Who We Are
This tool, used during Day 1 of the retreat, helps individuals and teams identify their unique talents so they can do their best work.
What is the CliftonStrengths Finder - The retreat opened with a CliftonStrengths Finder session facilitated by Katie Franco.
Aspire's Adult Services offers a full continuum of support. Which of the following is NOT one of Aspire's five service lines? Group Home Services. Shared Living Services. Day Program & Employment supports. Assisted Living Facilities. In-Home Supports.
What are Assisted Living Facilities?
According to Chip Auscavitch, this amount represents Aspire's total annual budget.
What is $104 million — with 74% of revenue from Adult Services and 26% from Children's Services.
Across Aspire's 65 sites in five states, this location type is the most common.
What is a Group home — 51 of the 65 sites, compared to 8 offices, 4 clinics/day programs, 3 Aspire Academies, and 2 maintenance garages.
This total amount represents Aspire's combined philanthropy fundraising goal this year across all three revenue streams.
$200,000 — split across $50K unrestricted, $75K restricted, and $75K in grant funding.
Aspire Living & Learning provides services across several states. Which of the following is NOT one of them? Vermont, Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine
What is Maine?
This number represents Aspire's total adult services census across all four states as of September of 2026.
What is 537 individuals?
Aspire serves 690 individuals across 200 programs. This number represents Aspire's current employee vacancy rate.
What is 7%? — an impressively low figure in the I/DD sector, with 999 FTE employees and a vacancy rate well below the industry average.
Three themes surfaced in every focus group on what "proud" looks like for our spaces. This theme was NOT one of them.
A. Welcoming B. Person-Centered C. Cost-Efficient D. Dignified
What is Cost-Efficient.
A donor relationship in Connecticut led to something unforgettable for the people Aspire supports. What was it?
What was a ride in a yellow Lamborghini at the Dream Ride — a perfect example of philanthropy creating real joy and community connection for the people Aspire supports.
Aspire's Chief People & Culture Officer, who oversees workforce strategy and culture, has this name.
Who is Judy Stermer?
ALL Academy CT currently has 130 students enrolled across three campuses — a new flagship site will replace the Trumbull site. This city and state is where the new flagship campus will be located.
What is Orange, CT?
Aspire's services are primarily funded through this type of federal/state program.
What is the Medicaid HCBS Waiver — Home and Community-Based Services waivers that allow community-based care by waiving standard federal Medicaid rules.
The plan to turn the environmental standard into a system runs through three phases. This phase, starting January 2027, ties prioritized Environmental Improvement Plans to the capital budget.
What is Improve (January 2027 on) — following Define (September 2026, the Environmental Balanced Scorecard) and Assess (November 2026, the baseline assessment of every location).
Aspire has a $4M capital campaign underway. It is focused on building this.
An Athletic Center at the new flagship campus in Orange, CT — Aspire's signature legacy project, with cultivation underway with foundations including Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and Dalio Philanthropies.
Aspire's Board Chair, who also co-facilitated the CliftonStrengths session, currently serves as a Partner of this organization.
What is SquareRoot Consulting?
The Day Program Excellence Project is guided by this single central question.
What is "Why would an individual or family choose Aspire over another agency?"
Aspire draws funding from an impressive number of sources. This number represents the funding sources that Aspire receives payment from.
What is 65+ funding sources? — reflecting the complexity of the I/DD funding landscape and Aspire's diversified revenue strategy across five states.
When applying the standard to existing sites, Aspire uses a three-tier framework for improvements. This tier is always funded first, with no location waiting.
What is safety and compliance — always first, always funded. It's followed by high-traffic, high-visibility areas (entryways, common spaces) and then person-centered personalization.
Vermont House Bill 931 was a major advocacy win for Aspire. It accomplished this...
What is the moratorium on new private schools — a legislative win that unlocked Aspire's potential acquisition of SD Associates.
Aspire's six technology design principles were not invented in a boardroom — they surfaced organically from this process.
What are the Culture of Quality focus groups?
Aspire's Shared Living Provider Retention Plan includes six pillars. Which of the following is one of them? Provider Certification Exams. State Licensing Oversight. Provider Feedback Loops. Annual Performance Reviews.
What is Provider Feedback Loops — the six pillars are: Recognition & Appreciation, Competitive Compensation, Stronger Onboarding & Training, Ongoing Support & Respite, Provider Feedback Loops, and Streamlined Administration.
This percentage split of Aspire's $104M budget comes from Adult Services vs. Children's Services.
What is 74% from Adult Services and 26% from Children's Services — with Staffed Residences alone representing 40% of the overall revenue profile.
The "Room to Thrive" presentation opens with a line about the physical environment. What does it say the environment is, rather than a facilities line item?
What is "Part of the service we deliver" — the presentation frames dignity, workforce, regulatory risk, and reputation as the four reasons the physical environment matters.
John Whittemore described three ways Board members can help — Champion, Invite, and Invest. Name what "Champion" specifically mean in this context.
What is talking about Aspire in your own circles and being a visible advocate for the mission. Invite = make an introduction. Invest = give, sponsor, or help close a gift.