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Michael P. Storz, MBA

Michael P. Storz is President of Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. (CHSC), an award-winning nonprofit that empowers adults of varying abilities to live independent and self-determined lives.  CHSC s a lifelong program serving more than 250 adults from across the U.S. and several countries.

Michael joined Chapel Haven in 2000 and has an abiding passion for the disabilities field. Through his ability to connect, he has brought the best of the local, state and national communities into partnership with CHSC in a variety of ways. In 2014, Michael was named a “Rising Star” by Business New Haven for his energized leadership. In 2016, CHSC was honored as a Health Care Hero by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce for spearheading an award-winning partnership with the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center to improve health and fitness for Chapel Haven adults.

Under Michael’s leadership, Chapel Haven Schleifer Center has spearheaded a $45 million campus transformation, positioning CHSC once again as a pioneer in serving adults with disabilities. Entitled “Chapel Haven: Continuing the Commitment,” CHSC has transformed its Westville campus with a new Welcome Center, a state-of-the-art REACH campus, landscaped courtyard and the completion of the Schleifer Adult Independent Living (SAIL) program, allowing members of the CHSC community to continue living among friends and with independence.

Michael is active with many boards, both locally and on the national and international stage. He has served as President of the National Association for Residential Providers of Adults with Autism (now Autism Provider Exchange) and has served as co-chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. Mike also chairs the Bethany Leapley Autism Spectrum Disorder Charity Fund. Mike serves on the board for the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance locally and serves as an advisory board member to the ASD Fitness Gym in Orange. Michael relishes volunteering his time as a “Sensitive Santa” for children with disabilities each holiday season at the gym. He also sits on the SCSU Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders external advisory board.

Michael speaks both nationally and internationally on many topics in the disabilities field, including best practices for adult services. Notably in 2014, Michael traveled to Russia, where he visited orphanages, provided lectures for the Russian government, and met with and advised professionals and families in the Voronezh region. Michael consulted with Disney Russia’s top marketing VP on how to make the Russian performance of “Beauty and the Beast” more autism-friendly. Michael enjoyes sharing the Chapel Haven model of adult transition services and Chapel Haven’s business model in a country where the concept of social entrepreneurship is relatively new.

Michael was also chosen as a speaker at the World Autism Conference in England, has toured programs in Ireland and gave an address that was live streamed into a conference in Kuwait. Michael also led workshops and lectures in Poland in the fall of 2017. In 2021, Michael was selected to receive the Outstanding Leadership Award by Milestones Autism Resources at their national conference.

Michael received his BA in Psychology from Providence College and his MBA degree from Southern CT State University. Prior to CHSC, Michael worked with children and adults with autism in both the classroom and home environments. Responsibilities ranged from employment services, in-home family support services to providing consulting and coordination of behavioral therapy program to young adults and children.

    Michael Storz
    President, Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc.

    mstorz@chapelhaven.org
    (203) 397-1714 – ext. 112