David Squires of Grand Island, NY has been promoted to the position of Director of Staff Development and Training at People Inc. Squires began his career at People Inc. as a program administrator in the Residential Department. He has also held the position of training coordinator and most recently as assistant director of Training. Squires attended Alfred University. In his new position, he will be responsible for the oversight and administration of all agency Staff Development and Training functions. He will also be involved with the provision of training to employees from other local agencies in Western New York.

Squires would like community members to know that People Inc. can offer so much and many opportunities. He said, “I originally started working in this field because I enjoy assisting people of various abilities. In my current position, I am still able to assist the individuals we serve, but now it is by ensuring that the staff providing support to them receives the highest level of training possible. I also try to stress to our employees what a tremendous opportunity they have to make a positive impact on the lives of others.” 

Squires first heard about People Inc. while working as a program manager for another local agency. He recalled, “We were preparing to open a new group home on Grand Island and I contacted the manager of one of the People Inc. sites on the Island to ask if I could tour the facility. The manager not only gave me a tour of the facility, but also drove me to another site on Grand Island operated by People Inc. and gave me a tour there as well. To me the sense of collaboration and teamwork was amazing.” Squires also has a fond memory of his first year with People Inc. and said, “One of the individuals I was working with invited me to their high school graduation ceremony. It was great to see how proud he was of himself; it was just a great day.”

Squires enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys playing golf, hiking with his dog and anything that involves the outdoors. He noted that he “likes how the employees of People Inc. put their titles aside to help those that are in need; and as the agency continues to grow, it seems the employees of People Inc. genuinely remember the agency mission and the reason why we are here in the first place.”