Spencer Barback is a CPA and tax partner with Citrin Cooperman.  He has 35 years of experience providing complete tax, estate planning, business consulting, and compliance services for businesses and individuals.  Spencer is also a Board Member and Past Chair of The Food Bank of Westchester.

Janis Berglas currently uses her creative skills as the Visual Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut to produce beautiful and fashion windows and interior displays. After graduating from Syracuse University with a dual major BFA in Fine Arts and Education she worked in the field of visual merchandising in senior roles for companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, Foot Locker, and Red Door Spas. Janis is a lifelong lover of reading, so much so that she is a member of two book clubs in White Plain. She is honored to be asked to participate as a judge of the Lifting Up Westchester Student Essay Contest and looks forward to reading the entries.

Larry Berglas is an attorney based in Westchester County, New York whose eclectic solo practice (ArtBizLaw.com), includes a focus on arts business law, wills and estates, and related areas of practice. Larry also writes and plays the guitar. He is the author of Civil Law in America: A Minimalist Law Book, a little law book inspired by the arts and he has had freelance articles published in Travel & Leisure, The New York Times, Premier Guitar and other publications. Larry taught Arts & Entertainment Law as a Lecturer in the Arts Management Program at Purchase College for over twenty years.

Nanette H. Bourne is an urban planning consultant and is a Principal of NHB Planning Group. Nanette works on a  range of public and private sector projects, including representing several municipalities in the Hudson Valley in preparing comprehensive plans, downtown revitalization plans, and capital improvement plans. As an environmental advocate, Nanette brings her commitment to environmental sustainability and resiliency to each project she is engaged with. Among her other accomplishments,  Nanette is a Board Member of the Westchester Land Trust, the League of  Conservation Voters, the Westchester Parks Foundation,  and Bridges to Community. Nanette graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Psychology from UCLA and went on to earn her Masters in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Southern California. She lives with her husband, John Delfs, in New Rochelle, NY.

Meg Broderick earned her B.A. from College of Mt. St. Vincent, and Masters degrees from Pace University. She has also done post-graduate work at Pace. After a career at IBM, she joined the NYC Health + Hospitals, where she managed programs in the areas of training, project management, and end-user support. Meg currently teaches English Language Learners (E.L.L) at Building One Community, and coordinates outreach programs for Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Stamford, Connecticut.

James Bruni, is a native of White Plains, where his immigrant parents owned and operated a local grocery store and he attended the White Plains Pubic Schools. Jim graduated from Columbia College and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has taught mathematics at all levels K-12 and had a 35-year career teaching at Lehman College of the City University of New York, where he led teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, retiring as Professor Emeritus and Dean of the Division of Teacher Education. Upon retirement from Lehman, Jim chose to start a second career as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), earning another Master’s Degree, this time in Counseling, from William Paterson University, completing all requirements for licensure, and then serving as a Mental Health Counselor for 14 years at the non-profit, church-related Pathways Counseling Center in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, where counseling is offered on a sliding-scale cost basis so that no one in need of mental health counseling is denied services.

Victoria Bruni grew up in White Plains, New York, graduated White Plains High School, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, Upon college graduation, she began what became a thirty year career with New Jersey Bell Telephone, advancing from research economist, to Division Accounting Manager, and then Department Head and Treasurer for the company. While working full-time during that period, Vicki earned a law degree (as an evening student) from Seton Hall University School of Law.  Upon retirement from the Telephone Company, she moved from a business environment to an academic one, completing a thirteen-year, “second career” as Vice President for Administration and Finance at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. Vicki has always recognized the importance and satisfaction of community service,  serving on various boards including Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey; the United Way; the YWCA; and currently the White Plains Hospital Center Board of Directors.,where she chairs the Audit and Compliance Committee. Vicki and her husband, Jim, live in White Plains and have two adult children and two grandchildren. Both Vicki and Jim credit the White Plains Public Schools for initially igniting their interest in writing. Coincidentally, although two years apart in school, each of them won the city-wide Father-of-the-Year Essay Contest, held annually, and also each of them became Co-Editors-in-Chief of the White Plains High School newspaper!

Linda Cardillo was born and raised in Queens NY and attended Queens College, securing a degree in Math. She spent 25 years working progressively responsible positions the IRS. After retirement she and her husband lived and skied at Lake Tahoe in Nevada for 21 years. She now is back in NY and enjoys walking with friends and occasional ski trips.

Sandra Malpica Chaiken, LCSW retired after 42 years as a Public Hospital Social Worker. She is a recognized expert in crisis management, emergency response, biomedical ethics, and the prevention of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. She serves as a consultant to the NYS Department of Juvenile Justice and is a Past Chair and member of the NYS Board for Social Work.

Renee Marks Cohen is a medical writer/editor based in White Plains, New York. She was the managing editor of New York Medical College's New York Medical Quarterly, and the author, for Janssen Japan, of over 35 interview articles on schizophrenia. She has edited books on neurology, taught Beijing Medical University scientists how to write technical papers, and audited clinical trial case report forms. Cohen is also a yoga enthusiast; serves as a Trustee for Downtown Music in White Plains; and has been a member of the White Plains Conservation Board and the White Plains Design Review Board. 

Janis Colella, earned BFA in Furniture Design and Woodworking at the State University of NY at Purchase. She is a co-owner of a custom high-end architectural woodworking company that designs and builds residential kitchens, libraries, home offices, media cabinetry and furniture. She has been in business for 40 years. In 2016 they joined Zepsa Industries, Inc. and are extremely proud of their current commission, restoring Trinity Church in lower Manhattan.  She works on projects in Westchester County, Manhattan, Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island, South Carolina, and Florida.

Alise Curran, M.Ed., is an accomplished writer and consultant specializing in early childhood education. She consults with start-up businesses to provide strategy support, content and copywriting, and marketing services to enhance their creative direction. She holds dual Master’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from Long Island University, complemented by an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. As an author, Alise has published two children’s books, Nana Will Say Yes and Grandpa Will Say Yes. Her commitment to community service is evident through her active volunteer work with various organizations. She serves on the boards of her son’s non-profit preschool in White Plains and her neighborhood association in the Lake George area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alise co-founded the Covid Angels Initiative of Greenburgh, where she played a vital role in securing vaccine appointments for hundreds of Westchester residents. In response to the National Baby Formula Shortage in 2022, she established and continues to lead the Westchester Formula Finders group, connecting caregivers with essential formula resources. Alise is a proud mother and steward of a Little Free Library. She and her family reside in Westchester, NY.

Melissa Brown Eisenberg grew up in Bergen County, NJ, and has been a Scarsdale resident for the last 10 years. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA in Non-Profit Management from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She worked in Marketing and New Media Business Development for several non-profits for many years in New York City.  Currently, she devotes her time to the PTA at her children’s schools running Community Service Programs, the Book Fair, and the School Play.

Michael Friedman is a journalist with a B.A. in Political Science from Cornell University. While at Cornell he wrote for four years for the student newspaper and served as Sports Editor, as well as handling freelance assignments for The New York Times, Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse Herald-Journal.  After Cornell, he spent  two years in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, working primarily with the English department at the high school in Turrialba. Upon returning to the United States, he did graduate work in journalism at the University of Missouri. He then worked as Assistant Sports Editor for The Herald Statesman in Yonkers, NY. For the last 50 years he has held editorial positions in the trade magazine field, focusing on the food and supermarket industries. He is currently Managing Editor of Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer magazine.

Linda Gallo is an HR specialist and community volunteer. Her love of the English language and teaching is evidenced both by her education (BS in English & Psychology from The Ohio State University and her M. Ed, Administration & Supervision from Rutgers University) and her extensive career as an English Teacher. She brings a unique perspective to her role as Judge having served on the Board of Directors of Lifting Up Westchester and Grace Church for more than a decade.

Emily Goodman is a writer, editor, and puzzle creator for Reader’s Digest. Her work appears both in print and online. She attended Hackley School in Tarrytown before graduating from Wake Forest University in 2016 with degrees in French and Sociology. She also taught and tutored French for several years.

Jack Hughes, Esq is an accomplished Corporate/Business Attorney, Consultant and Business Owner with 40 years of experience advocating for clients in all types of business matters.  Jack's career spans corporate and securities law, entrepreneur issues, government regulation, strategic business transactions and conflict resolution. Growing up in Queens NY, Jack attended Queens College where he was Editor of his college newspaper, and graduated from Fordham Law School after working in newspaper journalism. 

Brian Huizingh received a B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Arizona. He's held a variety of jobs, including Systems Administrator at a philanthropic foundation, Promotions Editor at a publishing house, Production Editor for a magazine, and a peanut vendor at a football stadium.

Lucy Iscaro received her BA from Queens College, SUNY, and her MAT from Manhattanville College. After retiring as a literacy specialist from the New York City school system she taught home-schooled students throughout lower Westchester. For the last few years, she has returned to freelance writing. Her essays and poems have appeared in several digital and print publications. White Plains, New York is her home and she is the steward of a Little Free Library built by her husband, Jim, and guarded by her rescue dog, Cali.

Maki Itoh, LMHC is a part time school counselor at the King School in Stamford, CT.  She earned her BA in Psychology from Providence College and a MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College.  She returned to Westchester with her husband after a brief stint living in Berkeley, CA in 2008 and has two daughters at White Plains High School currently.  She enjoys reading and knitting when she has time.

Kathleen Kiernan is a White Plains resident and certified foster parent.  Before deciding to focus on family, she taught college mathematics for 10 years.  After graduating from White Plains High School, she earned her BS in Mathematics from Caltech and her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She currently volunteers for local organizations such as the League of Women Voters of White Plains, her children’s’ PTA, and Lifting Up Westchester.

Dr. Terry Kirchner is the Executive director of the Westchester Library System where he oversees all aspects of the 38-member public library system. His experience in various management positions at public and academic libraries spans 25 years. 

Diane Kissner is the Director of Admissions at The Windward School. She has taught Language Arts in grades 4 – 8 for 25 years. She currently teaches 8th-grade study skills: teaching students how to write a research paper.

Sharyn Kolberg grew up in Rockland County, NY, and received a liberal arts undergraduate degree from SUNY Binghamton. She has been a White Plains resident for the last 10 years. A writer and editor for more than 30 years, she was a ghostwriter of more than 20 non-fiction best-sellers. More recently, she has started moving into fiction. Her short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, Literal Latte, Mensa Bulletin Fiction Issue, Confetti Magazine, and Akashic Books “Mondays are Murder.”

Anahaita Kotval is the Chief Executive Officer of Lifting Up Westchester (LUW). Ms. Kotval received a B.S. magna cum laude in Applied Math and Economics from Brown University in 1988 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991. She began her career as a prosecutor for the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and established herself as an industry leader in securities regulation during a 13‐year career at RBS where she served as Managing Director and General Counsel of its investment bank in the Americas, RBS Global Banking & Markets (formerly Greenwich Capital). Prior to joining LUW, she served as COO and General Counsel at Inspirica, Inc., a non-profit that focuses on breaking the cycle of homelessness. Ms. Kotval has served on the Board and Executive Committees of My Sister’s Place and Pro Bono Partnership.  She received Pro Bono’s Partnership Volunteer of the Year award in 2003 and Volunteer of the Decade award in 2007.  Ms. Kotval has also served on the Board of the Westchester Community Foundation, the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Women’s Bond Club of New York, and the Legal and Compliance Division of the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association.

Danny Massey is Executive President at BerlinRosen, where he helps lead the firm’s work on labor campaigns and issues. Prior to Berlin Rosen, Danny was a senior reporter at Crain’s New York Business. An award-winning journalist, Danny’s writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Salon, Newsday, The Newark Star-Ledger, and The New York Daily News.

Ellen Massey is a graduate of Brooklyn College and The Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. She is a self-employed attorney concentrating in real estate, wills, trusts, and estates. She has worked on numerous political campaigns ranging from the City Council of NYC to that of President of The United States.

Sydney Massey, MPH, RD, a native of Brooklyn New York, earned her Bachelor’s degree at Barnard College where she majored in Linguistics and graduated cum laude. She went on to earn a Masters in Public Health in Nutrition and established a career focusing on nutrition education. From authoring many nutrition education resources used widely in the K-12 school system, to establishing a social media movement promoting cooking and eating together, she has made a difference to the community where she currently resides in British Columbia, Canada.

Carolina Mora graduated from Concordia College with a bachelor’s degree in social work. At Concordia she participated in Cross Country, was president of the Psychology Club, and spearheaded fundraising events. Caroline has a keen interest in service given that she was diagnosed with a rare condition at the young age of 18 months. Cerebellar Ataxia is a condition that affects coordination, speech, and balance. Caroline resides in White Plains with her amazing parents and dog.

Jonathan Nelson is a Westchester County native and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Hadassah College.  He received his BA from SUNY Albany in East Asian Studies and studied at Kansai Gaidai University, where he became fluent in speaking, reading, and writing Japanese.  In addition to teaching, he performs as a musician, singer, and composer. He resides with his wife and four school-aged children in Jerusalem.

Chris Porcelli was born and raised in White Plains, NY. He graduated from Columbia University in 1998 with a BS in computer science. During a 20 year career in finance, he worked for Bear Stearns (VP), American Capital Access (VP), and Vertical Capital (CTO, Partner, Board of Directors). He is currently retired and living in White Plains with his beloved wife of 13 years and their two children.

Akeera Ramjohn has a BA in Accounting an MBA and a Paralegal Degree.  She is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta honors society and a former member of the White Plains Division of Toastmasters.  Akeera is employed as a paralegal with Martin J. Rosen P.C., specializing in Matrimonial Law   She operates a private tutoring business for grades K through college preparing students for GED and TESOL examinations. Recently she founded the Double-A Charity.. She recently completed a 2-year term on the scholarship board for the University of Phoenix. 

Alessandra Ravetti, JD is Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She oversees a multidisciplinary team providing legal advice in support of the clinical development and commercialization of Regeneron’s products, including advice on research and development, regulatory matters, market access, product launches, lifecycle planning, and healthcare law compliance.  Prior to joining Regeneron in 2012, Ms. Ravetti spent 10 years at Pfizer and was previously an Associate at the law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell advising on corporate securities. She received a BA from Binghamton University, an MA from Boston College, and a JD from New York Law School. Alessandra was a recipient of Westchester Magazine’s 914 Women in Business Award in 2023.   She resides in Westchester with her husband and two children.

David W. Rhodes is a retired partner with Towers Perrin (a predecessor firm to Willis Towers Watson) who provided strategy and organization consulting services to large global and domestic corporations.  Prior to his career in business, he taught English at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts.  He graduated from Saint Lawrence University (BA), the University of Virginia (M.Ed.) and Columbia Graduate School of Business (MBA).  He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees at Kents Hill School and teaches skiing to children and adults with disabilities at the Adaptive Sports Foundation at Windham Mountain Club.  

Karen Kolbert Richelli has an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught EFL/ESP in Italy where she lived while bringing up her children. When she returned to the U.S. she taught at Manhattanville College in the English Language Institute and her MA in the education program. For the last 21 years, she lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a jewelry designer and owner of Kolbert Jewelry Designs. While in Santa Fe she volunteered at the New Mexico Cancer Foundation and as a docent at the International Folk Art Museum. She returned to Westchester a few months ago and now resides on the Hudson River in Yonkers. She continues to make jewelry in her studio and is on the board of Action Africa.

Karen Schmidt grew up in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from the University of Florida. She worked at Morgan Stanley for 10 years doing Human Resources and Project Management. Karen is currently on the Board of Directors of Lakenridge Club, Inc. as the Membership Chair. She volunteers as a PTA member in the White Plains school district while raising her two daughters with her husband.

Deborah Schwarz, RPA, CIBE, CC, is certified as a life and health coach and currently volunteers in crisis intervention. Deborah initially worked as a PA in cardiothoracic surgery in adults and children for many years. Subsequently, she was chief executive communications officer for the department of surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She developed and directed the first social media effort, website, and webinars for the department and CUMC and served as creative and editorial director for provider and patient newsletters.

Vicki Schiel is a retired public school teacher. She taught special education in the Yonkers City Schools in various settings from elementary through high school and served as the special education department chairperson in Roosevelt High School and as a district CSE chairperson. She was also a Special Education Professional Development Specialist. She currently volunteers weekly as a tour guide at the Bronx Zoo.

Kevin Scully has lived in White Plains for six decades. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Journalism and received his MBA from the City University of New York. He spent 17 years working in advertising agencies in NYC and 20 years as a global marketing executive at IBM before retiring in 2019. He is President of the White Plains Little League, on the WP Rec & Parks Recreation Advisory Committee, and a Board member for the Lakenridge Club in Westminster Ridge. He has coordinated donations from Lakenridge Club members for the LUW's summer camp.

Judy Siegel is a Senior Staff Attorney at Pro Bono Partnership, a nonprofit that provides free transactional (business) legal services to over 1,000 nonprofits throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  A cum laude graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a magna cum laude graduate of Boston University School of Law, she has worked in private practice, the government, and now for a nonprofit.  She lectures frequently to nonprofit leaders and their boards and has guest lectured at the university, high school, and grade school level. Judy has served on multiple boards of directors and grants committees.  She lives in Westchester with her husband and golden retriever (and two grown kids when they come for a visit).

Diane Solomon is a professional educator She attended the University of Connecticut where she was an English major. After working as an English & ESL teacher for more than ten years, She now is a private tutor to Japanese students helping them to acquire writing, grammar, and vocabulary skills.

Diane H. Tabakman had careers in social services, corporate human resources and non-profit management following an undergraduate degree in psychology from Barnard College, an Ed.M. from Harvard and an MBA from Columbia. She has been an active community volunteer since moving to Westchester including leadership roles as President of the White Plains Library Foundation, Family Services of Westchester and The Association of Development Officers. She is currently a Trustee of the White Plains Public Library and the Westchester Library System and volunteers as a mediator with the Westchester Mediation Center and an arbitrator with the New York State Unified Court System.

Allison Taylor MD is a pediatrician at Montefiore Medical Center. A graduate of Brown University and Einstein Medical School, she has been a clinician-educator for over twenty-five years, caring for children in the Bronx and teaching Einstein medical students and Montefiore pediatric residents. She is a former board member of The Foundation for the Advancement of International Study, a White Plains High School-based organization providing scholarships for overseas high school travel.

Richard Thompson is a Professor Emeritus from The College of New Rochelle having retired in 2017 after twelve years as the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. For 18 years prior to that, he was a faculty member and administrator at Wheelock College in Boston, MA. His main area of professional expertise is the emotional care of children and families in health care settings, having published four books and some two dozen articles and book chapters related to this topic. Dick served as President of the Child Life Council (now the Association of Child Life Professionals) from 1988 to 1990 and was a member of the organization’s board of directors from 1986 to 1990. He was Editor of the journal Children’s Health Care from 1992 to 1999. In addition, he has experience teaching writing to first-year students and has served as a mentor for high school students at the youth agency Rocking the Boat in the Bronx helping them prepare their college application essays.

Barbara Timlin is a graduate of the University of Rochester with more than 30 years of community leadership and professional service. Barbara’s resume reads like a map of the places she has lived, having held leadership positions with Rochester Court Appointed Special Advocates; Leadership Rochester; Rochester Toy Library; Friends of Strong Memorial Hospital; Western New York Chapter of the American Liver Foundation; American Women’s Club of Luxembourg; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Association; Pittsburgh Musical Theater; Gardens Buffalo Niagara; the Allentown Association (Buffalo) and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Barbara’s “hands on” voluntarism includes tutoring for Literacy Pittsburgh and Literacy Buffalo Niagara; preparing and delivering Meals on Wheels (Pittsburgh and Buffalo); fundraising for the Epilepsy Foundation of Western New York; as well as tutoring and mentoring students in a Buffalo elementary school and charter school. Barbara’s hobbies include reading, gardening, crocheting and wrangling grandchildren.

Martha Trujillo-Torp Ed.D is a retired educator. She taught bilingual classes for Yonkers City Schools as well as bilingual special education. She was the Program Facilitator for Hostos Micro Society Magnet School and Special Education Professional Development Specialist.

Jim Walkup is a retired Presbyterian Minister, who continues in a long career as a psychotherapist. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and served as President of the New York State Division of Marriage and Family. For over 40 years, he has guided many couples and individuals. For nineteen years, he directed a counseling center in Bronxville that was sponsored by congregations. He grew up in the Carolinas, where the focus on scripture seeped into his bones. His marriage of 53 years to Betsy Walkup blesses him every day of his life. He enjoys playing blues on his keyboard and gardening.

Alison Walsh was born and raised in White Plains and felt there was no better place for her and her husband of 41 years to raise their own children.  She currently serves as Secretary to the Commissioner of Building in her beloved City and is a proud supporter of White Plains Beautification’s Adopt-A-Park Program. Alison developed a love for writing at a young age after winning several elementary school essay contests and credits her high school English teacher at School of the Holy Child in Rye, NY for further igniting that passion. When her busy day at the Building Department ends, Alison remains hard at work assisting and planning initiatives for several non-profit C-Suite networking organizations.

Penelope Yates, LCSW is a therapist specializing in the treatment of trauma in children, adolescents and adults. She has worked as a social worker and therapist in a variety of settings, including schools, community clinics, hospitals and now in private practice. She has extensive training and certification in several evidence-based interventions for trauma treatment, and has trained under and worked alongside several prominent leaders and pioneers in the field of PTSD research and treatment. Penelope received her M.S. in Social Work from New York University, where she focused her studies on family therapy and substance use treatment. Her academic writing on international models of substance abuse treatment has been published in the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Prior to joining the world of social work, Penelope received a B.A. in Theatre and Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California, and spent several years performing as an actor and vocalist in venues throughout the United States and Europe. When not at work, she greatly enjoys hiking, desert camping, long distance running and going on walking adventures with her family.