Name
Luis Madera
Title
Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instructional Technology
Program
Training Department
Region
New York City
Time with Cayuga Centers
Since 2018
Meet Luis Madera, Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instructional Technology at Cayuga Centers. Luis brings a unique blend of compassion, vision, and purpose to his role—creating impactful learning experiences that support staff and ultimately benefit children and families.
About the Training Department
The Training team at Cayuga Centers designs and delivers high-quality accessible training resources for staff and foster parents. By leveraging technology and instructional design, Luis and his team ensure that employees and foster parents are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to provide effective compassionate care.
Why Luis Chose a Career at Cayuga Centers
Luis’s journey to a career in social services was driven by a deep desire to find work that aligned with his personal values and spiritual calling. Luis studied Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Spirituality and is an ordained minister. Under this lens, Luis views his role as more than a job—it’s a ministry of service. His leadership is grounded in empathy, dignity, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. As Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instructional Technology, Luis leads with compassion, vision, and a commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences that ultimately impact the children and families served by Cayuga Centers.
Luis shares his why:
“Supporting children, families, and staff resonates with me not just as a job—but as a ministry. It’s a calling to lead with compassion, respect, and heart.”
After deciding to move away from ministry, Luis was searching for a job where he could truly feel that he was making a difference. He longed for something that would not only challenge him professionally, but also resonate with his personal values. He wanted to do work that felt purposeful, meaningful, and aligned with who he is. At Cayuga Centers, a nonprofit organization that serves vulnerable children and families, he found just that.
“It’s more than a career—it’s a calling.”
luis madera
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A Day in the Life
Luis’s day often involves collaborating across departments to design and update training content that meets the evolving needs of staff and foster parents. Whether adapting to system-wide changes or developing new e-learning courses, he works closely with subject matter experts and leadership to ensure resources are timely, relevant, engaging, and impactful. His role is dynamic, requiring both strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the agency’s workforce and services.
A recent success he and the team had was related to the sequential rollouts of a new electronic health record (EHR) system, Human Resource Information System (HRIS), and file management system all within three months. Luis and the training team had the challenging tasks of creating custom trainings for staff and supervisors for each of these systems. Through focus and determination, they created and updated new e-learning courses to provide timely resources that were available on demand to staff as the new systems rolled out.
“It was a daunting task—changes were happening rapidly and required constant coordination across teams. We not only managed to create and update new e-learning courses to support these changes, but we also kept existing projects moving forward without delay. It was a proud moment that reflected our team’s ability to adapt, collaborate, and deliver high-quality training under pressure.”
Driven by a Sense of Purpose and Connection
“I strive to create learning environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered—because that’s where true growth happens. Through the courses, tools, and content I design, I know my work is helping those on the front lines of service delivery.”
Luis Madera exemplifies the heart of Cayuga Centers’ mission through his work in the Training Department. His dedication to creating accessible and meaningful learning experiences empowers staff to better serve children and families—making a lasting impact through education, collaboration, and compassion.
Ready to make a difference with your career? At Cayuga Centers, we’re looking for passionate, mission-driven individuals like Luis who want to use their talents to create meaningful impact. Join us and be part of something bigger. View our open positions at www.cayugacenters.org/careers.
