Acacia Network. Community Health Centers | Drug Abuse Treatment | Long Term Care

Raul Russi, Chief Executive Officer

Raul Russi is the Chief Executive Officer of Acacia Network, Inc. As such, he provides executive management of the day to day operations for the largest Puerto Rican-founded organization in New York, with an annual budget of more than 130 million in revenue and 200 million in asset dollars. Raul Russi was born in Patillas, Puerto Rico and relocated to Buffalo New York with his family at an early age. In 1996, Mr. Russi was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation, having served as Chairman of the NYS Parole Board since 1990, as well as the first Latino sheriff of the City of New York. In 1973, Mr. Russi created the Consortium of Spanish Speaking Organizations, the first full service agency headed by a Latino in Buffalo, followed by the founding of the Western New York Hispanic and Friends Civic Association. Mr. Russi also spearheaded the creation of Western New York’s first residential substance abuse treatment program, Horizon Village.

In his early Criminal Justice career, Mr. Russi became Buffalo’s first Hispanic police officer and ultimately awarded the department’s Purple Heart when he was shot in the line of duty. Thereafter, he was appointed to the State Commission of Correction’s Citizens Policy and Complaint Review Council and subsequently became Superintendent of the Erie County New York Correctional Facility.

Raul Russi has four children and lives in lower Manhattan with his wife Rody Reyes-Russi and his youngest son Joshua Russi.

Hon. Hector L. Diaz, President

The Honorable Hector L. Diaz was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Prior to his appointment as President of Acacia Network, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for BASICS/Promesa Systems, Inc. Mr. Diaz is a member of the Board of Trustees of Boricua College, The University of the State of New York Education Departments Local Government Records Advisory Council, and of the Board of Trustees for the Unified Court System Bronx County Law Library.

Mr. Diaz served as New York City Clerk and Clerk of the Council and as the Bronx County Clerk for over 14 years. As County Clerk, Mr. Diaz was designated Commissioner of Jurors and Clerk of the Supreme Court. He has the distinction of being the first Latino County Clerk in the State of New York. He represented Bronx County with distinction for seven consecutive terms as Member of the New York State Assembly, where he created the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.

Pamela Mattel, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Operating Officer

Pamela Mattel is the Chief Operating Officer of Acacia Network, Inc. She received a Masters of Social Work from Columbia University in 1983 and has been working in the field of primary and behavioral health care for over 28 years. Ms. Mattel ensures that the organization delivers high quality, integrated primary and behavioral healthcare and housing services while supporting continuous performance improvement and innovation.

Ms. Mattel is actively involved in several member associations, as well as many federal, state and local initiatives. She has contributed to curriculum development for New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center, and the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. She was the senior trainer for an intensive training program for over 900 clinical supervisors and worked closely with OASAS to provide technical assistance on clinical supervision as a best practice. Ms. Mattel has been very involved with The New York State Medicaid Redesign Team serving as a member of the Health Disparities Subcommittee, and the Health Home Workgroup, and has led Acacia’s effort to become a certified Health Home in collaboration with the Bronx Accountable Health Network.

Tomas Del Rio, Chief Financial Officer

Tomas Del Rio was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and was raised in Camuy, Puerto Rico. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting, Cum Laude, from the University of Puerto Rico. Tomas has over 25 years of experience in the Healthcare Industry and non-For-Profit sectors and takes great pride in community service. Over the course of his career, he has held the positions of Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of The Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn; Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Kings Highway Division of Beth Israel Medical Center in Brooklyn; as well as Director of Reimbursement for Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

Before working for Beth Israel, Tomas was the Assistant Director of Reimbursement for St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Currently as the Chief Financial Officer of Acacia Network, Tomas has assumed a leadership role in serving the under-served in Healthcare, Education, Employment, Housing, Economic and Community Development. Tomas is responsible for managing all aspects of the institution’s financial operations and is also in charge of some administrative and support services such as human resources, information technology, admissions, materials management, food services, security, facilities management, housekeeping and transportation.

Tomas believes that the government and our elected officials cannot do it alone, that the success of our communities will depend on the commitment to community service of their private citizens. Tomas’ professional and personal life demonstrates a great level of commitment to community development and service. Through his leadership role, Acacia Network enables and empowers the residents of the Bronx and New York City to become self sufficient citizens who could then contribute to the quality of life in their communities. In addition, Tomas has had the following professional affiliations and community service background:

Professional Associations

Member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)

Member of the New York State Association of Realtors

Community Service

President of the Brentwood Board of Education, Brentwood, NY from 2005 to 2007. Trustee from 2002-2004 and 2008

Treasurer of the East Brentwood Civic Association

Vice President of the East Middle Parent Teacher Association

Member of the Brentwood High School Parent Teacher association

Basketball Coach with the Brentwood Youth Activities Association

Basketball Coach with the Suffolk County Police Athletic League

Member at Large of the Alianza Latina de Long Island

Member of the Puerto Rican Coalition for a Better Community.