The board of directors of ME&A — an international development firm headquartered in Bethesda, Md., has appointed Teresita Perez as president and chief executive officer. Perez succeeds Thomas C. England, who led ME&A since the firm’s founding more than 35 years ago and a Chautauqua County native.

Perez, one of the co-founders of ME&A, has held multiple leadership positions in the company, including Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. She is an expert in international development programs and management, government contracting, and institutional capacity building with experience overseeing government-funded projects in the United States, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico.

“Everyone who has worked with Teresita over the past 35 years knows her commitment to action, quality, integrity, and people,” England said. “Her extensive experience with ME&A makes her perfectly positioned to guide ME&A through these challenging times with grit, agility, integrity, and unwavering dedication to ME&A’s values.”

England was raised in Cassadaga and Dunkirk and attended Cassadaga Valley Central Schools and graduated Dunkirk High School in 1958. He was a graduate of the State University at Fredonia and first director of the city of Dunkirk Development Office.