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EDITOR’S NOTE
AIMEE SIMPIERRE Editor-at-Large New York Nonprofit Media
It is my honor and pleasure to introduce you to the 2017 class of New York Nonprofit Media 40 Under 40 Rising Stars. Individuals in this class hail from the worlds of academia, health care, human services and beyond. They are already leaders, and many are grateful for opportunities where they can share their experiences and mentor others. No matter how technical or hands-on their work, many are inspired by the change their work is able to engender in those they serve. Their work and success should serve as an inspiration for us all. Take a moment to read their profiles on the following pages. You’ll find their recommendations for resources that may be helpful to your work, and you’ll find the survey questions that we asked our honorees to put their work into broader context. This year, we had a robust field of candidates for this honor, nominated by individuals from across the spectrum of New York’s nonprofit sector. As a staff, we reviewed each nomination and looked for those who, even at this early point in their careers, have demonstrated a high level of commitment and showed a high level of skill. We are glad to report that individuals with promise exist within all fields of the nonprofit sector and their work will continue to lift and transform the lives of people across New York. So congratulations to our 2017 class of New York Nonprofit Media 40 Under 40 Rising Stars.
Congratulations
Marleen Litt Your work transforms lives. Thank you for helping JCCA in its mission to repair the world, child by child. •
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From the Trustees, Staff, and all your friends at 120 Wall Street, 20th Fl. New York NY 10005 212-558-9909 • jcca@jccany.org www.jccany.org
Great Good Lives - 1
Oracle + NetSuite - 135,000
SCO Family of Services - 4,500
Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center - 3,000
Birch Family Services - 1,000
The Child Center of New York - 1,000
Safe Horizon - 770
Jewish Child Care Association - 700
Breaking Ground - 575
Center for Court Innovation - 426
Selfhelp Community Services - 400
Phipps Neighborhoods - 400
The Doe Fund - 400
Planned Parenthood of New York City - 375
CCS Fundraising - 250
The Bronx Defenders - 250
Sanctuary for Families - 200
Simon Wiesenthal Center - 109
Women’s Prison Association - 100
Coalition for the Homeless - 65
Museum of Jewish Heritage - 55
Long Island Cares Inc. - 50
New York City Department of Education - 50
Girl Scouts of Greater New York - 50
Accion East - 45
City Access New York - 35
Spectrum Designs Foundation - 30
The Armory Foundation - 30
JustLeadershipUSA - 22
The Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness - 18
Breakthrough New York - 15
The Bronx County Historical Society - 15
M.A.D.E. Transitional Services - 12
Church of the Incarnation - 10
Westchester Children’s Association - 8
Pipeline Theatre Company - 6
EffectiveNY - 5
The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills - 4
International Youth Leadership Institute - 2
How many employees in your organization?
SPEAKER
JEAN SHAFIROFF Philanthropist, Activist and Author
Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, humanitarian, activist and author of “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make A Life By What You Give.” She is considered to be at the vanguard of a new movement of modern philanthropists. Shafiroff ’s philanthropy goes beyond financial contributions and includes extensive time and knowledge. Through her work, she encourages and seeks to empower all individuals to become philanthropists so that they can build the fulfillment of giving into their lives. A volunteer fundraiser, leader and spokesperson for several charitable causes, the spectrum of Shafiroff ’s philanthropic work includes improving the lives of underserved populations, women’s rights, health care, animal welfare and resources for children in need, in addition to other causes. Shafiroff serves on the boards of New York City Mission Society, New York Women’s Foundation, French Heritage Society, Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, Southampton Bath & Tennis Club’s Charitable Fund and Global Strays. Recently Shafiroff became an ambassador for the American Humane Society. Widely recognized for her philanthropic work, Shafiroff has been recognized and featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Gotham Magazine, The New York Times, New York Social Diary, Avenue, Hamptons Magazine and HuffPost, among others. Shafiroff works closely with her multiple causes. Each year, she chairs numerous galas and hosts events benefiting numerous nonprofit organizations. She is particularly well-known for her leadership in raising money for many charities, including the Southampton Hospital, New York City Mission Society, New York Women’s Foundation and the Southampton Animal Shelter. Shafiroff has been honored by several organizations including the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, New York City Mission Society, Youth Counseling League, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Surgeons of Hope, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation, Pet Philanthropy Circle and Animal Zone International. Shafiroff earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Columbia Business School and a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has worked both in public finance and private partnerships on Wall Street. Prior to that, she was a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. She is married to Martin Shafiroff, an investment adviser, and together they have two daughters, Jacqueline and Elizabeth, who share their mother’s interest in charitable causes.
SPEAKER
ESTER R. FUCHS Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
Ester R. Fuchs is professor of international and public affairs and political science and is the director of the urban and social policy program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She served as special adviser to the former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on governance and strategic planning from 2001-2005. She is the director of an online voter engagement initiative called Who’s on the Ballot. Fuchs was the first woman to serve as chair of the New York City Charter Revision Commission in 2005. She was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and on the boards of Fund for the City of New York and the Citizens Union. She is the author of “Mayors and Money: Fiscal Policy in New York and Chicago.” Her recent research focuses on urban governance and policy, urban economic development, political participation, workforce development and global education. Fuchs consults for business, governments, nonprofits and political campaigns. She is a frequent political commentator and lectures internationally. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, a master’s degree from Brown University and a doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago.
JULIAN ADLER Director, Research-Practice Strategies Center for Court Innovation
Julian Adler is the director of research-practice strategies at the Center for Court Innovation, which seeks to help create a more effective and humane criminal justice system by designing and implementing operating programs, performing original research and providing reformers around the world with the tools they need to launch new strategies. Adler directs the center’s work on the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, an initiative to reduce incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. He also leads the center’s work on the Price of Justice, an initiative of the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure that legal financial obligations are consistent with constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process of law. Working across a broad range of criminal justice settings, Adler advises on the development and implementation of evidence-based and evidence-generating practices, including assessment instruments and short-term interventions. He also provides advice on court-based clinical practice, including theoretical frameworks and ethical challenges. Previously, Adler ran the Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn and had a hand in planning Brooklyn Justice Initiatives and Newark Community Solutions. He is a state licensed clinical social worker and attorney. What’s the best part of your job? I am surrounded by exceptional colleagues – smart, thoughtful, creative and decent. At the end of the day, that is the best part of my job. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I took a class taught by the Center for Court Innovation’s director of operations, Adam Mansky, during my last semester of law school. Up until that point, I had not seriously considered a career in criminal justice reform. The rest is history.
LAUREN ANDERSON Assistant Vice President, Talent Strategy CCS Fundraising Twitter: @laurhallie
Lauren Anderson believes that a strong and effective development program is essential for nonprofits to create scale, deepen impact and ultimately drive the organization’s mission forward. In her work with CCS Fundraising, she has designed, implemented and managed a number of development initiatives across multiple sectors, including capital campaigns, feasibility studies, major gifts programs and development assessments. In her current role, Anderson oversees recruiting and staffing initiatives for the firm and is committed to identifying and developing dynamic, passionate and strategic nonprofit leaders. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brown University and a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. She has partnered with a number of organizations across the nonprofit sector including A Better Chance, Ashoka, City Harvest, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Jersey City Medical Center and StreetWise Partners. Anderson is a New Jersey native and currently resides in New York City. She enjoys traveling, cooking and running. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? My first professional experience working with a nonprofit was when I first volunteered with StreetWise Partners as a mentor. I spent 12 Saturday mornings coaching and mentoring Rhonda, my mentee, on public speaking, resume and cover letter writing and general interview tips. A few weeks after she graduated from the program, she landed her first full-time office job in several years after she had been unemployed and fell upon difficult times. Seeing her excitement and genuine appreciation for my assistance was deeply moving. Shortly thereafter, I decided to get involved as a young leader of the organization, which opened eyes to the world of philanthropy.
JAIME A. ANGARITA Chief Operating Officer The Child Center of New York Twitter: @JaimeAAngarita
Jaime A. Angarita first started his career as a forensic accountant and corporate restructuring adviser at various global firms and spent more than a decade in the consulting and accounting sector. Angarita investigated, consulted, and testified in court proceedings in a variety of matters, including high-profile Ponzi schemes, corporate disputes, high net worth divorces and even a large nonprofit Chapter 11 restructuring. Over the years, Angarita picked up a skill set that blended his education in accounting and finance with hands-on operating and management expertise that he brings to the nonprofit world in order to make a direct impact on disadvantaged communities. After transitioning into his role as chief operation officer of The Child Center of New York, Angarita has focused his efforts on effecting change with sound business practices and strategies that do not lose sight of the imperative role that this industry serves. What’s the best part of your job? The Child Center of New York has developed a dynamic team that I thoroughly enjoy working with and I am proud of the strides and successes the agency has had. But my absolute favorite part of this job is the time I get to spend with the children and families we serve. Their spirit and sense of wonder about the world are an inspiration and driving force that revitalize my steadfast goals to effect change. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I have been blessed and honored to have mentors throughout my career that have attributed to my trajectory and success. I feel that it is important to understand that no matter how hard we work, accomplishment is often accompanied by the influence of others that have helped you along the way. I am both grateful and appreciative of the wise words and multiple experiences given to me throughout the years by my mentors.
Glennis Aquino is entering her sixth year working at the Armory Foundation. She is a resident of Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood and a proud member of Manhattan Community Board 12. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 10 years and feels passionately about creating positive change and growth in her community. She graduated from Fordham University.
GLENNIS A. AQUINO Chief Office Administrator The Armory Foundation
What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my career thus far has been seeing the progress and accomplishments of the students enrolled in our Armory College Prep programs. This year we saw 100 percent of our high school program students be accepted into four-year colleges, with over $3 million collectively received in scholarships. It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of such an amazing program that changes students’ lives. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? In March, our president, Dr. Norbert Sander, unexpectedly passed away. He was the person who hired me back in 2011 and who I worked closely with for the many years to follow. He was a man of great vision, who saw the potential in those around him and inspired you to be and do the best you had to offer. It was the time that I spent working with Dr. Sander that showed me that this was the field of work I wanted to do as a lifelong career of helping the youth of New York City reach their highest potential through fitness and education.
Veronica Aveis has served as political director of Planned Parenthood of New York City for the past five years. She previously worked as a district representative in the Brooklyn office of U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke. Her contributions also include serving as Women’s Caucus Chair for the New York State Young Democrats and as a board member of LaunchProgress PAC. Aveis also served as campaign treasurer for Friends of Jo Anne Simon, president emeritus of the Brooklyn Young Democrats, fundraising chair of Day One New York’s associate board and was a 2016 Community Service Award winner from the Independent Neighborhood Democrats.
VERONICA AVEIS Political Director Planned Parenthood of New York City Twitter: @VeronicaAveis
What’s the best part of your job? My team. I work daily with a group of folks who are committed to not just addressing inequity through the services our organization provides, but in making sure our practices as an agency are reflective of those values. It’s not often easy, but I’m proud to be part of it. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I called my congresswoman’s office to complain about a vote she took. I heard from staff about why the vote was taken. Even when disagreeing, I can respect a principled stance, so as a full-time student, I started volunteering. The staff saw how hard I worked, and within a few weeks, they offered me a job when my semester ended. Speak up. It matters.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage –A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Congratulates NYN Media’s Class of 2017 Rising Stars New York’s Holocaust Museum in Lower Manhattan is a destination for millions of visitors from around the globe for Jewish exploration, programming, and culture. Using first-person histories and personal objects, as well as areas of reflection including Andy Goldsworthy’s Garden of Stones, the Museum explains the essence and beauty of Jewish life and serves as a repository for the memories of Holocaust survivors, whose stories will continue to teach future generations.
E DMOND J. SA FRA P LA ZA | 36 BATTE RY PL AC E | N EW YO RK C I T Y | MJH N YC.O RG
ERICA L. AYALA Project Manager, GPS4Kids Westchester Children’s Association Twitter: @Erica_WCA
Erica L. Ayala joined the Westchester Children’s Association in 2016 to advance the Gathering Policy Solutions for Kids Collective Impact Initiative, or GPS4Kids. She has more than 10 years of leadership training and development experience. Prior to joining the Westchester Children’s Association, Ayala was the youth leadership development associate at the Children’s Defense Fund’s New York office and managed the CDF Freedom Schools program and the summer internship program. Ayala also managed the facilitation of restorative justice practices for NYPD School Safety Division for CDF New York. She was profiled as a champion for change for children during CDF’s 40th anniversary in 2013. In 2014, the Parent Action Committee honored her with the Outstanding Ally Award for her support of community-led workshops for school safety agents. In 2015, she represented CDF New York on the Mayoral Leadership Team for School Climate and Discipline. Ayala earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Elon University and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. What’s the best part of your job? I’ve spoken and served alongside champions for children like Judge Judith Kaye; Michael Tubbs, the youngest mayor in the history of Stockton, California; and countless other community leaders. The best leaders tend to be the ones who are willing to set titles aside and uplift the best ideas. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? My experiences with the CDF Freedom Schools and Young Advocate Leadership Training programs have impacted my career trajectory most. I was given the opportunity at a relatively young age to take leadership roles and discuss and debate local, state and federal policy.
PATRICK BARDSLEY President and Co-founder Spectrum Designs Foundation Twitter: @PatrickBardsley
Patrick Bardsley is the president and co-founder of the Spectrum Designs Foundation, which is a network of nonprofit social enterprises that provide job opportunities and training for teens and young adults with autism and related developmental disabilities. Along with his co-founders, Bardsley has founded five such enterprises: Spectrum Designs, Spectrum Bakes, Spectrum Grows, Spectrum Suds and an educational agency, the Nicholas Center, where he serves as a board member. The most well-known of these is Spectrum Designs, which prints and sells custom apparel and promotional products. Under Bardsley’s leadership this startup has grown to a nationally recognized organization with close to 50 full- and part-time employees and $1.4 million in gross annual sales. As a natural leader and innovator, he spends most of his time securing future growth and relationships to improve and expand the Spectrum brand, and recently spearheaded the purchase of a new $2 million home for Spectrum Designs. This will allow it to double the number of job opportunities, and double the capacity of this rapidly growing apparel business. Bardsley brings a skill set that spans many disciplines as well as more than 11 years of experience working with teens and young adults with autism. Bardsley is also a member of both the internationally renowned NationSwell Council and the invite-only Young Entrepreneur Council. He earned a bachelor’s degree in media, culture and society and a master’s degree in special education. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? As an 18-year-old, I worked at a special needs summer camp in upstate New York. Listening to parents express the fear of what will happen when they are no longer able to take care of their disabled child. What will their child be able to do? Will they work? Will they be productive? Will they be happy? I knew I had to try and answer some of those questions for them.
JESSICA M. BERRY Director, Institutional and Major Gifts Breaking Ground Twitter: @AcousticNumber7
Jessica Berry arrived at nonprofit work almost accidentally. She had always known that she wanted her day job to make a positive difference in the world. She had considered social work, teaching or becoming a librarian while accumulating undergraduate and eventually graduate credits along the way. During her time in library school pursuing a master’s degree in library science, she took a course on public library programming that addressed, among other topics, grant writing. Knowing little of the subject before that class, Berry set out to learn more, completing an internship at Grand Street Settlement that led to a consulting role and, ultimately, a career. Berry spent the next eight or so years in various aspects of fundraising – as a prospect researcher; as the sole fundraiser on staff for St. James’ Church, where she dealt mainly with individual donors and their annual membership campaign; and currently as the person responsible for Breaking Ground’s corporate, foundation and major donor fundraising. This fall, she plans to embark on a master’s degree in public health at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. What’s the best part of your job? I get to spend my days doing work that I enjoy with great, talented people who care about the things that I care about. And, in my current role, that work makes life better for people who are struggling and in need of assistance. It doesn’t get better than that. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? In the four-plus years I’ve spent at Breaking Ground so far, I’ve had the opportunity to raise funds for a number of program enhancements that bring psychiatric and medical care to homeless and low-income individuals. This engagement around issues of health access and health equity led me to apply to an MPH program, where I will be focusing on health policy and management in the hopes of addressing health disparities experienced by underserved populations.
MAKING AN IMPACT Helping people be successful is what we’re all about. So we’re proud to congratulate all the 40 under 40 winners and the important role you play in our community.
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NICOLE BERTRÁN Executive Vice President The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills Twitter: @nicolebertran
Nicole Bertrán joined Construction Skills in September 2008. Since that time she has successfully led the organization’s program operations and expansion initiatives. Previously, Bertrán worked for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, Nontraditional Employment for Women and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. She has more than 15 years of experience in workforce development program design, implementation and administration. Bertrán earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in professional studies from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. The final research project for her master’s degree, Meeting the Challenge of Increasing Diversity in the Unionized Construction Industry, has been cited in academic research and industry policy papers. A member of the New York City Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Council, Bertrán serves as chairwoman of the Council’s Industry Engagement Commission on Construction and Sustainability. She is also a recipient of the New York City Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship, a graduate of the New York City Leadership Institute and a graduate of the United Association for Labor Education’s Northeast Regional Summer School for Union Women. What’s the best part of your job? Bertrán said the best part of her job is when a graduate calls to say thank you to her and her team – especially if the call comes on a Friday afternoon. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I am very proud to be part of a workforce development initiative providing access to career opportunities in the unionized construction industry. This initiative not only creates a clear path to good wages, comprehensive benefits and retirement security, but also to a sense of accomplishment and personal achievement.
ALEXINA CATHER Deputy Director and Managing Editor Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center
Alexina Cather is the deputy director at the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center, where she works to develop innovative, evidencebased solutions to preventing diet-related diseases and promoting food security. She works closely with policymakers, community organizations, advocates and the public to create healthier, more sustainable food environments and to use food to promote community and economic development. Cather connects community-based organizations, academics and entrepreneurs for the purpose of combating hunger and other food-related issues such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension in underserved communities in New York City and beyond. Prior to joining the New York City Food Policy Center, Cather was a contributing writer for Food Tank, a think tank where she wrote about our food system and helped to promote a global community for safe, healthy and nourished eaters. Cather has an extensive background working with low-income families to gain access to nutritious, affordable food, and in research surrounding the power of our food choices. She holds a bachelor’s degree in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public health from the University of San Francisco. She hopes to make New York City a model for innovative and equitable food policy. What’s the best part of your job? I love that no two days at my job are the same. We work on so many different initiatives that one day I might be working with students in East Harlem on cafeteria nutrition and the next day preparing testimony for a City Council bill. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Moving to New York City! New York City is such an incredible and complex city where so much wonderful work is happening to improve the food system. I feel lucky to be a part of it all.
MICHAEL D. COHEN Eastern Director Simon Wiesenthal Center
Michael D. Cohen first garnered attention by constructing a Capitol Hill Black-Jewish relations conference, which brought together the Congressional Black Caucus, Jewish members of Congress and each community’s national leadership. Since then, Cohen has been a leader in building coalitions between communities, while working to eradicate discrimination and anti-Semitism. Cohen serves as eastern director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global human rights organization that uses the lessons of the Holocaust to confront anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism to train tens of thousands of people on prejudices, diversity and tolerance issues. He previously served as director of state political and strategic affairs at Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin. Cohen held senior positions for the state Senate, former U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns, then-Assemblyman Scott Stringer, former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green and New York City Councilman Mathieu Eugene. In 2010, he was elected to the City Council of Englewood, New Jersey and re-elected in 2013 and 2016. He graduated with a master’s degree in political science from Brooklyn College. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? When I first arrived on Capitol Hill as a congressional staffer for a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I recognized that certain issues percolating between the Black and Jewish communities were based on easily resolvable misunderstandings. I proposed to the caucus and was approved to coordinate a national Black-Jewish relations conference and bring diverse communities together. That experience made me recognize at a young age the importance of continuing such work, and it provided me the inspiration necessary to be successful.
LINDSEY COSGROVE Director, Institutional Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships Girl Scouts of Greater New York Twitter: @Lindseycos
Lindsey Cosgrove is a fierce advocate for the power of young people – especially girls – and for the importance of the nonprofit sector. She joined the Girl Scouts of Greater New York in April 2015. In her role, she is responsible for building strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations and government agencies in support of the organization’s fundraising and programmatic goals. Prior to joining the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Cosgrove worked primarily in development and programming at arts education organizations, including the National Guild for Community Arts Education and the Center for Arts Education of New York City. In July 2016, she co-founded Well-Fed, an organization that empowers youth services organizations to feed their kids better food. Cosgrove earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in urban education policy from Brown University. An avid writer, Cosgrove has contributed articles on education, policy and philanthropy to Createquity, a virtual think tank that promotes next-generation ideas about the role of the arts in a creative society. Cosgrove provides pro bono consulting for startup arts organizations, including the new music consortium Tenth Intervention and volunteers regularly with organizations such as iMentor, Let’s Get Ready and the New York Blood Center. What’s the best part of your job? Earlier this year, I was proud to be part of a small group that laid the groundwork for a new program called Troop 6000: a Girl Scout troop specially designed to provide community, consistency and leadership development opportunities to the thousands of girls in the New York City shelter system. It’s an exceptionally ambitious project to which I feel lucky to contribute. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? The first time I was awarded a grant for which I applied completely on my own, with no help or oversight, was a very influential moment for me. I may not always be exclusively a fundraiser in the future, but knowing I have those skills is exciting, empowering and bolsters my confidence.
ADRIAN DANNHAUSER Associate Rector Church of the Incarnation Twitter: @TheRevAdrian
The Rev. Adrian Dannhauser is the associate rector at Church of the Incarnation and chairwoman of the Episcopal Diocese of New York Task Force Against Human Trafficking. Dannhauser’s ministry is fueled by her commitment to spreading the gospel in word and deed. A lawyer and a priest, she views advocacy as the place where evangelism meets social justice. She is especially committed to raising awareness about human trafficking and motivating religious communities to exercise their faith through anti-trafficking efforts. Dannhauser has led a number of initiatives at the congregational and diocesan levels, lobbied for legislation and spoken publicly about trafficking at press conferences and workshops. Her work concerning trafficking recognition training for hotel employees was noted by The New York Times and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin earlier this year. Dannhauser sits on the board of End Child Prostitution and Trafficking and is a vice chairwoman for the Not On My Watch movement of the New York City Faith-Based Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. Before becoming an ordained minister, she practiced bankruptcy law at the Wall Street firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson. Dannhauser is married to Jess Dannhauser, president and CEO of Graham Windham. They have a young daughter, Callaway. What’s the best part of your job? One of the best parts of my job is helping people connect their love for Jesus and sense of deepening discipleship to service in and through the church. Not every good deed has our name on it, but we serve a God who calls us by name. This means God has very specific things for each of us to do. There is no greater privilege than accompanying people in their spiritual journey as they discern and live out God’s will for their lives. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? In 2016, I served as a delegate of the Episcopal Church to the 60th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women. Three things came together for me in this experience: Worship is the root of advocacy; righteous anger is the root of justice; and prayer is the root of transformation. These roots began to intertwine to inform and support my church’s anti-trafficking work, leading us to creative and anointed ways of engaging the issue of modern-day slavery.
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TONEY EARL JR. Founder and Executive Director M.A.D.E. Transitional Services
M.A.D.E. Transitional Services provides assistance to individuals in the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and northern New Jersey who are re-entering their communities after being incarcerated. Earl’s background and personal experience is a testament to the power of change and personal conviction. Having witnessed firsthand the difficulties of the transition process, he identified an area of need to assist people who were formerly incarcerated where he lived in the lower Hudson Valley area. As part of his advocacy work, Earl serves as M.A.D.E.’s spokesperson on re-entry and at-risk youth issues. He has served as a panelist at the CEJJES Institute, where he discussed the importance of cooperative economics and its benefits for employing former inmates. Additionally, Earl was appointed a Beyond the Bars Fellow as part of Columbia University’s Center for Justice inaugural class in 2014-15. Earl is an offender workforce development specialist certified by the state Division of Criminal Justice. He attended Lincoln University, where he studied business administration and political science. What’s the best part of your job? I get paid to do what I love and that is helping people. In this role, I help a population that I’m a part of: the formerly incarcerated. An example that captures the fulfillment of this work is working with a client that served 22 years in prison to help him obtain his first job and then seeing them build a career as a case manager working with the homeless. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Surrounding myself with the right mentors and advisers whose experiences and knowledge I can rely on to grow our organization and be innovative. This ensures that we’re staying a few steps ahead for the communities we serve.
KEVIN FRONER Principal Manhattan Hunter Science High School
Kevin Froner has been in public education since 2003 when he transitioned from Wall Street – working as a floor trader on the thenAmerican Stock Exchange – to teach social studies in the New York City public school system. After eight years of teaching and directing the early college program, Froner became principal of Manhattan Hunter Science High School in 2013. In his second year as principal, Froner received the New York City Update Administrator of the Year Award for his efforts to beautify the school building, which included the expansion of the arts and the implementation of new SAT, literacy and technology programs. Since then, the school has emerged as one of the top public schools in America and was recently ranked by Newsweek as 17th in the nation for serving high-poverty populations. Froner holds graduate degrees from Hunter College and Teachers College, Columbia University. He is completing his doctorate in the urban education program at CUNY’s Graduate Center. His research interests include equity, teacher quality and theories on discourse. His current pursuits include the building of a high-capacity hydroponics lab, which will feed over 2,000 students daily after it opens this year, as well as access to technology – specifically tablet devices – for all New York City public school students. What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is proving that all students – in effect, all human beings – when they receive the right supports, can overcome any obstacles, regardless of the circumstances. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Being raised by a single parent who was a social worker and advocate for women’s rights.
Have you found it easier or harder to fundraise since Donald Trump became president? HARDER 7.50%
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MICHAEL S. GLICKMAN President and CEO Museum of Jewish Heritage
Michael S. Glickman joined the Museum of Jewish Heritage as president and CEO in September 2016. Prior to joining the museum, Glickman served as a vice president at Long Island University, where he oversaw fundraising, alumni relations, government and community affairs, strategy and planning and a variety of external initiatives. Glickman joined LIU in summer 2014 after nearly a decade of leading the Center for Jewish History in New York City. The center serves as the largest and most significant repository of modern Jewish history in the world. During his time at the Center for Jewish History, Glickman raised more than $100 million in philanthropic and government support and grew the institution into a premier destination for visitors and scholars from around the world. Glickman earned a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in political science from Long Island University. What’s the best part of your job? Being in a position to directly impact tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year and help them experience a museum where lessons can positively change minds, provide meaning and opportunities that are hard to replicate elsewhere. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I was 27 and leading the world’s largest independent research center on the Jewish experience. Being thrust into a leadership role at such a young age forces you to “learn” the industry differently and better understand the impact of your work and decisions.
Nathan Gould has been a marketing manager at Brooklyn Academy of Music since 2015. In his role, he works on strategic marketing and audience development initiatives for the performing arts organization. Prior to BAM, Gould oversaw community management at the video sharing website Vimeo. Gould graduated from the University of Iowa and lives in Brooklyn. What’s the best part of your job? I’m lucky that my job provides regular exposure to artistic expression. Live performance can be incredibly enriching and BAM is a place where adventurous art is embraced.
NATHAN GOULD Marketing Manager Brooklyn Academy of Music Twitter: @_ngould
What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? While unexpected at the time, being a college radio DJ and station manager has guided my career. My work at the radio station allowed me to engage with artists and cultural leaders. These experiences developed a love for the arts and inspired a career supporting creative communities.
ERIC GROSSMAN Program Director of Alternative to Incarceration and Re-entry Services Women’s Prison Association
Eric Grossman is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 15 years of experience in a variety of settings, including outpatient and residential mental health centers, domestic violence shelters and correctional facilities for women. Grossman is an also an experienced clinical supervisor and program administrator. As the program director of alternative to incarceration and re-entry services at the Women’s Prison Association, he currently oversees programs that provide a continuum of care to women in prison or jail, women in need of community-based case management and vocational programs and HIV prevention programs. He specializes in trauma-informed approaches to care and is passionate about criminal justice reform issues. Grossman has also served as an adjunct lecturer at both Columbia University and Hunter College and as a field instructor for graduate students from local social work schools. What’s the best part of your job? I am fortunate to spend my days with clients and colleagues, who teach me something new every day and who challenge me to be a better social worker. I cannot stress enough how much I have learned from my clients, who courageously share their experiences and insights, allow others to see their vulnerabilities and strength and who share their powerful stories for many reasons, whether it’s to heal, to make meaning, provide hope for others or to partner with us to advocate for better ways. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? One experience was working with incarcerated women. I learned, intimately, about the devastating impact of incarceration, not only on the lives of the women, but on their families and on entire communities. Today, I reflect on the ways my professional and personal life has changed over those 10 years, during which time many of those same women remained incarcerated. The work continues and the fight for real criminal justice reform in this country continues.
MICHAEL HAYNES Chief Government Affairs Officer Long Island Cares Twitter: @LICGovtAffairs
Michael Haynes has been with Long Island Cares for past eight years working alongside the CEO to develop the food bank’s annual legislative agenda in response to proposed federal, state and county legislation. In this role, he mobilizes an energetic advocacy network around the overarching goals of strengthening both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state programs for the Long Island region. Additionally, realizing the integral role coalitions play in today’s complex political landscape, he focuses on leveraging Long Island Cares’ policy goals to other like-minded nonprofits throughout the region. Moreover, he oversees the organization’s veterans outreach efforts. This includes the deployment of a veterans mobile unit to distribute emergency food at community events and an innovative job development program, VetsWork, which has placed 65 veterans in jobs to date. Haynes earned a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Delaware. Haynes had the privilege of serving as a legislative fellow for the Delaware General Assembly before obtaining his current position. When he isn’t advocating for Long Island Cares, he enjoys watching and rooting for the Giants, Mets, Rangers and Knicks. What’s the best part of your job? Putting a smile on people’s faces whether it’s through the provision of emergency food or helping them to secure employment. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? My visits to Washington and Albany continue to show me that to make a difference you have to be in the fight.
ANGEL HERNANDEZ Director of Programs and External Relations The Bronx County Historical Society Twitter: @BronxHistory
Angel Hernandez, a native of the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx, has a profound passion to unearth and share historical information about his hometown. Born to Puerto Rican parents, Hernandez has always considered the Bronx his headquarters and became involved in the borough’s history after attending a Sunday course at Lehman College with Lloyd Ultan, the official borough historian. He works closely with educational institutions to teach students local history – a subject rarely taught in the classroom – and he believes the more they learn about their neighborhood’s history, the more they are able to appreciate its importance and create a sense of pride. Hernandez also heads the Bronx Latino History Project, a research study on Latinos who had lived or contributed to Bronx history. Hernandez is currently pursuing a master’s degree in history at Lehman College. What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is visiting educational institutions to give lectures and workshops on different aspects of Bronx history. I also enjoy giving school tours at our two historic house museums, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of Bronx History. The feeling of educating youth about a city that has undergone many changes in the last 100 years is self-gratifying and makes me feel that I am doing something right for the Bronx. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Being raised in the South Bronx in the mid-1980s, I have always wondered if there was any history behind the empty lots and abandoned buildings. My favorite subject in American history was the War of Independence. As I further delved into the subject, I learned that the place we now call the Bronx was used for a series of diversionary attacks against the British so that Gen. George Washington could maneuver. From that point on, my yearning to learn more about Bronx history intensified.
CONGRATULATIONS
To Phipps Neighborhoods’ Jeremy Kaplan and all of the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars. Thank you, Jeremy, for the hard work and commitment you bring to our team every day.
ALEXANDER HORWITZ Chief of Staff The Doe Fund Twitter: @ahhorwitz
Alexander Horwitz started his career in the private sector where he spent 10 years in corporate communications executing major internal and external initiatives at Pfizer, Tishman Speyer, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson and other financial services, real estate and pharmaceutical companies. He transitioned fully to the nonprofit sector in 2013 and later joined The Doe Fund to build its external affairs department. He later became the organization’s chief of staff and, in that role, coordinates the work of the executive team; oversees communications, government affairs and special projects; and serves as liaison to the board of directors. Horwitz is also a member of the board of directors of The Liberty Fund, a citywide charitable bail organization formed through a partnership among the New York City Council speaker, the Mayor’s Office for Criminal Justice and The Doe Fund. Horwitz is especially grateful to Harriet and George McDonald for the opportunity to work each day with purpose, to his talented, hard-working staff and to his boyfriend Ben for putting up with him. What’s the best part of your job? Having the opportunity to work and fight for something important – for people. And it’s even better when you get to fight that fight and do that work with talented, smart, dedicated colleagues all around you. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? My career changed forever after a trip to Vermont in 2011. Hurricane Irene trapped me, my boyfriend and our dog in the Green Mountains for five days. Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service, we made it home alive – albeit with a touch of cholera. I realized that I needed to find a more meaningful way to spend my working life. That’s when I made the change from the private sector to nonprofits.
PAMELA B. JACOB Manager, Social Impact Oracle + NetSuite Twitter: @PamelaBJacob
For more than 10 years, Pamela B. Jacob has been a successful leader in corporate citizenship and nonprofit management with expertise in conceptualization and execution of innovative pilot programs, strategic partnership cultivation, operational improvement and community engagement. As the manager of social impact at Oracle + NetSuite, Jacob oversees the Suite Donation program distributing free technology and pro bono resources to nonprofit and social enterprise organizations globally. She was a founding member of NetSuite’s Women In NetSuite New York City diversity initiative and is now involved with Oracle Women’s Leadership. Jacob accrued her experience over six years in workforce development with JEVS Human Services in Philadelphia. Jacob also served as director of client services and external relations for a nonprofit home health care startup, as a campaign manager for the United Way and as a nonprofit consultant. Jacob also holds volunteer roles as a member of the board of governors for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership organization and with the AntiDefamation League. What’s the best part of your job? Nonprofits and social enterprises of all sizes utilize NetSuite technologies and employee pro bono services to transform their operations and amplify their mission. The best part of my job is not only gifting software to amazing organizations, like New York’s own Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Elite STEM Education or Sea to Table, but driving resources back to these social impact organizations. Seeing our technology reduce administrative processes so more people can be served is incredibly powerful. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Exposure to incredible mentors who have allowed me autonomy and creativity in each of my roles has most definitely been key to my own career development. Encouragement to sit on internal and external committees has also enhanced my relationship and leadership development. Moreover, my volunteer experience running a small, 100 percent volunteer-based youth leadership nonprofit enabled me to enhance my skills in negotiation, operational effectiveness, brand elevation and my ability to motivate teams.
Josef Kannegaard is a principal policy analyst for the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness focusing on national policy analysis and research. Prior to leading the national team, he focused on issues of poverty and homelessness in New York City, contributing quantitative analysis to publications such as The Atlas of Student Homelessness in New York City. Before joining ICPH in 2011, Kannegaard worked for Charles Group Consulting in Boston. He holds a master’s degree in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
JOSEF KANNEGAARD Principal Policy Analyst The Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness Twitter: @joekannegaard
What’s the best part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job has been hearing back from educators and service providers about how our work has been able to help them raise awareness or design better programs and services for homeless children. I’ve been at City Council hearings, Department of Education trainings and national conferences and suddenly heard our name called our or seen a statistic in use that we produced and I realize our work has made a difference in how decision-makers have approached the problem of family homelessness. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? In my first job, I performed data analysis for a number of different nonprofits. I saw firsthand the power of data to shape political action, but I also got a sense of how many organizations lacked the resources or expertise to make the most out of the information they already had at their fingertips. After my first major presentation to a client, I knew I wanted to apply my skills helping people and causes left out of an increasingly data-driven world.
JEREMY L. KAPLAN Senior Director Phipps Neighborhoods
Jeremy Kaplan has 18 years of experience creating a meaningful impact in education and youth development for the kids who need it most. He brings innovation, enthusiasm and compassion to his work as senior director of the schools and community education division of Phipps Neighborhoods. Kaplan oversees 25 programs serving more than 4,500 children and their families in the South Bronx. These programs regularly receive awards and recognition for high quality. Kaplan is dedicated to building meaningful partnerships and strategizing to always give more to the families. More than a supervisor, he is a mentor and coach to the 70 full-time and more than 200 part-time staff in his division. He has been instrumental in the design, fundraising and implementation of several model citywide programs. Before arriving at Phipps Neighborhoods, Kaplan was the lead applicant and founding principal of Broome Street Academy Charter High School at The Door, which specializes in meeting the needs of homeless students and those in the child welfare system. Kaplan sits on the board of Turning Point Brooklyn and a variety of advisory boards and coalitions, including the steering committee for the New York City Coalition for Community School Excellence. Kaplan grew up in central Florida and has earned graduate degrees from Columbia University’s Teachers College and the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and College of Business, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I have been blessed with a number of mentors who have held a mirror to my face in times of adversity and change. These mentors, especially Dianne Morales, have always pushed me to be better. From a service standpoint, watching the first graduating class of Broome Street Academy walk (across) the stage, with over 80 percent of them accepted to college, catapulted my drive to continue to see young people reach their full potential.
KATE KRUG Director of Corporate and Major Gifts HelpMeSee Twitter: @krugkate
Kate Krug very recently became the director of corporate and major gifts at HelpMeSee, the global campaign to end cataract blindness. She was previously the director of development, events and engagement at Safe Horizon, overseeing fundraising and stewardship events as well as peerto-peer endeavors that raise more than $1.5 million a year. Safe Horizon provides support to hundreds of thousands of people who have endured domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking and many other forms of victimization. Additionally, Krug launched Leaders on the Horizon, a successful young professional fundraising group. Krug is a key strategist in Safe Horizon’s innovative action and fundraising campaign for domestic violence called #PutTheNailInIt, which has garnered more than 100 million social media impressions. What was the best part of your previous job? A holiday party at one of our domestic violence shelters featured an activity for children to paint frames and have family photos taken with Santa. One of the mothers began to cry as she was handed the framed photo. She explained this was the first photo she had of herself and children where they all looked happy and safe. Knowing that the funds we raised and services we provided can give a mother an experience like that – which so many take for granted – is more than my heart can ask for. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? I was born in a nonprofit hospital to a social worker and U.S. Navy sailor. I spent my childhood as a Girl Scout and went on field trips with the Boys & Girls Club. My first ID card was a library card that I proudly kept in my fanny pack. I have enjoyed evenings at the Public Theater tangled in Hamlet’s lies. I have strong opinions about Adnan Syed because I never missed an episode of “Serial” on NPR. My life is punctuated with memories and experiences provided by nonprofit organizations and parents who instilled a desire to give back. And because of that I have dedicated my career to the nonprofit sector.
LONG ISLAND CARES, INC. — THE HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK
Congratulates our own Mike Haynes Chief Government Affairs Officer On being named as one of New York Nonprofit Media’s 40 Under 40 Honorees.
Go Mike Go! Long Island’s Regional Food Bank since 1980 Brian Seidman, President
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(631) 582-FOOD
Sandy Chapin, Board Chair
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www.licares.org
Paule T. Pachter, CEO
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CATHERINE LAPSLEY Director of Quality Improvement: Program Performance and Evaluation SCO Family of Services
Catherine Lapsley earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and business from New York University in 2006. She worked in medical research and legal finance before returning to school for a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University. Lapsley started working at SCO Family of Services as a senior quality improvement analyst in 2013. She was a part of the organization’s accreditation process, incident management, data monitoring and data analysis team. In 2015, her role expanded to becoming the lead in a brand new initiative: the development and implementation of key performance indicators for the organization’s 83 consumer programs, which impact the lives of more than 55,000 individuals and families each year. Lapsley developed a structure of educating program leadership and staff – who may have been wary of data – to embrace the opportunity to better understand their work outputs. What’s the best part of your job? When program leaders explain all the extra work they do for our consumers, I get excited about the possible metrics we could begin to track to measure effectiveness, and also for them to see what they as a program have achieved. I love learning and problem-solving, and I get to do that every day. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? When I was first assigned the KPI initiative and asked to develop outcome metrics for programs, I was unsure how to begin because I do not have a background in program service delivery. So, I began meeting with individual programs to learn about what they do day to day. During these meetings, I began to notice that data analysis techniques and data-driven decision-making were never really fostered. I then adjusted my role to include education on data literacy, rather than just introducing new measurements and waiting for updates. It’s a more “teach a man to fish” approach when it comes to data and performance measurement, which I think is an essential skill to move towards performance improvement.
Marleen Litt graduated from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work in 2002. Prior to joining the Jewish Child Care Association, she worked as a clinical social worker at Beth Israel Medical Center, North Charles Institute for the Addictions and Weill Cornell Medicine. She joined JCCA, a child and family social services organization, in 2009 as an administrative supervisor and is currently the assistant vice president of waiver services in the care management division. Litt has a certificate from the Ackerman Institute for the Family and is a fall 2016 graduate of the New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows. Additionally, she serves as co-chair of the American Friends of Reuth board, a hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel.
MARLEEN LITT Assistant Vice President, Waiver Services Jewish Child Care Association
What’s the best part of your job? It is by far the ability to recognize emerging stars, to inspire them and to cultivate staff to live up to their highest potential. A strong worker must have skill, passion and drive to grow professionally. As a supervisor, it’s essential to recognize those ingredients and nurture that staff member to climb their own personal trajectory. My accomplishments can be seen through the staff I have prepared to succeed me. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? It has been having supervisors and managers who have had confidence in me and taken the time to groom, educate and train me to be an administrator in the ever-changing nonprofit social services world. I have been fortunate to have individuals to whom I report that I view as role models and strive to emulate.
JONATHAN C. MARIN Program Manager, Career Discovery Project City Access New York Twitter: @The_BX_Pulse
Since 2008, Jonathan Marin has worked with the blind and visually impaired community. As a job coach for The Lighthouse Guild, he supervised blind and visually impaired youth at their work sites, providing assistance and mentorship. Soon after graduating college, he was hired by City Access New York in 2014 to manage their Career Discovery Project. As part of his role, he connected blind and visually impaired high school and college students with internships at cultural institutions throughout New York City. The goal of the project is to provide a real work experience for collegebound students. As interns, they are paid by City Access New York while the partnering institution benefits from the extra help. He hopes to expand the program beyond the state. Marin was born and raised in the Bronx, where he has the luxury of working from home while raising his daughter. What’s the best part of your job? Besides having access to cultural institutions in all five boroughs and introducing unique students to opportunities they may have never thought were possible, the best part of my job is watching individuals grow before my eyes. Most of them start working while in high school and continue all the way through college. Some go on to find work on their own. It’s very rewarding. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? When I was a job coach, I was once assigned to a student whose duties included mopping floors and cleaning out garbage cans. But this student was very tech savvy and he didn’t let his visual impairment get in his way. I felt his talent was being wasted. When an opportunity to connect him with City Access New York presented itself, I took it. Now I make sure my student’s talents are developed and utilized. No more waste.
JANOS MARTON Director of Policy and Campaigns JustLeadershipUSA Twitter: @janosmarton
Born and raised in New York, Janos Marton attended Dartmouth College, where he became the college’s first two-time student body president. After college, he worked on political campaigns and disaster relief before returning home to attend Fordham University School of Law. As an attorney, Marton practiced at Hogan Lovells, where he worked on a landmark housing discrimination case against the village of Garden City and on the Occupy Wall Street legal team, then at the civil rights firm Siegel Teitelbaum & Evans, where he litigated for the right to protest and against some NYPD practices. After writing extensively on campaign finance reform, Marton was tapped to serve as special counsel to the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption. Most recently, he worked as legal policy counsel to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board before joining JustLeadershipUSA. There he leads the campaign to #CLOSErikers, as well as local, state and national initiatives designed to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030. Marton lives in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood with his wife, Anna. He is an amateur New York City historian and lifelong Knicks fan, though he will quit if they trade Kristaps Porzingis. What’s the best part of your job? The best part about working at JustLeadershipUSA is watching those most directly impacted by mass incarceration leading the charge to reverse it. A close second is that JustLeadershipUSA is in the business of bold reforms: We aren’t going to reverse four decades of mass incarceration tinkering around the edges. When we started the #CLOSErikers campaign, even our friends were skeptical, but those most impacted by Rikers knew that boldness was required. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Working in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, I was incredibly moved by how the community came together with complete strangers to rebuild in the aftermath of total devastation. Until I started working on the #CLOSErikers campaign, I’d spent my professional life chasing the level of meaning I felt working for Hands On Disaster Response in Biloxi, (Mississippi). The experience taught me the extraordinary results people can achieve when they are committed to a shared mission.
SANDY MYERS Director of Government and External Relations Selfhelp Community Services Twitter: @sandylynnmyers
Sandy Myers has worked in government, advocacy and communications since 2009 and currently serves as the director of government and external relations at Selfhelp Community Services. She works with elected officials and other stakeholders to promote a public policy agenda that benefits older adults in the state and also leads the organization’s communications and public relations strategy. Since joining Selfhelp in 2015, Myers has raised the visibility of the organization through a coordinated effort that engages government, press and public relations and aligned nonprofit organizations. She has developed public policy agendas that enable older adults to age independently. With Myers’ leadership, Selfhelp secured $1.5 million from the New York City Council and borough president discretionary and capital awards in the past year. She has also secured numerous press placements in organizations such as The New York Times, the Daily News and NY1. Prior to her role at Selfhelp, Myers was an associate director of government relations at UJA-Federation of New York where she advocated on a range of human services issues. Before that, she served as a community liaison for former Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, representing the west side of Manhattan. What’s the best part of your job? Whether it’s sitting at lunch at the senior center, talking to residents in our senior housing or dancing with Holocaust survivors at our coffee houses, these interactions make my day fulfilling and also make my work concrete. When I’m advocating, I have a clear image of who I’m advocating for and why. And I couldn’t ask for a better gift. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Working at the borough president’s office, I experienced local government at its roots. Going to not only community board meetings, but also block associations, PTAs, NYCHA tenant associations and even dog run association meetings taught me about the power of New Yorkers to organize and determine the future of their city.
Do you think nonprofits need to be more aggressive about pushing the government to improve the operating climate for the sector? YES 70%
It’s time for us to unite, activate and use our voice
OTHER 25%
NO 5%
We need to put all of our focus on providing services at a time when the needs of many individuals are growing
MORGAN PEHME Executive Director EffectiveNY Twitter: @morganpehme
Morgan Pehme is the executive director of EffectiveNY, a government watchdog organization and public policy think tank founded by Bill Samuels. Over his two and a half years at the organization, Pehme has spearheaded a multitude of initiatives, among them campaigns aimed at enabling all New Yorkers to enjoy retirement security; guaranteeing New Yorkers the right to clean drinking water and fresh air; passing the most inclusive equal rights amendment of any state in the country; and bringing gender parity to the New York City Council. Pehme also co-hosts and produces “Effective Radio with Bill Samuels” on radio station AM 970, which has received national press attention and attracted prominent guests including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and The Nation Editor and Publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel. When he is not advocating for reform in Albany or city halls across the state, Pehme serves as a political analyst for PIX11, contributes articles to The Daily Beast and makes movies. Recently, he co-directed, wrote and produced the critically acclaimed Netflix Original documentary “Get Me Roger Stone,” which premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival and is now available worldwide. What’s the best part of your job? The ability to be creative! EffectiveNY’s founder Bill Samuels is passionate about innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, which gives me tremendous latitude in putting forward new ideas to reform and improve New York City and state government. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Birth. From my earliest days, my father, Kalev, instilled in me my passion for New York politics, good government advocacy, investigative journalism and even, to a degree, filmmaking. These are the interests that have shaped my career and my life.
CARMEN MARIA REY Deputy Director, Immigration Intervention Project Sanctuary for Families Twitter: @CarmenMariaRey
Carmen Maria Rey is deputy director of the Immigration Intervention Project at Sanctuary for Families. In this role, she helps oversee the legal representation of thousands of immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking and leads local and national advocacy efforts to advance their interests. Prior to rejoining Sanctuary for Families, where she first started her legal career as an Equal Justice Works fellow, Rey worked as a senior immigration attorney at Her Justice, a nonprofit focused on protecting the rights of low-income women. She has also taught immigration law in the continuing education program at Queens College and served as a long-term volunteer with the Immigrant Defense Project, which addresses the intersection of immigration and criminal law. She also represented detained children facing removal at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. A graduate of New York University and Brooklyn Law School, Rey is the co-founder and board secretary of Voices in Action in America, which works to empower immigrant women to become advocates for improved immigration policies, and serves as co-chair of the media and advocacy Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s New York Chapter. She has published a number of articles on humanitarian immigration and routinely leads local, state and national trainings. In 2015, she was appointed to the state Advisory Council on Immigration Issues in Family Court. A recent graduate of the Coro Immigrant Civic Leadership Program, Rey, herself an immigrant, likes to spend her free time volunteering to help other immigrants apply to become U.S. citizens, biking and running. What’s the best part of your job? In my job, the wins sometimes come few and far between because of inhumane immigration laws that allow for the permanent separation of families across international borders. Winning cases, being able to fight the U.S. government’s deportation machine and winning clients the right to live in the United States with their families is by far the best part of my job. The second best part of my job is collaborating with my innovative and passionate colleagues to do the same.
Giselle Routhier is the policy director at the Coalition for the Homeless. She works to advance solutions to homelessness in New York City. She joined the coalition in 2009 as a policy analyst and has since worked on multiple campaigns for affordable and supportive housing. In addition, she oversees the coalition’s work monitoring and enforcing the right to shelter. Routhier is a doctoral candidate in social policy researching homelessness and housing instability at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Providence College.
GISELLE ROUTHIER Policy Director Coalition for the Homeless Twitter: @Giselle_Ashley
What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is winning an advocacy fight, whether it is on a large or small scale. Successfully advocating to improve the circumstances for a homeless individual or family can be just as fulfilling as winning a months or yearslong policy campaign. The fleeting moments of success make the hard work worth it. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? No one experience has fueled the trajectory of my career. The many experiences I have had working with homeless individuals and families, visiting shelters and hearing people’s stories all continue to fuel my passion for social justice.
JOSH SCHER Chief Financial Officer Birch Family Services
Josh Scher is the chief financial officer at Birch Family Services, a nonprofit organization in New York City dedicated to supporting individuals and families with autism and other developmental disabilities. Birch has an operating budget of approximately $65 million and operates 30 sites across the city. Prior to arriving at Birch, Scher was the CFO at St. Dominic’s Home, a social services organization with programs throughout the lower Hudson Valley region and the Bronx. Scher was also the budget director at the Jewish Child Care Association, one of the pre-eminent child welfare organizations in New York, where he worked with the executive staff to streamline the organization’s finances. His first experience in the nonprofit world was with the Children’s Aid Society, where he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities. Scher has master’s degrees in public administration and international relations from Seton Hall University. He has a bachelor’s degree in management from Binghamton University. He is also an adjunct professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Kelly and their twins, Liam and Juliet. What’s the best part of your job? As a CFO, I joke that if I get 100 pieces of news, 99 are bad. That one piece of good news that I get is the best part of my job. Whether it is receiving a large rate increase or negotiating a better health plan for my employees, it’s always those little victories that make it worth it. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? The experience that has influenced my career the most was being able to learn from Steve Wolinsky, the former CFO at JCCA. Steve took me under his wing and helped show me what it meant to be an effective CFO. My experience at JCCA was key to my growth as a finance professional. I worked with great people and was proud of what we accomplished. I am fortunate to have those types of experiences with the team at Birch through the leadership of our CEO, Matt Sturiale.
ARI SCHRIER Artistic Director Pipeline Theatre Company Twitter: @fanabobari
Ari Schrier is a founding member of Pipeline Theatre Company and was named artistic director in 2013, after serving for three years as director of artistic development. With Pipeline, she has worked as an actor, director, playwright and producer, and developed Pipeline’s new play development programming from the ground up. In her five-year tenure as artistic director of the nonprofit run by volunteers, Schrier implemented the company’s first fiduciary board, quadrupled the operating budget and is preparing to hire the first part-time salaried employee. During this time, Pipeline also received critical acclaim, including a New York Times Critics’ Pick, and this season was nominated for its first Drama Desk Award, the only volunteer-operated theater company to receive this distinction in 2017. From 2011 to 2015, Schrier also served as the member engagement coordinator and then marketing and public relations manager for the National Guild for Community Arts Education, where she worked with a team to produce professional development and networking events across the country. She speaks regularly on the topics of nonprofit management, founding a theater company, theater production and leadership. What’s the best part of your job? Pipeline focuses on bringing to life the wildest ideas of artists. I get to say to directors and playwrights, “What is the dream version of this project?” And then I get to make it happen. Building an environment where artists are challenged to go as big as they can dream is ambitious and sometimes impossible, but the most rewarding thing is watching the magic that ensues when these brilliant artists can actually run free. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? In 2014, two weeks before our biggest show ever was scheduled to open, the venue pulled out. It was trying, but eventually we found our way to the perfect home, one that supported the project in ways the old venue never could have. In order to survive in this incredibly volatile industry, it was invaluable for me to learn early that when things don’t work out, it’s so that something much better can.
JADAYAH SPENCER Executive Director International Youth Leadership Institute Twitter: @jadayahS
Jadayah Spencer is the executive director of the International Youth Leadership Institute. She advocates for improving access to opportunities that enhance the lives of youth and people of African descent. A proud IYLI alumna, Spencer became an IYLI fellow in 2010 and traveled on the 2011 Summer Fellowship Program in Tanzania. She subsequently served in various roles, including as a volunteer, board member and a group leader in the 2013 Summer Fellowship Program in Brazil. She serves on several international and local boards, including chairing the United Nations Department of Public Information’s NGO Youth Steering Committee and serving on the New York City Young Women’s Advisory Council, addressing policy issues that directly affect young women of color. A native Brooklynite, Spencer has received several fellowships and awards, including the Shirley Chisholm Women in Leadership Citation from New York City, StartingBloc and is a 2016 PASE Emerging Leader in Nonprofit Management fellow. She loves world travel, motivational quotes and dreams of one day experiencing sleep. What’s the best part of your job? Seeing the impact our fellows make and watching them demonstrate the courage to try new things brings me the most joy. Hearing a student chat in a local language, when they were previously too shy to even say “Bonjour,” or seeing their eyes sparkle as they (tell) us about their experiences abroad, and about how their experiences help them push the boundaries for what they believed themselves to be capable of, makes our work worthwhile. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? The boat ride from Pangani to Zanzibar during IYLI’s Tanzania Summer Heritage Program. We’d ridden in small, uncovered motorboats, it started to rain and dolphins swam along aside us. As a girl from Bed-Stuy, I had never been away from home for so long – and had never left the country, let alone traveled 8,000 miles to Africa. I thought, if I can do this, I can do anything. We landed in Zanzibar and it was breathtakingly beautiful. I started college a month later, considerably more confident in my ability to succeed.
IAN STRAUGHTER Founder Great Good Lives
Ian Straughter is a consultant and the founder of Great Good Lives. He provides community outreach, business development and strategic planning services to nonprofit organizations. He has created new sources of revenue, expanded programmatic impact and improved operational efficiency. Straughter helped form and rollout CAP Solar New Jersey – a public-private partnership implementing solar energy projects designed to lower operating costs for nonprofit organizations in New Jersey. The community partnerships he’s developed for Fountain House created jobs for hundreds of people living with serious and persistent mental illness, resulting in Fountain House receiving the Champions of Change Award from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Outside of his work with nonprofits, Straughter is also an adjunct instructor at the New York Institute of Technology. He earned a master’s degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University. What’s the best part of your job? The most fulfilling part of my work goes far beyond meeting project deliverables. It’s the phone calls in the late evening or early morning when my client feels stifled by the reminder of past failed attempts to grow their program or organization that drive me. This is the foundation for true collaboration wherein far-fetched ideas are born, the journeys that led to past successes are remembered and failure is no longer feared but, rather, valued. In that moment – when the realization is reached that anything is possible and can be achieved – inspiration is found. This is the best and most fulfilling part of my job. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Being fired is the single most influential experience that has affected the trajectory of my career. The experience was a jarring wake-up call that forced me to realize how I let my own fear of failure limit my ability to work. I knew I never again wanted to feel as helpless as I did when I was fired. It was in this moment that I pursued my first consulting project and ultimately founded Great Good Lives.
JESSICA A. SWENSEN Supervising Attorney, Immigration Practice The Bronx Defenders
Jessica Swensen has been a supervising attorney in the immigration practice at The Bronx Defenders since 2016. She began at the organization as an immigration staff attorney in 2013, where she defended clients in removal proceedings, represented clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and advised noncitizen clients on immigration consequences of criminal contacts. Swensen received her law degree from Boston College Law School, where she was a public service scholar. During law school, she represented clients through the Immigration and Asylum Project, volunteered with the Post-Deportation Human Rights Project and was on the executive board of the National Lawyers Guild. Swensen was an intern with Greater Boston Legal Services in the Latinas Know Your Rights Project, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona. Prior to law school, she was a project coordinator at the City Bar Justice Center in New York. Swensen holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Boston College and speaks Spanish. What’s the best part of your job? My work is multifaceted, interdisciplinary and, in short, never dull! The best part, though, is working for and alongside my noncitizen clients and community members in their daily fight against the structural injustice they face. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? As an intern at The Bronx Defenders in the summer of 2012, I represented a client whom I would continue to represent for my first three years as an attorney. When I first met her, she was struggling to avoid contacts with the criminal justice system due to her decadeslong battle with schizophrenia and drug addiction. With the help of her team of advocates over the course of many years, she has now successfully completed her first mental health and drug abuse program and has no remaining criminal cases. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not currently pursuing her removal. Her path has shaped the attorney I have become.
ASHLEY WESSIER Vice President, Development and Communications Accion East
As vice president of development and communications, Ashley Wessier has the privilege of leading a talented, five-member team in raising resources and awareness for Accion’s mission. She also works closely with the board of directors to support each member in channeling his or her expertise and energy toward creating a better organization. In her 10 years fundraising for Accion, Wessier has helped raise more than $45 million for the organization’s operations, special programs and loan fund. Wessier joined the Accion team after graduating from Drexel University in 2007, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in international studies and business. She earned a master’s degree in public policy from The New School in 2012 and has since studied nonprofit leadership executive education at Columbia University. What’s the best part of your job? Having the opportunity to lead a team and being able to support the professional development of my teammates is hands down the best part of my job at Accion. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Being able to pursue my master’s degree at The New School while working at Accion enabled me to step into a senior leadership role as early as I did in 2012. The experience of grad school broadened my professional perspective, and my commitment to staying with Accion throughout that time ensured continuity in my trajectory within the organization.
RHEA WONG Executive Director Breakthrough New York Twitter: @rheaw
Rhea Wong’s career with Breakthrough began as a middle school student in San Francisco. Thanks to the doors the program helped open for her, she went on to attend the Thacher School, a private boarding school, and earned a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Wong also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Columbia Business School. Wong began her professional career with Breakthrough as a teaching fellow while in high school. She taught at Summer Bridge sites in Hawaii, Hong Kong and New York and was the first teaching fellow to be hired at Breakthrough New York in 1999. Following her college graduation, she worked at the Breakthrough Collaborative’s national office in San Francisco working to recruit teaching fellows from top universities nationwide. Wong also created the collaborative’s first on-campus recruiter program. Since starting as Breakthrough New York’s executive director in 2005, Wong has opened two additional Breakthrough New York sites, grown its staff and services, increased the number of students served and expanded the yearly operating budget by 800 percent. She also has become a voice for education policies at the local, citywide and national levels and been featured in television, print and radio. Wong credits the Breakthrough program for putting her on a path to success. She is deeply passionate about giving back and helping to open doors for generations of other students like herself. What experience has most directly influenced the trajectory of your career? Being a student of the Breakthrough program has informed my decisionmaking, leadership and vision. It’s all about the kids.
Do you think the operating climate for nonprofits has improved under a Democratic governor and a progressive mayor?
YES 67.50%
NO 10%
OTHER 22.50%
What’s one online resource thats been helpful to your career? Jadayah Spencer
Inc.
Carmen Maria Rey
LexisNexis
Lauren Anderson
The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Stanford Social Innovation Review
Janos Marton
Westlaw
Toney Earl Jr.
LinkedIn, The Wall Street Journal
Lindsey Cosgrove
Inside Philanthropy
Ashley Wessier
Veritus Group’s Passionate Giving blog
Jeremy L. Kaplan
Alexina Cather
Civil Eats
Pamela B. Jacob
Sandy Myers
Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” TED Talk
Erica L. Ayala
PolicyLink
Catherine Lapsley
Veronica Aveis
Jessica M. Berry
The Foundation Center
Jaime A. Angarita
Mint, theSkimm newsletter, Insider and Investopedia
Michael D. Cohen
Angel Hernandez
ProQuest, EBSCO Industries, Ancestry and the New York Public Library
Michael Haynes
Nicole Bertran
Idealist
Kate Krug
The Chronicle of Philanthropy and BizBash Media
Morgan Pehme
City & State’s First Read
Rhea Wong
Fast Company
Jonathan C. Marin
NYC.gov
CONGRATULATIONS ALEXANDER HORWITZ THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DOÂ FOR THE MEN IN BLUE!
from all of us at The Doe Fund