Worcester human services nonprofit picks Dedham VP as next chief program officer

A man wears a black suit jacket, white printed button down shirt, and a blue, grey, and white patterned tie.

Photo I Courtesy of Open Sky Community Services Emmanuel “Manny” Oppong, executive vice president and chief program officer at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester

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By Mica Kanner-Mascolo

Worcester-based behavioral health and human services provider Open Sky Community Services has hired Emmanuel “Manny” Oppong as the nonprofit’s new executive vice president and chief program officer.

In his new role, Oppong will oversee the service delivery of Open Sky’s care options to support children, adults, and families living with challenges including mental health, substance-use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injury, and homelessness, according to a June 20 press release from Open Sky.

“We are thrilled that Manny has joined Open Sky as our next chief program officer,” Ken Bates, Open Sky’s president and CEO, said in the release. “His clinical background, extensive experience working in a variety of settings and his innovative approach to service expansion and integration will have a tremendous impact throughout our organization, from our staff to the people who rely on Open Sky for supports and services.”

Oppong replaces previous EVP and chief clinical officer Nancy Bishop, who stepped down in December to semi-retire after more than 30 years with Open Sky.

Before joining Open Sky, Oppong most recently served as vice president of service integration at Riverside Community Care, a behavioral health and human services nonprofit based in Dedham. He has held roles including area clinical manager with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and assistant director with the Boston Emergency Services Team

A licensed independent clinical social worker, Oppong earned his bachelor’s degree in English education from the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana, his master’s degree in social work from Simmons University in Boston, and has studied human services leadership and public administration at Suffolk University in Boston through a fellowship with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services.