ASCEND Mental Wellness Appoints First Chief Operating Officer to Support Organizational Growth
Hudson Falls, NY – ASCEND Mental Wellness is proud to announce the appointment of Amber Beaudet as its first-ever Chief Operating Officer. This newly created role reflects ASCEND’s continued growth and commitment to strengthening internal operations in support of its mission to support mental health and wellness across its communities.
As ASCEND grows, adding the role of COO to the executive leadership team will help lead operations, programs, and services, enhance efficiency, support staff, and ensure sustainability for the communities they serve.
“ASCEND’s program growth over the last five years—while simultaneously navigating COVID, staff shortages, rising costs, and a challenging funding environment—has stretched our executive team extremely thin,” said Peter Oldytowski, Chief Financial Officer at ASCEND. “Adding a Chief Operating Officer will help ASCEND continue to grow and meet new challenges.”
As ASCEND’s first Chief Operating Officer, Amber Beaudet works alongside our leadership to strengthen day-to-day operations and the internal systems that support the agency’s programs and services. She will oversee program operations, collaborate on agency-wide planning and budgeting, and lead efforts to improve efficiency and coordination across departments. This helps ensure ASCEND can grow thoughtfully, respond to evolving community needs, and remain grounded in our mission.
Having previously served as Director of Supportive Residential Services & Outreach/LEAMHRS, Amber played a key role in strengthening programs and expanding services to meet community needs. Her internal promotion reflects ASCEND’s commitment to developing leadership from within.
“Amber brings a wealth of knowledge not only about ASCEND’s services and programs, but further to the varying degrees of needs within our community and building the bridges in reducing barriers and increasing access to mental health services,” said Andrea Deepe, Chief Executive Officer at ASCEND.
The addition of a Chief Operating Officer strengthens ASCEND’s executive leadership team, which includes Andrea Deepe, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Oldytowski, Chief Financial Officer. Together, the leadership team provides a balanced approach to vision, operations, and financial stewardship, ensuring that ASCEND’s growth stays intentional, responsive, and grounded in the needs of the communities it serves.
With the creation of an executive-level operational leadership role, ASCEND is laying the groundwork to more effectively navigate the evolving demands of mental health. This strategic approach fuels innovation, drives efficiency, and positions the agency to remain flexible while broadening access to care.
ASCEND Mental Wellness – Warren Washington Association for Mental Health is a nonprofit based in Hudson Falls, NY, serving Warren and Washington County. Founded in 1948, ASCEND’s mission is to encourage and assist individuals in discovering pathways to their optimal mental health and wellness, while supporting hope and awareness of well-being in our community.
Learn more about ASCEND by visiting www.ascendmw.org
