EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ...
|
President .............................. Dan O'Connell
Vice President ....................... Jason Mazzuca Treasurer .............................. Gretchen Guenther-Collins Secretary .............................. Judy Disco |
In 2017, the Board of Directors provided over 1,200 hours of donated time and donated $3,883 towards fundraising efforts. |
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Dan O'Connell -- President -- has 30 years’ experience in HIV services, having served in a number of increasingly responsible positions during this period with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute. From 2013-16 Dan was the AIDS Institute's Director where he oversaw the statewide response to the epidemic, as well as programs for STD prevention and control, HCV services, as well as programs for LGBT health and drug user health. He has participated on a number of boards and panels, including serving as chair of the state's Interagency Task Force on AIDS and on the Executive Committee of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. Committees: Executive, Audit & Finance, Strategic Planning. Albany, NY 12208. Affiliation: Retired Public Health Manager.
Jason Mazzuca -- Vice President -- is the Director of Medicaid Service Coordination for Living Resources Corporation and almost 25 years’ experience working with individuals who have developmental disabilities and dual diagnoses. He has substantial experience in quality assurance systems and individual rights advocacy. Jason has volunteered for various youth organizations in the Capital District. Committees: Executive, Strategic Planning Committee (Chair), PROS Workgroup. Guilderland Center, NY 12085. Affiliation: Living Resources Corporation.
Gretchen E. Guenther-Collins, J.D., M.S., CPA -- Treasurer -- Gretchen is a Tax Partner at Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs PC in Albany, NY. She is also a co-owner of a Gourmet Food Distribution Company, Adventure in Food Trading. Gretchen is an alumna of Albany Law School and The College of Saint Rose. Gretchen has served as the past Treasurer for Mental Health Association of New York State and the Capital District Women’s Softball League. Gretchen is a Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Bar Association, and the NYS Bar Association. Association: Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs, PC; Committees: Audit & Finance Committee (Chair), Executive Human Resources Workgroup. Slingerlands, NY 12159. Affiliation: Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs PC
Judy Disco -- Secretary -- Judy has over 30 years’ experience in the not for profit world. This includes her position as Director of Family Support Services for the NYS Association for the Learning Disabled, Director of Administration for the NYS Coalition against Sexual Assault and the Director of Administration for the Institute for Humanist Studies. She has been involved with social justice, women’s and LGBTQ issues and served 8 years on the Pride Center of the Capital District Board of Directors, the last 3 years as President. She has also served on the board of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Women’s Building Coordinating Council and on the board of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Committees: Human Resources Workgroup (Chair). Delmar, NY 12054. Affiliation: Damien Center Volunteer
George W. Clifford, Ph.D., MPA -- Director -- George was the AIDS Coordinator for New York City’s Office of Management and Budget in the late 1980s. He worked for Albany Medical Center as the administrator of the regional AIDS Treatment Center for 18 years and was the Executive Director of Better Health for NENY, a DSRIP performing provider system managed by AMC. He has served as an officer and director on several different non-profit boards. He is the recipient of the NYSDOH’s distinguished AIDS community service award and is a graduate of the Capital Region’s Chamber of Commerce Leadership Training Program. He received his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University at Albany, graduating with distinction. Committees: Audit and Finance and Strategic Planning. Delmar, NY 12054
Gordon Hakim Collier, LMSW -- Director --Gordon Collier is the founder of Beyond Living, a practice that offers opportunities both on the micro and macro levels with individual and group counseling, organizational training and consultation, as well as public speaking. Gordon also currently works as a Provider Relations Specialist with the Care Design NY—a prospective Care Coordination Organization (CCO), a person-centered initiative in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with their families, which reduces fragmentation of services and increasing quality and connectivity to supportive services. Gordon received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University at Albany and has experience working with individuals living and coping with HIV/AIDS, mental health, and substance use. Gordon also serves as an adjunct professor of Social Work at Siena College. At Siena College, he leverages his experience as a social worker and his experience as a young scholar of color to teach his students to lead with an open mind and an open heart. Gordon enjoys hanging out with friends and family, engaging in intellectual conversation, and offering an open ear to anyone in need. Committees: Executive (Secretary), Board Governance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Behavioral Health Workgroup. Latham NY, 12110. Affiliation: Beyond Living.
Gary Guenther, RPA, FMA -- Director -- Gary currently works as a consultant and has over forty-five years of comprehensive experience and increasingly responsible leadership in facilities operations, building systems and construction management. Gary has volunteer experience at the Capital City Rescue Mission, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Committees: New Building Workgroup. East Greenbush, NY 12061. Affiliation: Guenther Consulting.
Brian Frasier, MS, CHFP -- Director -- is the Financial Operations Manager at Consumer Directed Choices. Brian has been working in accounting for not-for-profit organizations for more than 25 years, mainly in healthcare but also with community action. Brian has served as treasurer for two church congregations for a combined 13 years, along with two terms on a church council. Years of creating and presenting financial statements to various boards have prepared Brian to be part of the Audit & Finance Committee, Human Resources Workgroup. Mechanicville, NY 12118. Affiliation: Consumer Directed Choices, Inc., Schenectady, NY 12205
Laquanya Haggray, LMHC, CASAC -- Director -- is a Behavioral Health Clinician at Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center specializing in addictions and trauma. Laquanya has experience in various modalities of therapy specializing in motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and cognitive therapy while working with multiple mental health diagnoses including: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar. Albany, NY 12210. Affiliation: Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center, Albany, NY 12207
Libby Post -- Director -- is the President/CEO of Communication Services and Principal in Progressive Elections. A political consultant and lobbyist, Libby runs the NYS Animal Protection Federation and represents the network of NYS animal shelters. She runs local political campaigns and creates compelling messaging and mail for her candidates. She also works with public libraries across the country on funding initiatives. She was the founding chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda and president of the Pride Center of the Capital Region. She is the Advocacy Chair for United for Libraries, the national Trustees, Friends and Foundations organization for public libraries. Committees: Development (Chair). Menands, NY 12204 Affiliation: Communication Services
Jason Mazzuca -- Vice President -- is the Director of Medicaid Service Coordination for Living Resources Corporation and almost 25 years’ experience working with individuals who have developmental disabilities and dual diagnoses. He has substantial experience in quality assurance systems and individual rights advocacy. Jason has volunteered for various youth organizations in the Capital District. Committees: Executive, Strategic Planning Committee (Chair), PROS Workgroup. Guilderland Center, NY 12085. Affiliation: Living Resources Corporation.
Gretchen E. Guenther-Collins, J.D., M.S., CPA -- Treasurer -- Gretchen is a Tax Partner at Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs PC in Albany, NY. She is also a co-owner of a Gourmet Food Distribution Company, Adventure in Food Trading. Gretchen is an alumna of Albany Law School and The College of Saint Rose. Gretchen has served as the past Treasurer for Mental Health Association of New York State and the Capital District Women’s Softball League. Gretchen is a Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Bar Association, and the NYS Bar Association. Association: Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs, PC; Committees: Audit & Finance Committee (Chair), Executive Human Resources Workgroup. Slingerlands, NY 12159. Affiliation: Teal, Becker, & Chiaramonte, CPAs PC
Judy Disco -- Secretary -- Judy has over 30 years’ experience in the not for profit world. This includes her position as Director of Family Support Services for the NYS Association for the Learning Disabled, Director of Administration for the NYS Coalition against Sexual Assault and the Director of Administration for the Institute for Humanist Studies. She has been involved with social justice, women’s and LGBTQ issues and served 8 years on the Pride Center of the Capital District Board of Directors, the last 3 years as President. She has also served on the board of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Women’s Building Coordinating Council and on the board of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Committees: Human Resources Workgroup (Chair). Delmar, NY 12054. Affiliation: Damien Center Volunteer
George W. Clifford, Ph.D., MPA -- Director -- George was the AIDS Coordinator for New York City’s Office of Management and Budget in the late 1980s. He worked for Albany Medical Center as the administrator of the regional AIDS Treatment Center for 18 years and was the Executive Director of Better Health for NENY, a DSRIP performing provider system managed by AMC. He has served as an officer and director on several different non-profit boards. He is the recipient of the NYSDOH’s distinguished AIDS community service award and is a graduate of the Capital Region’s Chamber of Commerce Leadership Training Program. He received his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University at Albany, graduating with distinction. Committees: Audit and Finance and Strategic Planning. Delmar, NY 12054
Gordon Hakim Collier, LMSW -- Director --Gordon Collier is the founder of Beyond Living, a practice that offers opportunities both on the micro and macro levels with individual and group counseling, organizational training and consultation, as well as public speaking. Gordon also currently works as a Provider Relations Specialist with the Care Design NY—a prospective Care Coordination Organization (CCO), a person-centered initiative in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with their families, which reduces fragmentation of services and increasing quality and connectivity to supportive services. Gordon received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University at Albany and has experience working with individuals living and coping with HIV/AIDS, mental health, and substance use. Gordon also serves as an adjunct professor of Social Work at Siena College. At Siena College, he leverages his experience as a social worker and his experience as a young scholar of color to teach his students to lead with an open mind and an open heart. Gordon enjoys hanging out with friends and family, engaging in intellectual conversation, and offering an open ear to anyone in need. Committees: Executive (Secretary), Board Governance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Behavioral Health Workgroup. Latham NY, 12110. Affiliation: Beyond Living.
Gary Guenther, RPA, FMA -- Director -- Gary currently works as a consultant and has over forty-five years of comprehensive experience and increasingly responsible leadership in facilities operations, building systems and construction management. Gary has volunteer experience at the Capital City Rescue Mission, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Committees: New Building Workgroup. East Greenbush, NY 12061. Affiliation: Guenther Consulting.
Brian Frasier, MS, CHFP -- Director -- is the Financial Operations Manager at Consumer Directed Choices. Brian has been working in accounting for not-for-profit organizations for more than 25 years, mainly in healthcare but also with community action. Brian has served as treasurer for two church congregations for a combined 13 years, along with two terms on a church council. Years of creating and presenting financial statements to various boards have prepared Brian to be part of the Audit & Finance Committee, Human Resources Workgroup. Mechanicville, NY 12118. Affiliation: Consumer Directed Choices, Inc., Schenectady, NY 12205
Laquanya Haggray, LMHC, CASAC -- Director -- is a Behavioral Health Clinician at Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center specializing in addictions and trauma. Laquanya has experience in various modalities of therapy specializing in motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and cognitive therapy while working with multiple mental health diagnoses including: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar. Albany, NY 12210. Affiliation: Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center, Albany, NY 12207
Libby Post -- Director -- is the President/CEO of Communication Services and Principal in Progressive Elections. A political consultant and lobbyist, Libby runs the NYS Animal Protection Federation and represents the network of NYS animal shelters. She runs local political campaigns and creates compelling messaging and mail for her candidates. She also works with public libraries across the country on funding initiatives. She was the founding chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda and president of the Pride Center of the Capital Region. She is the Advocacy Chair for United for Libraries, the national Trustees, Friends and Foundations organization for public libraries. Committees: Development (Chair). Menands, NY 12204 Affiliation: Communication Services
JOINING THE BOARD ...
Interested in becoming a member of the Damien Center Board of Directors? Download the Board Member Application Form by clicking here or on the PDF icon below.
After downloading and completing your application, you may e-mail the finished application to PerryJ@albanydamiencenter.org for review.
After downloading and completing your application, you may e-mail the finished application to PerryJ@albanydamiencenter.org for review.
| online_board_app_2_ref.pdf |