Policy & Practice | Fall 2025

staff spotlight

Name: Raffaele Vitelli Title: Vice President, Professional Services Time at APHSA: I have been at APHSA for one month. Priorities at APHSA: In my role at APHSA I am part of the organization’s Executive Leadership and am responsible for overseeing the Conference and Events and the Organizational Effectiveness teams. Life Before APHSA: I started my career in computer science and was an IT consultant for 12 years. For the past 20 years I have worked in associations, trade and professional, overseeing programs that enhanced member value, engage ment, and experience while ensuring positive financial returns for the organization. In my last role prior to joining Name: Alexis (Lexie) Kuznick Title: Director, Policy and Government Relations Time at APHSA: I have been at APHSA for five months. Priorities at APHSA: I am deeply committed to balancing the need to respond to federal developments that direct changes to human services and achieving the proactive policy priorities of our members with the Administration and Congress. Life Before APHSA: Before APHSA, I was briefly at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At HRSA, I led the Division of Strategic Initiatives. Prior to that, I spent 11 years leading the Colorado Human Services Directors Association. In that role I did similar work as at APHSA, but at the local and state levels.

APHSA, I was the Vice President of Education and Product Development at the National Association of Social Workers. What I Can Do for Our Members: Our goal is to help human services agencies effectively deliver services to their communities, and to support the continued pro fessional growth of their workforce. I love to listen to our members, hear their stories, and understand their chal lenges so we can always produce relevant, helpful content and events. Best Way to Reach Me: You can reach me via email at rvitelli@aphsa.org. When Not Working: In my free time I like to watch and practice sports, especially swimming and biking, read books, and spend time with my family. Motto to Live By: We make a living by what we get but make a life by what we give. What I Can Do for Our Members: Members can count on me to listen thoughtfully to their policy challenges and solutions and work hard to find common ground among our leaders so that we can advance mean ingful progress in our services and systems. I’ll also keep a pulse on what’s happening in Washington so that they can rely on our This Week in Washington updates or reach out to me anytime. Best Way to Reach Me: You can reach me via email at akuznick@aphsa.org . When Not Working: I mostly cheer on and live vicariously through my 9-year-old daughter at her countless activities! But when I’m doing things for myself, I organize a neighborhood book club, enjoy going on walks, and watch lots of sports. Motto to Live By: “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a differ ence.” —Nelson Mandela

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