(Long Island, NY) The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) is pleased to welcome Mary Ellen Kundrat, LMSW as EAP Specialist and Janine Friedman, MSILR, SPHR as Director of Training and Coaching for Open Arms. Ms. Kundrat and Ms. Friedman are joining LICADD’s Employee Assistance Program during a time of unprecedented growth and will be serving Open Arms’ over 80,000 clients in tandem. Ms. Kundrat will provide counseling services to employees and their families, while Ms. Friedman will offer workshops, trainings, and executive coaching to employers.
Mary Ellen Kundrat, LMSW – EAP Specialist
Ms. Kundrat has extensive experience working closely with both employers and employees, and most recently served as Director of Employee Services at Employee Support Network. She previously interned at Port Counseling and Services Now for Adult Persons.
Ms. Kundrat believes hardily in the importance of work-life balance, and she aims to help individuals and families manage life stressors so that they do not interfere with their work environments. Managers, supervisors, and co-workers alike have benefitted from her solution-focused workplace approach.
Ms. Kundrat received her Master’s degree from Adelphi University’s School of Social Work and has specialized training in Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing. Her deep dedication to her community is an ideal match for LICADD’s values and mission.
Ms. Friedman also joins Open Arms from Employee Support Network, where she spent almost four years overseeing the training and coaching department. During her tenure there, she designed, developed, implemented, and delivered training and educational programs specializing in leadership, management, customer service, team building, HR compliance, and life skills.
Janine Friedman, MSILR, SPHR – Director of Training and Coaching for Open Arms
Ms. Friedman’s prior experience as a Vice President of Human Resources at Royal Alliance Associates has helped her understand clients’ expectations when working with an EAP. She is an enthusiastic and inspirational speaker who conducts training programs that are both educational and memorable.
Ms. Friedman holds a Masters of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University/Baruch College, along with a SPHR designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute, and is a certified graduate of Coach Training Alliance, an International Coaching Federation accredited training program.
Monica Wakely, Director of LICADD’s Open Arms Employee Assistance Program, stated the following about her two new colleagues: “As Open Arms continues its expansion, we will be seeking to stay abreast of the most effective and helpful workplace trends to impart to our members. I am elated to have both of these seasoned professionals on board during this exciting period of growth!”
To learn more about LICADD’s Open Arms Employee Assistance Program, please contact Mary Ellen Kundrat at mkundrat@licadd.org or Janine Friedman at jfriedman@licadd.org. The EAP Team can also be reached at 516.747.2606.
