Megan F. Lostracco-Reed, MHA, BS
Megan F. Lostracco-Reed, MHA, BS, is a strategic and compassionate leader with a strong track record in the human services and healthcare sectors. Based in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, she has dedicated her career to fostering environments that enable teams to work efficiently and effectively while ensuring high-quality service delivery. Megan brings extensive expertise in operations, strategic planning, project and program management, policy development, and grant and contract administration, allowing her to navigate complex organizational systems and drive meaningful improvements. She excels at bridging communication gaps between departments and translating complex issues into actionable solutions.
Currently, Megan serves as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Catholic Charities of Buffalo, where she leads the implementation of value-based services, managed care coordination, and initiatives aimed at promoting equitable access to health and human services. Previously, she served as Senior Director of Behavioral Health, Program Coordinator, and in various leadership roles at West Haven Community House, developing and managing programs that address mental and behavioral health, care coordination, and wellness for children and adults. Her career is marked by a consistent focus on improving outcomes, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering a culture of collaboration and support among staff.
A lifelong learner, Megan holds a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Walden University, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into the Golden Key International Honors Society, and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Connecticut. She has also earned certifications as a Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Champion and in Project Execution through Google and other programs. Megan is also currently pursuing a Certification in Leadership Coaching from the University at Buffalo.
Megan’s leadership style is rooted in servant leadership, prioritizing the well-being and growth of her team while driving organizational innovation, process improvement, and community impact.
• Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Champion
• Project Execution: Running the Project
• Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project
• Project Planning: Putting It All Together
• Project Management Professional
• Foundations of Project Management
• Mental Health First Aid
• Walden University - Masters Healthcare Administration
• University of Connecticut - BS Nutritional Sciences
• West Haven Community House 2013 Spirit Award
• Golden Key International Honors Society
• Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society
• Catholic Charities Quality Award 2025
• Western New York Regional Planning Consortium
• Leadership Niagara
• Value Network
• Pi Beta Phi Fraternity
• Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative
• Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Preserve Board Member
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to working hard in the field and being a team player, as everything in the nonprofit sector relies on collaboration to ensure smooth operations.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to "be present but humble". To contribute when you have something valuable to contribute, but allow others the opportunity to share their voice as well, and even promote other voices.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the nonprofit sector is to work hard, be present, show humility, and always maintain your integrity. Especially as women, it's important to know your audience and "be present", meaning make your voice heard. But, it is also important to show humility and to lift up other voices. Don't feel like you have to be the smartest person in the room, because everyone has something to contribute, and the best way forward to together.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the non-profit health and human services field right now is the volatility of the funding landscape leading to increasing uncertainty of not only what services are available for those in need, but also what jobs are available for those in the "helping" professions, which predominantly impacts women.
One of the biggest opportunities is the focus on integrated whole-person care, which has led me to a new position with a large Integrated Care Network. This societal focus on health and wellbeing combined with uncertainty in the world also comes at a time when individuals are prioritizing and taking ownership of their own wellbeing, career paths, and overall happiness. This landscape offers an opportunity to start my own Coaching and Consulting business, which will launch in June 2026 after achieving my Leadership Coaching Certification from the University at Buffalo (UB) Center for Leadership and Global Impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values in my work and personal life are maintaining a healthy work-life balance, humility, and integrity.