you, Karen, for all that you have done and continue to do for Optimal and those we serve!

10/01/2025

October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). What began as a week recognizing the contributions of workers with physical disabilities has evolved into a nationwide, month-long observance. This year’s theme from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

09/18/2025

Today eight Optimal employees participated in United Way of Washington County's Day of Caring! Hard work has never been so fun! Over 1,000 volunteers participated this year. We got to do some landscaping at one of the ARC of Washington County's homes. Thank you United Way of Washington County for all you do for the community!

09/04/2025

Optimal’s September 2025 Employee Spotlight selection is Robert “Bobby” Mahoney.

Bobby started with Optimal Case Management in October 2023 as a Coordinator of Community Services in the Central Region and was promoted to RCCS in June 2025. He graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Case Management. Prior to joining Optimal, Bobby spent 17 years in Special Education and worked as the supervisor at the ARC of Northern Chesapeake& #39;s Meaningful Day program. Bobby’s favorite part of working at Optimal is helping transitioning youth access the services they need after high
school. Working in special education, Bobby has seen firsthand the challenges that individuals transitioning from school to adult services face, and feels empowered to assist in connecting them with the necessary services. Some of his biggest struggles are staffing and the many changes in the system.

Bobby is from Cecil County and currently resides in Hartford County. Bobby is married to Lisa, and they have a 12-year-old son named Jude. Together they have two dogs, Geni and Dave.

Bobby and Jude love to spend time performing in plays and shows with Harford County theater companies. Bobby has been in numerous productions over the past 30 years, but his most memorable shows have been those in which Jude has been involved. Bobby also serves as the Director of Youth Programs for Tidewater Players Theater Company, and Jude has been involved in theater since he was three years old. Bobby is also a classically trained chef who loves cooking. His family also enjoys going to the beach, attending live theater performances, and watching Jude’s dance and sporting events. They are looking forward to Jude playing basketball this year.

Thank you, Bobby, for all that you have done and continue to do for Optimal!

08/13/2025

Optimal’s August 2025 Employee Spotlight selection is Mark Swift.

Mark started with Optimal Case Management in May 2024 as a Coordinator of Community Services in the Western Region. He is a graduate of Edinboro University, holding a Bachelor’s degree in General Business and an Associate's degree in Computer Technology. Mark has over 35 years of experience helping those with developmental disabilities. Prior to his time with Optimal, Mark worked at Penn-Mar Human Services. Mark’s favorite part of working at Optimal is getting to know and spending time with the participants he serves. He doesn’t like sitting behind a desk doing paperwork, and he doesn’t like people being labeled.

Mark is from Erie, PA. He has been married for 25 years to Gloria. Gloria is a retired historian. They met at the Monocacy Battlefield. She was working, and he was a visitor. They share a love for history and their eight cats and two dogs.

Mark has an affinity for basketball. He coached it and is currently a referee. He has been a runner for over 30 years and is looking forward to getting back to it after recovering from a recent back injury. Mark also gets together with some friends regularly to play tactical board games. Together, Mark and Gloria stay busy going to historical sites, participating in reenactments, reading, and watching golf. They look forward to watching the BMW Classic Golf Tournament held in Owings Mills this summer.

Thank you, Mark, for all that you have done and continue to do for Optimal!

07/11/2025

Optimal’s July 2025 Employee Spotlight selection is Alicia Lopez.

Alicia started with Optimal Group in August 2024 as a Coordinator of Community Services on the Eastern Shore. She is a graduate of Towson University, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Prior to her time with Optimal, Alicia was a CCS at another agency (they did not provide services on the Eastern Shore). She additionally served as an Autism Instructor at Trellis Services in Baltimore County. Alicia’s favorite part of working at Optimal is getting to know, serving, and learning from the participants on her caseload. The hardest thing for her is when she can’t provide the services the participants desire. She finds it difficult to accept a 'no' when advocating on their behalf.

Alicia lives in the Lower Eastern Shore with her fiancé, William. She moved back to the Eastern Shore primarily to be around her family and the ocean. She loves spending time with her father, stepmother, and two sisters. She also loves to see her brother and future in-laws when they come to visit. One of the reasons she moved back was to be a bigger part of her younger sister's life.

Alicia and William love getting to the beach as much as they can. They also love to travel, having recently returned from Puerto Rico. They also like shorter weekend trips to New York and Virginia. Alicia is an avid reader who enjoys science fiction, romance, and classic literature. Alicia is committed to volunteering in her community. She believes it fosters a sense of connection and purpose, allowing her to contribute to something greater than herself. She also values the importance of leaving a meaningful impact, ensuring others know she was there and made a difference.

Thank you, Alicia, for all that you have done and continue to do for Optimal!

07/09/2025

🚀 Leadership in Action! Just a few weeks ago, our amazing supervisors, directors—and even one of our vice presidents—came together for an energizing in-person training on The One Minute Manager and other leadership tools. ✍️💡

Bringing together talent from across the state always sparks inspiration, teamwork, and fresh insights. There’s nothing like learning and growing—together. When You Speak,We Listen and See You Through 💪🌟