Hello, I'm Suad Bisogno, New Executive Director at IRI

ID: Image of Suad Bisogno in front a laptop in a white office space

Hello,

My name is Suad Bisogno, Executive Director of Integrated Resources Institute. Many of you may already know me, but for those who don’t, I’d like to introduce myself.

I began my career in this field in 2007 working at Jay Nolan Community Services under the direction of Joseph Nacario. From 2007-2009, Joseph and I worked closely on expanding employment services in the Los Angeles Area. In 2009, I was promoted and started providing Supported Living Services where I helped people live, work, and play in their own homes and communities.

ID: Suad Bisogno, with her husband Anthony and two children Apollo and Jozef in a Desert Preserve

In 2013, my husband and I moved to Orange County to explore new possibilities. I was hired by an organization that only offered segregated activities and a sheltered workshop. At this point, I knew it would be my life’s mission to support people with disabilities to be seen as equals, to be integrated into their communities, and to do whatever I could to make a difference. Within a month I was working under Joseph Nacario again, but this time at Integrated Resources Institute. I had the pleasure to meet many of the individuals that we still support to this day. I job coached, was a lead employment coach, and then a Program Manager. The work was rewarding yet demanding but it was a privilege to be able to make a difference. While still living in Orange County, I developed our Independent Living and Supported Living Services.

In 2015, we moved back to Los Angeles. I worked fulltime as the Associate Director of Program Operations at a nonprofit in the San Fernando Valley while consulting for numerous organizations, supporting them to move from segregated to integrated services.

In 2017, after the birth of my first child, Steve Zivolich and Joseph Nacario reached out to me about expanding IRI’s services to Los Angeles. I was thrilled to be back on the team. Since then, I have been busy working and creating at IRI.

ID: Suad Bisogno in front of legislators’ offices for a rally that she helped organize to get legislators to set aside funding for our service system.

IRI will continue to provide the most meaningful services in the least restrictive settings. We will continue to expand our services to areas and to people that don’t have access to integrated and competitive employment and inclusive living opportunities. Our goal is to help build a world that not only includes but embraces the people we support, that sees them for their gifts and talents, and that believes this planet is a better place when we are all together. Everyone is important in making this dream a reality. From our coaches to our families. From our employers to our service system. We all need to come together.

I look forward to leading this organization from the present into the future. We have so much to accomplish together.

With Gratitude,

Suad Bisogno

Executive Director

Integrated Resources Institute