EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ...
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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 Vice President of Care Management for Tri-County Care, a Health Home serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jason has almost 30 years’ experience working in that field. He has substantial experience in quality assurance systems, care management and individual rights advocacy. Jason has volunteered for various youth organizations in the Capital District. Committees: Executive Committee. Guilderland Center, NY 12085. Affiliation: Tri-County Care
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: Executive Committe, Audit & Finance Committee (Chair), 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 and Shaker Heritage Society. Committees: Executive Committee, Human Resources Workgroup (Chair). Delmar, NY 12054. Affiliation: Damien Center Volunteer
Jeffrey Almonte-Hallenbeck - - Director - - Jeffrey began his career working with homeless individuals living with major mental illness in Boston. After completing his graduate work in Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University he returned to this area where he continues a 35 year career working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Jeffrey was active throughout the 90’s with ACT UP both here in Albany and in Boston. He was a founding member of Stop AIDS in the late 80’s and a volunteer with the AIDS Council of Northeastern NY now Alliance for Positive Health. A past President of the Albany Damien Center Board of Directors, he supported Perry and the Center in moving toward homeless housing as well as a trauma informed model that the Damien Center has adopted. For the past 18 years he has worked as the Clinical Director for Living Resources. He is married to his husband of 25 years with three sons and lives to spoil two grandchildren.
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 NAMES Project (Chair). Selkirk 12158.
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. 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
Douglas Manion - Director - 30 years of experience at the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute. Started as a fiscal reviewer working in a program unit helping funded providers, mostly nonprofits to understand State and federal fiscal and contractual requirements. Continued as a program coordinator, oversaw contracts and worked with funded providers on the implementation of HIV services. Then as Director of Administration for the AIDS Institute worked as the interface between program and DOH in resolution of fiscal, audit, and contractual issues; implemented solicitations and procurements; provided nonprofit technical assistance, and provided centralized coordination for the processing of contracts and payments. Served as a director on two nonprofit boards including a previous seat on the Albany Damien Center board. Committees: Audit and Finance. Albany, NY 12203 Affiliation: Retired Public Health Manager
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
Neiman Ortiz, --Board Member – Neiman has over six years’ experience in the not for profit healthcare industry. This includes her current position as Special Projects Manager and Operations Coordinator at Ellis Medicine. She has been involved in community outreach, and development of a diverse culture in the healthcare environment. During the pandemic she helped identify and develop areas in which COVID testing could be provided to the underserved populations in Schenectady County. Neiman has been an active member in establishing the Diversity, Health Equity & Inclusion Committee and continues to strive for representation of all healthcare workers. Holding a Masters in Public Administration, with distinction. Neiman is also a volunteer for Sponsor-A-Scholar here in the capital region which works with high school students embarking on their higher education journey. Albany, NY 12203
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.
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