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Melwood Hires Scassero as New Senior Vice President Friday, September 04, 2009

Melwood Hires Scassero as New Senior Vice President
(Melwood color staff photo attached)
UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND (September 4, 2009) – Melwood today announced the hiring of retired Navy Captain Matthew T. Scassero as Senior Vice President for Contract Services, with responsibility for services to government customers.

In June, Scassero retired as Vice Commander for Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) after a 27-year naval career that saw him deployed around the world on six of the seven seas, and to 25 countries on five continents.  Scassero earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in 1983 and flew combat missions in Iraq and Kosovo.

Scassero is a board member for Leadership Southern Maryland and the Center for Children, a Southern Maryland nonprofit which provides mental health care to children in need.  Scassero is also a Leadership Maryland graduate, and a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

Scassero will oversee Melwood's AbilityOne contracts, which employ more than 530 people with disabilities in custodial, landscaping, recycling and complete facilities management capacities.  These employees, otherwise eligible to receive government benefits, earned $13.5 million in wages and benefits and paid $2.7 million in taxes in 2008.

"My career up until now has been defending the dream of 'hope.'  My goal has been to continue that service, and fulfilling Melwood's vision and mission allows me to do that.  I look forward to being part of the team that makes that dream a reality for everyone," said Scassero.

The AbilityOne Program is a federal initiative to help people who are blind or who have severe disabilities find employment by working for nonprofit agencies that sell products and or services to the U.S. government.  Melwood employees work at more than 65 federal contract sites including the Naval Academy, Patuxent River NAS, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Matt's military and volunteer leadership experience will be instrumental in helping Melwood increase employment and help people with disabilities become part of the larger community," said Janice Frey-Angel, Melwood President/CEO.

About Melwood:
Melwood Horticultural Training Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving more than 1,600 people with disabilities with employment, community supports and recreation in the Washington D.C. area. Melwood employees support more than 65 contracts made possible by the AbilityOne Program, which encourages federal agencies to contract with approved, qualified organizations that provide job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This federal effort is emphasized by the fact that 62 percent of Americans with severe disabilities are unemployed. For additional information about Melwood capabilities and services for people with disabilities, call Melwood at (301) 599-8000, or visit www.melwood.org.


Contact:
Jay Thomas, Melwood
jthomas@melwood.org
(301) 599-4550

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