Staff & Trustee Listings

Stephen Suroviec is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Achieva family of organizations. He joined Achieva in December 2017. For nearly 30 years, Steve has provided leadership in both the nonprofit and government sectors, serving and advocating for people with disabilities.

Steve most recently served as the Chief Operations Officer and Division Director for Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities at the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association. He has also served as Special Advisor to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services; Pennsylvania’s Deputy Secretary for Developmental Programs; Executive Director of the state’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; Executive Director of The Arc of Pennsylvania; and Director of the Erie County Department of Human Services.

Steve served in and earned an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Steve served as a presidential appointee to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. He also worked on Capitol Hill for then-Congressman Tom Ridge and later in a number of positions within the Ridge Administration in Harrisburg.

As President of Achieva Resource, Ms. Warren oversees all matters involving finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, fundraising, and communications.  

Her contributions to the organization include leading the effort to develop and implement Achieva’s Strategic Vision Plan, overseeing key administrative services such as Information Technology and Human Resources, and coordinating Achieva’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy.

Most recently, Warren was also employed by Allegheny County as the Deputy Director for Administration for the Department of Human Services (DHS). Her previous roles with DHS include Assistant Deputy Director for Forensic Services and Assistant Deputy Director for the DHS Executive Office. Before joining DHS, Warren held the positions of Policy and Planning Administrator and Deputy Warden with the Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections.

Warren earned her Master of Public Administration, Master of Social Work, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Prior to accepting that role of Interim President of Achieva Support in July 2024, Court Hower served as Senior VP, Achieva Support, a position he began in late 2023.

Court holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Penn State University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Duquesne University School of Law with a concentration in real property and business law. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

Since graduating Law School, Court has served in the non-profit sector as a manager and executive, including most recently as CEO of DON (Disability Options Network) a Center for Independent Living in western PA. He has also served on numerous nonprofit boards and government steering committees.

Court has extensive experience in federal, state, and local grant writing and administration, primarily focused on increasing employment and housing resources in western Pennsylvania for individuals with disabilities. Court also helped spearhead multiple housing initiatives, including one initiative that is looking at making affordable housing healthier. He also co-authored a grant that re-designated and funded DON as a Center for Independent Living for Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Armstrong Counties.

Jacquelyn E. Connell, Esq. is the Director of Legal & Trust Administration Services for Achieva Family Trust. In her current role, she works with attorneys, families, and individuals with disabilities on reviewing and establishing special needs trusts. Prior to working at Achieva Family Trust, she focused her practice on estate planning and estate administration. She has extensive experience in drafting and reviewing Wills and Powers of Attorney, as well as advising clients on estate planning techniques with regard to trusts, real estate, and long term care. Jacquelyn is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and its Law and Disability section. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude and her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University         

Amy Dolan Strano, Esq., is a Senior Vice President of Achieva; and President of the Achieva Family Trust and was one of the original members of the planning committee which guided Achieva in the creation of the Achieva Family Trust in 1998. She was also a long-standing member of the Achieva Family Trust Board of Trustees, including serving as the Board's Chairperson.

Prior to joining Achieva Family Trust, Ms. Dolan Strano spent more than 10 years in the UPMC Corporate Legal Department, representing Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic and Magee-Women’s Hospital as Associate Counsel.  She also represented the Department of Human Services for Allegheny County as Assistant County Solicitor, a job she held before working at UPMC.

Ms. Dolan Strano is a graduate of Bethany College and Duquesne University School of Law.  She taught Mental Health Law at The University of Pittsburgh School of Law from 2005 through 2008. Amy is active in the Allegheny County Bar Association's Elder Law Committee, Committee on Law and Disability and the Health Law Section.  She served as Chair of the Health Law Section from 2011-2012 and as Chair of the Elder Law Committee from 2016 - 2018.  Amy is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) as well as the Pennsylvania Chapter (PAELA).

Maria Smith is Director of Education and Outreach of Achieva Family Trust, a division of Achieva.  She has been with the Family Trust for the past 23 years.  Prior to her role, as Vice President of the Trust, she worked for many years in the Allegheny County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program.  Prior to leaving Allegheny County, she was the Deputy Director of Mental Retardation Services (now known as Intellectual Disabilities).  As one of the original staff of Achieva Family Trust, she has witnessed the tremendous growth of the Trust over the years.