EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President ....................Jeffrey Almonte Hallenbeck
Vice President ............Stephanie Fisher
Treasurer .....................George Clifford
Vice President ............Stephanie Fisher
Treasurer .....................George Clifford
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Jeffrey Almonte‐Hallenbeck ‐ President: 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 the Albany 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 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. Committees: Program, Opioid Overdose Prevention. Albany, NY 12203. Affiliations: Living Resources.
Stephanie Fisher, MS LMHC CASAC - Vice President- - is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a master level CASAC (Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). Stephanie has over 12 years in the field of developmental disabilities, counseling and addiction, which includes her current position as the Assistant Director of Clinical Services at Living Resources. Stephanie is an alum of SUNY Albany: she has conducted research on gambling addiction and scaffolding personal identities during her graduate work Stephanie has consulted with OASAS to update procedural forms, consult with agencies in the community for sexuality advocacy and trauma informed approaches. Stephanie provides clinical trainings and presentations in the community within a variety of topics and has participated in a number of committees to support people with inclusion and advocacy. She has knowledge and experience in quality assurance, policy writing, grants, and systems management in addition to her clinical work. Stephanie works closely with her therapy dog, Doctor Benjamin, who is a great support to the clients served in the community. Stephanie is a member of NYMHCA for New York counselors, American Psychological Association and American Counselors Association. Albany, NY 12205, Affiliation: Living Resources
George W. Clifford, Ph.D., MPA - Treasurer: 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, NY 12158. Affiliation: Retired Healthcare Administrator.
Marz Albarran – Director: Marz has over six years of experience in healthcare, working with the NYS of Health Marketplace providing health insurance to all of NY State, working the NY Vaccine Hotline, and the Covid‐19 Testing Hotline projects. Marz has spent four years in the Learning and Development department as a Training Specialist training new hires how to do their jobs while recreating the curriculum being taught, as to be more effective. Marz created and implemented the internal auditing process of all Learning and Development training documentation. Marz is an HIV Advocate for those aging with HIV, specifically those perinatally infected (33yrs). An Artist. Marz also sits on the Consumer Advisory Committee run by the AIDS Institute (4yrs), co‐chair for Aging with HIV and Long‐Term Survivors subcommittee (3yrs), Youth ETE Committee (2yrs), and serves as a spokesmodel for HIVStopsWithMe.org Campaign (2yrs). Rensselaer, NY, 12144. Affiliation: Maximus.
Jonathan Wilkinson ‐ Director - Jonathan is a Licensed Massage Therapist, who is Co‐Owner of Spa Virgo, located in the Center Square neighborhood in Albany, NY for 11 years. While in school for Massage Therapy, part of the curriculum required community service, and one of the places he could fulfill the requirement was at the Damien Center. While doing community service at the Damien Center, Jonathan knew he wanted to do more to serve this community. Jonathan served on the board of The Names Project from 2013 to 2015, and is also currently a Fire Commissioner for his local volunteer fire department in Fort Hunter, NY. Fort Hunter, NY 12060. Affiliation: Spa Virgo.
Stephanie Fisher, MS LMHC CASAC - Vice President- - is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a master level CASAC (Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). Stephanie has over 12 years in the field of developmental disabilities, counseling and addiction, which includes her current position as the Assistant Director of Clinical Services at Living Resources. Stephanie is an alum of SUNY Albany: she has conducted research on gambling addiction and scaffolding personal identities during her graduate work Stephanie has consulted with OASAS to update procedural forms, consult with agencies in the community for sexuality advocacy and trauma informed approaches. Stephanie provides clinical trainings and presentations in the community within a variety of topics and has participated in a number of committees to support people with inclusion and advocacy. She has knowledge and experience in quality assurance, policy writing, grants, and systems management in addition to her clinical work. Stephanie works closely with her therapy dog, Doctor Benjamin, who is a great support to the clients served in the community. Stephanie is a member of NYMHCA for New York counselors, American Psychological Association and American Counselors Association. Albany, NY 12205, Affiliation: Living Resources
George W. Clifford, Ph.D., MPA - Treasurer: 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, NY 12158. Affiliation: Retired Healthcare Administrator.
Marz Albarran – Director: Marz has over six years of experience in healthcare, working with the NYS of Health Marketplace providing health insurance to all of NY State, working the NY Vaccine Hotline, and the Covid‐19 Testing Hotline projects. Marz has spent four years in the Learning and Development department as a Training Specialist training new hires how to do their jobs while recreating the curriculum being taught, as to be more effective. Marz created and implemented the internal auditing process of all Learning and Development training documentation. Marz is an HIV Advocate for those aging with HIV, specifically those perinatally infected (33yrs). An Artist. Marz also sits on the Consumer Advisory Committee run by the AIDS Institute (4yrs), co‐chair for Aging with HIV and Long‐Term Survivors subcommittee (3yrs), Youth ETE Committee (2yrs), and serves as a spokesmodel for HIVStopsWithMe.org Campaign (2yrs). Rensselaer, NY, 12144. Affiliation: Maximus.
Jonathan Wilkinson ‐ Director - Jonathan is a Licensed Massage Therapist, who is Co‐Owner of Spa Virgo, located in the Center Square neighborhood in Albany, NY for 11 years. While in school for Massage Therapy, part of the curriculum required community service, and one of the places he could fulfill the requirement was at the Damien Center. While doing community service at the Damien Center, Jonathan knew he wanted to do more to serve this community. Jonathan served on the board of The Names Project from 2013 to 2015, and is also currently a Fire Commissioner for his local volunteer fire department in Fort Hunter, NY. Fort Hunter, NY 12060. Affiliation: Spa Virgo.
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 .
After downloading and completing your application, you may e-mail the finished application to PerryJ@albanydamiencenter.org .
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