Leadership

GAIL K. MCCALLION, Esq. was formerly employed as “Special Counsel” to the law firm of Marshall Dennehey, a position she held for approximately five years. From 2000-2014, Ms. McCallion was employed by the law firm of Jones Hirsch Connors Miller & Bull where she served as a “Principal” attorney.

Ms. McCallion has represented major international hotels and resorts in New York, Florida and the Caribbean, including shopping malls, department stores and retail stores in premises and product liability cases. She has also defended a national rail carrier and an international boiler manufacturer in multi-venue asbestos litigation.

Ms. McCallion is the mother of a person supported by S:US and has been involved in advocating on behalf of the organization for several years. She was appointed to the S:US Developmental Disabilities Services, Inc. board in February 2021 and to the S:US, Inc. board in June 2022. Ms. McCallion is currently the Board Chair.

Prior to her legal career, Ms. McCallion danced with the New York City Ballet Company under director George Balanchine and thereafter owned and operated two ballet schools in New York City.

Gail K. McCallion, Esq. graduated cum laude from New York University and from Fordham University School of Law.  In her spare time, she enjoys going to the ballet, concerts, movies and traveling.

JACQUIE HOLMES, President, Kiwi Partners Inc., launched the firm in 1998 to provide outsourced accounting services to the nonprofit community. Ms. Holmes began her career at Coopers & Lybrand as an Auditor. She then served as a consultant to the Boston Federal Reserve Bank in the aftermath of the savings and loans crisis. Prior to incorporating Kiwi Partners, Ms. Holmes held the post of Chief Financial Officer of the American Horse Shows Association, a nonprofit with 80,000 members.

Ms. Holmes is passionate about the work of her clients within the nonprofit community and contributes both her time and resources to their unique missions. Ms. Holmes was appointed to the S:US, Inc. Board in September 2006 and currently serves on the Finance Committee as well as the HR/Compensation Committee. Ms. Holmes also serves on the Board of the Port Washington Library Foundation and Mixed Breeds in Need, is a member of the Women Presidents Organization and speaks regularly at nonprofit seminars and workshops, assisting board members with their treasurer responsibilities.

Ms. Holmes completed her undergraduate studies in New Zealand and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Stern Graduate School of Business of New York University. She is also a Harvard Business School alumnus, having completed the Harvard Business School’s OPM Executive Program. Ms. Holmes is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

ERIN FELKER BOND, Esq., is the Associate Dean of Academic Planning and Career Development and an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School (NYLS). In this role, Erin leads the advising office which works with all students to plan their upper-level course schedule to enable achievement of both their academic and professional goals. As part of her portfolio, she teaches Foundations for Professionalism, a required course, to all 1L students during their first spring semester.

As a key member of the NYLS senior staff, Erin also works on a variety of special projects aimed at implementing the Law School’s Strategic Plan with the foremost goal of ensuring that students are gaining the educational foundation and practical experience they need to have a competitive edge in the professional world.

Erin is the former Associate Director of the Center for Real Estate Studies at NYLS, where she developed programming for the City’s newest and more experienced real estate professionals and advised students interested in pursuing careers in real estate. Erin has served in leadership roles at Commercial Real Estate Women of New York (CREW) and its predecessor the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW), together the real estate industry’s longest running and most consistent support of women real estate professionals. She still serves on the Advisory Board to the Center for Real Estate Studies helping to develop programming and the curriculum.

Erin earned a B.A. in foreign affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from New York Law School.

Appointed to the S:US Board of Directors in January 2019, Erin currently serves as the Chair for the Governance Committee and as Board Secretary.

Erin is also a member of the City Bar of New York’s Housing and Urban Development Committee.

EDWARD (“Ed”) HUBBARD  has a broad background in the banking and financial guarantee insurance sectors, with experience at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Marine Midland Bank (acquired by HSBC), Capital Markets Assurance Corporation, MBIA, and XL Capital Assurance/Syncora. At Syncora, Mr. Hubbard was a senior member of the team that founded the company, and later, played a key role in assisting with the company’s initial public offering.

Mr. Hubbard is now an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey where he teaches courses on finance, business policy and strategy for the school’s undergraduate and graduate business programs.  Mr. Hubbard serves as the Board Chair for the Equality Charter School in the Bronx and has also served in other Board roles for Equality including Vice Chair and Treasurer.

Mr. Hubbard is a graduate of Brown University (BA, Mathematical Economics, magna cum laude) and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (MBA, with distinction).

Mr. Hubbard was appointed to the S:US Mental Health Services, Inc. Board in April 2010 and to the S:US, Inc. Board in January 2013. He also has served on several of the Board’s ad hoc committees, including the Managed Care Committee and the Merger Committee (in connection with S:US’ merger with Palladia). He currently serves as Treasurer of the S:US Inc. Board and Chair of the Finance Committee, and serves on the Behavioral Health and Homeless Services boards.

MICHELLE S. BALLAN, PhD is Associate Dean of Research, Professor of Social Welfare and Professor of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center where her research, teaching and service are dedicated to individuals with disabilities. She is a published author and expert in the field of developmental disabilities. Dr. Ballan focuses on intimate partner violence and sexual health prevention and treatment interventions for adults with disabilities. She is the Principal Investigator on several grants, including a 2020 grant to include disability content within medical school curriculum funded by the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Ballan is the recipient of numerous awards, and is a mentor for the international human rights disability advocates affiliated with the Columbia University Institute of Human Rights. She received her PhD from the University of Texas and has worked as a practitioner and educator in various community settings with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, including the New Jersey Brain Injury Association, Women Helping Women, Safeplace, and schools. She was appointed to the S:US Developmental Disabilities Services, Inc. board in April 2011 and also serves on the board’s Corporate Compliance Committee.

JOSH BIDER is an agent in the non-scripted television and branded lifestyle departments at WME. WME is an American talent and literary agency representing artists across all media platforms, including movies, television, music, theatre, digital and publishing. WME spans the nation and beyond, with offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, Nashville, London and Sydney. Born and raised in LA, Josh now resides in Manhattan with his wife Natasha Louise King. He was elected to the Developmental Disabilities Services, Inc. board in January 2015, and to the Services for the UnderServed, Inc. board in January 2017.

AMELIA WRIGHT BREWER is a management executive with over 20 years of experience in Sales Strategy, Marketing, Operations and Product Management. Mrs. Wright is currently the Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase-Wholesale Payments group, where she leads the Field Strategy Performance Management Team. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Mrs. Wright was at American Express as the Director of Marketing, both in the Global Merchant Services Group and the Global Commercial Card Group. Before her time at American Express, she was the Manager of Product Strategy and Development at PwC’s PRTM Management Consultants, as well as a Technical Sales Representative at Texas Instruments. Mrs. Wright has been recognized with esteemed awards including the 2015 JPMorgan Commercial Card Crown Signature Award and the 2019 Harlem Y Black Achievers in Industry Award. Mrs. Wright serves on the AIDS/Mental Health/Urgent Housing Affiliate Board, was appointed to the S:US, Inc. Board of Directors in 2019, and serves as Vice Chair of the Board in January 2021.

EARL D. BROWN is the former Executive Director of Partnership for a Healthier New York City. Prior to joining the Partnership, Mr. Brown served as the Deputy Borough President of the Bronx, and before that as Associate Vice President for Government and Community Relations at the New York Botanical Garden. Mr. Brown is a graduate of the City University of New York with a Master’s in Public Administration. He has dedicated his entire professional career to the improvement of New York City communities, working with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents’ Offices, the City Council President and the New York City School Construction Authority. Mr. Brown has also served as a mentor to teenagers through the New York Youth at Risk Program. Mr. Brown joined the S:US, Inc. Board in March 1998, serves on the boards of each program affiliate.

SLOAN GAON is a seasoned, digitally focused CEO/Board Adviser who excels in special situations including turnarounds, strategic pivots, business evolutions and business scaling at both public and private equity/VC-backed companies.

Sloan has transformed, scaled and then exited the last companies he has led as the CEO and generated over $500M of value for the company’s shareholders.

Fundamentally, Sloan believes that industries will continue to be radically transformed by technology and software that is powered by data and insights. This, together with a strong belief in a company’s people and culture is at the center of his business philosophy.

Most recently, Sloan joined Updata Partners (a growth equity firm) as an Operating Partner.  This is a natural role for Sloan as he can mentor and coach others on how to scale their businesses and build great teams with a nurturing culture.

Prior, Sloan led the sale of PulsePoint to WebMD/Internet Brands in June of 2021. Originally, Sloan was tasked with turning around and strategically refocusing PulsePoint immediately after the private-to-private merger of PulsePoint from two early VC-funded companies. Sloan inherited an advertising holding company that had lost over $28M in the year preceding his arrival. The company quickly focused its attention on the programmatic market and divested or shuttered 10 of the 11 business lines. This single business unit grew 700% in 4 years and generated close to a $50M EBITDA swing.

In conjunction with transforming the strategy and business, Sloan also rebuilt the senior executive team, sales/operations and culture of the company culminating in multiple awards for Top 100 Best Places to Work by Crain’s New York and Inc. Magazine, Adage and Fast Company.  He has also been a semi-finalist for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and rated as one of the highest rated CEOs in technology according to Glassdoor.

In 2016, Sloan and the Management team recognized the need to evolve the business further and PulsePoint embarked on a new transformation plan that would leverage its existing platforms, relationships and data to focus and solve some of the most vexing problems for healthcare companies.  Since this initiative, the company has grown its health line of business in 7 years to $200M+ by building out several groundbreaking SaaS health data platforms and products and capturing 30% market share. Moreover, the company more than tripled its gross margins and generated $175M in EBITDA and over $75M in cash flow. In total, the company has generated over $1.3B in revenue during his tenure.

Prior to PulsePoint, he reinvigorated a 14-year-old startup in Dotmenu (DBA Campusfood.com and Allmenus.com), by refocusing its product strategy and developing a national expansion plan, that eventually led to a sale of the company to Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) prior to its successful IPO. In addition, he held several senior strategic roles at Adknowledge, MIVA (NASDAQ: MIVA) (sold to Inovo) and Register.com (NASDAQ: RCOM) (sold to Web.com) and TurboChef (NASDAQ: OVEN) (sold to Middleby).

In addition to his operational roles, Sloan has serves/served on a number of Board’s including:

PulsePoint, New York 2012-2021, Board Member (Martech platform)

Piano.io, New York, 2024-present, Board Member Media subscription and data platform)

Contact Monkey, 2023-present, Chair (Employee Engagement Platform)

AudienceTown, New York, 2022-present, Board Member (Real estate data and insights platform)

Adthena, London/Austin, 2019-present, Chair (Search Intelligence technology platform)

Dotmenu, New York, 2011-2013, Board Member (Online ordering platform)

Takeout7, Hartford/India, 2018-present, Board Member (Restaurant software and marketing platform)

RegistryPro, New York/London/Dublin, 2000-2003, Board member (Domain registry for doctors, lawyers and accountants)

The Medical Registry, New York, Melbourne, 2004-2009, Board Member (Domain registry for doctors)

Sloan is a Syracuse College of Law and Clark University graduate (where he played NCAA baseball and donned the tools of ignorance as a catcher).  As a native New Yorker who still marvels at the City that doesn’t sleep, he is a four-time New York City Marathoner. Sloan is married and has two children.

Sloan was appointed to the Board of Services for the Underserved, Inc. in March 2025.

ART EDWARDS is the CEO of Cakehouse Media and a reality television pioneer with more than 15 years’ experience as a writer, director, and producer. He began working as an executive producer on the competition series “Food Network Challenge,” a show directly responsible for the explosion of cake-related programming on American television. He teamed up with celebrity chef and TV personality Buddy Valastro to produce the hit series “Cake Boss” for TLC and was co-creator and executive producer to several spinoffs. The pair founded their own production company, Cakehouse Media, in 2014. Art is a graduate of Dartmouth College and was appointed to the S:US Board of Directors in January 2019. Art currently serves on the board’s Finance Committee and Behavioral Health Affiliate.

PETER FRIEDLAND is a commercial real estate investor and developer. Through Doyers Street Holdings LLC and its related companies Peter has owned or developed 12 mixed-use, office, multi-family, and student housing projects across the country. He is also an early stage private equity investor, with positions in lifestyle and health care companies such as Criquet Shirts, AuDigent, Sapience Therapeutics and IN2L, which was recently acquired by Vista Equity Partners.

Peter earned a Cum Laude degree in English and American Literature from Harvard College. He currently serves on the Drawings Committee of the Museum of Modern Art, and on the Leadership Council of Sesame Workshop. Peter joined the S:US, Inc. board in the spring of 2009.

LARRY HAMDAN was elected to the Board of Directors of Palladia in 2007 and following its merger with S:US, was elected to the S:US Board of Directors in January 2015. He is Chairman of Mergers & Acquisitions, Americas for Barclays Investment Bank. He previously ran Barclays M&A Americas business. He has 35 years of experience advising numerous clients on more than $500 billion of transactions such as Danaher’s $20bn acquisition of GE Biopharma and their $6bn purchase of Abcam plc, Parker-Hannifin’s multi-billion dollar deals for Lord and Exotic Metals, as well as several major transactions in the US airline industry including advising US Airways on its $30 billion merger with American Airlines which created the world’s largest airline.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Quinnipiac University. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ANERA, a US-based non-profit, which assists Middle East refugees in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. ANERA is currently focused on the “last mile” delivery of food, medication and emergency supplies in Gaza.

He received an AB degree in Economics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University; a JD degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School; and an MBA degree with high distinction from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar.

JOSHUA D. LISTON is a partner at Beys Liston Mobargha & Berland LLP.  He represents clients in civil litigation, regulatory matters, and arbitration. He has defended clients in cases involving a wide range of allegations of securities fraud, breach of contract, antitrust violations, breach of fiduciary duties and professional malpractice. He also has conducted internal investigations and represented public and private companies, banks, pharmaceutical companies, accounting firms, law firms, real estate developers and individuals in complex civil litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings before the SEC, FINRA, and other agencies.

Mr. Liston received a BA from Harvard College, and received his JD, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. After serving as law clerk to the Hon. Dennis Jacobs of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Mr. Liston practiced for eight years in the litigation department of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

Mr. Liston was appointed to the S:US, Inc. Board in August 2011.  He also serves on the Governance Committee.

JEN PRESS MARDEN began her career at Adrienne Vittadini and Vogue. While raising her children, Mrs. Marden immersed herself in her local community by chairing annual benefits, auctions and fundraising events. Mrs. Marden was co-host and producer of A Fashionable Life, a weekly hour radio show on WGCH/Greenwich. She was a TV fashion/lifestyle reporter for ABC News Now, where she covered fashion and red carpet events as well as the first Obama inauguration. She now works as a freelance writer.

Mrs. Marden was appointed to the Board of Services for the Underserved, Inc. in January 2014. She has served as Vice Chair of the Board since June 2015 and was appointed Chair of the Board in January 2021. She co-founded the affiliate group Women for S:US, which works to unite established and emerging business leaders across generations of women motivated by the values of an inclusive society, supportive networks and a philanthropic impact.

PETER LATTANZIO serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel for The City University of New York (“CUNY”), where he performs the duties of deputy chief legal officer and deputy chief ethics officer to CUNY. In this role, Peter supervises attorneys and staff, leads high-profile special projects, and provides strategic counsel on a wide variety of legal and related issues to CUNY’s Board of Trustees, the Chancellery, and all CUNY campuses.

Before joining CUNY, Peter was Deputy General Counsel and Chief of the Commercial Litigation Unit for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he also served as counsel for legislative issues. Prior to that, Peter was an associate general counsel and head of litigation for the New York City Council, New York City’s legislative branch of government. Aside from his time in government service, Peter also has extensive experience in private practice as an associate in the litigation departments at two large international law firms. Peter received his law degree from Boston College Law School and his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, graduating cum laude.

Peter served as the President of S:US’ Young Leaders Council for several years before being appointed to the S:US Developmental Disabilities Services Board in April 2018.

JOHN A. McKESSON has been part of the banking industry for over 40 years. Prior to his retirement from JPMorgan in March 2021, he served as a Credit Executive in the Financial Institutions group within the Corporate and Investment bank covering a portfolio of U.S. banks, broker dealers, clearinghouses, and card processors. Prior to his time in Credit Risk, Mr. McKesson held various positions where he was responsible for the firm’s relationships with a broad range of financial institution, corporate and government clients in West and East Africa and Egypt, and subsequently for the U.S. offices of European, Middle Eastern, North African, Israeli, and Turkish financial institutions. Between 1999 and 2004, Mr. McKesson served on the Board of the Arab Bankers Association for North America (ABANA).

Mr. McKesson joined the S:US, Inc. Board in January 1992. He has supported the organization in various roles throughout his tenure. In addition to his prior two terms as Board Chair, he has also served as Treasurer of the Board and Chair of the Finance and Corporate Compliance Committees.

Mr. McKesson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and a certificate of Commercial and Economic French from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over the course of his life, in addition to the United States, Mr. McKesson has lived in Paris, France, Dakar, Senegal, and Libreville, Gabon. He currently resides in New York City.

LINDA NGUYEN is the Program Manager, Text to Speech at Google, where she manages text to speech supplier operations and oversees text to speech client integrations and relationships across Google. Linda specializes in program management, coaching, career development, operations, and vendor and relationship management. Prior to her current role, she has held several other customer support operations roles at Google. Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and was appointed to the S:US board in September 2018.

GARETH OLD is a partner in the New York office of Clifford Chance, concentrating on derivatives and structured finance. He is admitted to practice as an attorney in both New York and England & Wales. Mr. Old joined Clifford Chance in London in 1997, and prior to moving to New York in 2004, also worked in Hong Kong and Frankfurt. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Old taught English at high schools in Kawasaki, Japan and worked for an auto-parts manufacturer in Stuttgart, Germany. Mr. Old was appointed to the Services for the UnderServed, Inc. Board in June 2010. He served as Chair of the Board in June 2015 through end of 2020.

MARIE ISABELLE PALACIOS HARDY is a structured finance and funds lawyer with over 20 years of experience. She is admitted to the practice bars of New York, England & Wales, and Ontario (Canada).  Prior to taking a sabbatical, she was the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Firmament. From 2014 to 2023, Marie Isabelle was a Managing Director and Co-Deputy General Counsel of York Capital Management. From 2008 to 2014, Marie Isabelle was an associate with the law firm Clifford Chance LLP in its Structured Finance department in New York and a senior associate in the Structured Debt, Capital Markets department in London, United Kingdom. From 2006-2008, Marie Isabelle was an associate with the law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto, Canada. Marie Isabelle received a B.A. from McGill University, and M.A. from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, and an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa.  Marie Isabelle is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of The Workshop Theater. She was appointed to the S:US Board of Directors in January 2019.  Marie Isabelle is a member of the Governance Committee, Compliance Committee, and Chair of the HR/Compensation Committee.

CAROLYN P. POWELL, President/CEO of CP Integrated Solutions (CPIS), provides strategic and organizational optimization consulting to executive and board leadership, and executive coaching to enhance and strengthen leadership and governance, and to advance organization sustainability. Her career has crossed sectors and spanned a broad range of issues.

Former Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) now serves on its Board of Directors as Vice-Chair of the Board, and Chair of the Governance Committee. CSH is the national leader in the development and expansion of permanent affordable housing, focusing on person-centered growth, recovery and success that contributes to the health and wellbeing of the entire community.

Prior to joining CSH, Ms. Powell had almost three decades of broad business management expertise, leading strategic planning, all aspects of financial and marketing management and new product commercialization, business operations and regulatory compliance, for both for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations. Her previous for-profit experience consists of business management for a pharmaceutical line at Sanofi-Winthrop – Division of Eastman Kodak; business management for a specialty products group at Union Carbide Corporation; and an internal financial consultant and financial assistant to Vice-President of International for Avon Products.

Ms. Powell is former Chair of the Board of Directors of Services for the UnderServed (S:US), serving since 1991, and is currently Chair of the S:US Developmental Disabilities Services Affiliate Board.  Ms. Powell is also a member of the Finance/Audit Committee, Compliance Committee, HR/Compensation Committee, Home Care Committee, and Behavioral Health Incident Review Committee.  S:US is one of the largest supportive housing developers and service providers in New York State.  S:US’ uniqueness lies in its ability to treat the whole person by providing a broad range of services to address their needs.

Other affiliations include various professional and cultural organizations.

Ms. Powell holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Columbia University.

Victor Rosenzweig, Esq. graduated from New York University School of Law.  Over the course of his 50-year law career, including two judicial clerkships, Victor counseled corporations and investors regarding every aspect of corporate and securities law at the firm of Olshan Frome & Wolosky. Although no longer engaged in active practice, Victor has mentored the firm’s lawyers, advising on career development and client service.

Victor is currently a director at Shenkman Capital Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser specializing in high-yield securities, alternative credit, and leveraged loan strategies. He also was a board member of American Pacific Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed company, and is a newly elected, as well as former board member and then foundation chairman (from 2002 to 2007) of Services for the UnderServed. He served on the Board of Editors and Advisors for the Securities Regulation Law Journal from 2004-2018 and authored the Journal’s Quarterly Survey of SEC Rulemaking and Major Appellate Decisions.

Victor was a director of Reverse Mortgage Investment Trust Inc., a qualified FHA and GNMA lender, until its sale in December 2020 and served as counsel to several investment advisory firms, advising clients in the areas of Federal Securities law and investment company management.

Currently, Victor also mentors students and provides scholarships at Baruch College, his alma mater, where he also serves as a member of The Benchmark Society.

JOANN SACKS, PhD is a psychologist and research scientist who has spent the past 35 years working in the public and private nonprofit mental health and substance use service sectors. She has been the Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects focused on treatment alternatives for women and men with substance use and with co-occurring mental conditions, including those in the criminal justice system. Her particular areas of research interest have centered on the specialized challenges faced by women as they addressed their own issues of addiction, mental health, and trauma while also raising families, often as head of household. The majority of her publications are related to this body of research.

Dr. Sacks also is an expert in training, technical assistance and implementation of evidence-based practices for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. She has been involved at both the state and agency level, nationally and internationally, in the design, implementation and evaluation of integrated treatment models for individuals with co-occurring disorders. Her consultation in program development includes specialized housing, rehabilitation and outpatient services. Dr. Sacks recently retired as Executive Director of National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), a private not-for-profit research agency with a history of scientific leadership and innovation in research in the areas of behavioral health and related public health challenges. Dr. Sacks was appointed to the S:US, Inc. Board in June 2006. She chairs the Behavioral Health and Homeless Services boards and serves on the ad hoc Managed Care Committee.

PHILLIP A. SAPERIA served as Executive Director/CEO of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies for over 21 years, overseeing the Coalition’s program of education, advocacy and technical assistance to the diverse community-based behavioral health providers of New York City. At the Coalition, Mr. Saperia was immersed in mental health and addictions public policy and community-based service programs, government support of community behavioral health, the evolution of managed care programs for people living with mental illness and substance use disorders, the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice, and the emerging area of rehabilitation and recovery for people with behavioral health disabilities—among the many populations affected by these disorders.

He has worked in community and government relations for over 30 years. Before joining the Coalition, Mr. Saperia was a consultant to several not-for-profit agencies on matters related to community siting of special care housing and on the development of local community advisory boards. He currently serves on the Behavioral Health Advisory Board of Health First and on the Advisory Board of Healthix.

Mr. Saperia graduated with a B.A. in Politics from Brandeis University. He holds an M.A.T. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he was elected to Phi Delta Kappa, the National Honorary Education Society. Mr. Saperia was appointed to the Behavioral Health and Homeless Services boards in 2018.

DEBORAH WOLFE is a partner at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC in the Corporate & Finance Group. She advises on complex mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, private equity investments, joint ventures, and the structuring, formation, financing, operation and purchase and sale of assets and entities across many sectors, with particular focus on the media, entertainment and advertising industries. She has particular expertise advising innovative start-ups and young companies on matters ranging from retaining and incentivizing key employees to obtaining financing and forming structuring strategic alliances. Prior to joining Frankfurt Kurnit, Ms. Wolfe was a partner at Hogan Lovells (and its predecessor firms) where she practiced for nearly 25 years.

Ms. Wolfe was elected to the S:US, Inc. Board in June 2015. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the World Foundation of Music and Healing, a non-profit organization founded initially to serve children who had lost a parent in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. She is pro bono counsel to Youth Call an End Inc., an organization working to create a global network of youth groups dedicated to the eradication of gender violence. Ms. Wolfe also serves on the President’s Advisory Counsel of the Women’s Venture Fund and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

ANDREW ZIMMERN, television personality, chef and food writer, was appointed to the Board of Directors of S:US, Inc. in May 2012. Mr. Zimmern is an Emmy and 4-time James Beard Award winner, widely regarded as one of the most versatile and knowledgeable personalities in the culinary world. A global leader in the food equity and social justice space, a rampant advocate for mental health parity, and a tireless fighter for affordable housing here in the United States, Mr. Zimmern also sits on the boards of Soigne Holdings, EXPLR Media, Beans Is How, The Giving Kitchen, and The Great Northern. He is a global ambassador for the United Nations World Food Program, The Nature Conservancy, and The International Rescue Committee.

George C. Biddle is the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Executive Vice President and provides executive oversight to the IRC’s U.S. programs, international programs and advocacy departments, which combined operate in 42 countries worldwide and in 23 cities across the U.S. Prior to joining the IRC in 2000, Mr. Biddle was Vice President of the International Crisis Group and President of the Institute for Central American Studies. He serves on several non-profit boards, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds an A.B. degree from Harvard and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins.

Robert B. Catell is Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at New York State University at Stony Brook. Mr. Catell was formerly the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Energy Delivery, the former Brooklyn Union. He is Chairman of Alberta Northeast Gas Ltd. and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and is Vice-Chairman of the National Petroleum Council’s Natural Gas Committee. Mr. Catell serves as a Member Emeritus of the Brooklyn Law School and is a member of the Board of Directors of KEYERA Energy Management Ltd. and several other business organizations. He is also Chair of the Leadership Advisory Cabinet to the Long Island Regional Planning Council for the LI 2035 Regional Comprehensive Sustainability Plan. Additionally, he serves on the Advisory Board for SUNY Farmingdale and the President’s Advisory Council at Adelphi University. Mr. Catell received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York and is a Registered Professional Engineer.

DONNA COLONNA joined Services for the UnderServed in 1997, was appointed President/CEO in July 2001, and retired in January 2022. Ms. Colonna has spent her 50-year career in positions at various nonprofit organizations, and in State government (OPWDD and OMH). She has served in leadership positions in statewide and NYC industry and advocacy organizations and has served on numerous government committees that have shaped community services.

Ms. Colonna served as a member of the New York State Medicaid Redesign Team’s Behavioral Health Reform and Affordable Housing Reform Workgroups and on Medicaid Re-design Team II. She also served on healthcare boards and on the Behavioral Health Advisory Board of Healthfirst and United Health. As a leader in the development and promotion of supportive and low-income housing, she served on the NY Community Advisory Board of Enterprise Community Partners, and on the Board of Directors of the Supportive Housing Network of New York.

Ms. Colonna currently is a member of the NYS Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council and is an advocate for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Ms. Colonna was recognized by City & State New York in 2021 among the top 100 most powerful healthcare executives leading New York through the coronavirus crisis. She is also named in the inaugural Mental Health Power 50 list, which recognizes some of the most influential public officials, academics, health care professionals, advocates and activists who are making a difference in the lives of people living with mental illness.

Throughout her career, Ms. Colonna has been a vocal advocate for the rights of, and services for, individuals and families with developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges, and people living in poverty. Her life’s work has been dedicated to breaking down the stigma of disability and homelessness, building community and helping to right societal imbalances.

SHERRIE DULWORTH is a freelance journalist and writer. As a registered nurse and healthcare executive, she previously held clinical, business, and consulting roles. She later graduated with her Master of Science degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Ms. Dulworth was appointed to the S:US, Inc. board in 2013. She served on the board and as a member of the Compliance Committee until 2023.

ANDREW HURWITZ is a partner in the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. He has represented award-winning entertainment talent and leading media companies for almost 20 years, and is widely considered one of the nation’s top film and television industry lawyers. Mr. Hurwitz has taught the entertainment law seminar at New York Law School as well as motion picture business classes at Yale University and the Czech film school FAMU in Prague. He is a frequent panelist at industry and continuing legal education events.

Mr. Hurwitz is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (JD, cum laude, 1988) and is admitted to practice in New York. Mr. Hurwitz was appointed to the S:US, Inc. Board of Directors in January 2011, and served as Chair of the Board from January 2013 through June 2015. He joined the S:US Council of Advisors in 2019.

Alice Korngold, President and CEO of Korngold Consulting LLC, is the author of “A Better World, Inc.: How Companies Profit by Solving Global Problems” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) and “Leveraging Good Will: Strengthening Nonprofits by Engaging Businesses” (Jossey Bass, A Wiley Imprint, 2005). Ms. Korngold consults to the boards of directors and C-suite executives of multinational corporations and nonprofits on board governance, sustainability/CSR, corporate-nonprofit partnerships, and measurement and rankings. She also trains and places business executives on nonprofit boards. Ms. Korngold is a featured speaker at global conferences and guest lectures to graduate business students at Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Oxford. She is an advisor to The Drucker Institute and FullSky Capital.

PERRY PERLMUTTER is Services for the UnderServed’s (S:US) President and Chief Executive Officer. He assumed this role in October 2023, after serving as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2023. Perry held the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since April 2016.

As CFO, Perry was responsible for overseeing the financial operations and strategy of S:US, which, in FY23, had an annual budget of over $270 million and served tens and thousands of individuals and families. He also played a key role in securing funding and managing relationships with government agencies, banks, auditors, and funders.

He brings a wealth of experience in finance and accounting from a 30-year career. Prior to joining S:US, Perry worked for Reliance Group Holdings, a diversified insurance company, for 18 years, where he held various senior positions in finance, treasury, and risk management. He then became the CFO of FOJP Service Corp and Hospitals Insurance Company, a risk manager and insurer for healthcare and social service organizations in metropolitan New York City.

Perry was recognized by City & State New York in 2023 as Nonprofit Power 100 for serving the most vulnerable individuals in New York, and in 2024 and 2025 as a Socially Responsible Leader. He was also named by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro as a Nonprofit Power Player in 2023 and 2024. This list celebrates leaders who are making a lasting impact through innovative programs and initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers across the city.

Perry is passionate about S:US’ mission to transform the lives of people with disabilities, people in poverty, and people facing homelessness, and to create a more equitable and inclusive society. He believes the solution to homelessness is homes; he is committed to eradicating homelessness in our city and keeping New Yorkers healthy.

BRADLEY ALPERIN was named S:US’ Chief Operating Officer in April 2025, having previously served as Chief Compliance Officer from April 2018 through March 2025. Bradley first joined S:US in October 2009, and has worked in various roles including Compliance Specialist, Director of Legal Affairs and Risk Management, and Vice President of Compliance.

Bradley has shown a lifelong commitment to making a difference in the community. He has volunteered at the Sunrest Nursing Home, the Woodhaven Health Related Facility, the Lake Grove School, and the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Bradley also interned at the New York State Office for the Aging and the New York State Crime Victim’s Board, and he worked summers during college at a day treatment program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Prior to joining S:US, Bradley worked in the private sector for thirteen years. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University, and his J.D. from Albany Law School.

Nakia Blenman has over 28 years of experience in the human services field, bringing a deep commitment to the nonprofit sector and a passion for advancing quality and accountability in care. Since joining S:US in 2013, Nakia has held a progression of leadership roles, including Compliance Specialist, Coordinator of Compliance, Director of Compliance, Vice President of Compliance and Quality Assurance, and, as of May 2025, Chief Compliance Officer.

Nakia began her career in child welfare, working directly with children and families before expanding her focus to support people with developmental disabilities. Prior to joining S:US, she held various social work, compliance, and leadership positions within nonprofit organizations dedicated to individuals within the foster care system and people with developmental disabilities. Her work has consistently demonstrated a strong command of regulatory standards, quality assurance, and program integrity.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of New Rochelle and a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University. In April 2025, Nakia further enhanced her expertise by earning a Certificate in Healthcare Law from eCornell.

Throughout her career, Nakia has been a steadfast advocate for building accountable systems, elevating service quality, and fostering compassionate leadership across the nonprofit healthcare and human services landscape.

Margaret-Ann Cole, who prefers to be called MAC, joined S:US in February 2024 as Chief People Officer. MAC is a senior executive with 25+ years of expertise in managing organizations in developing strategic direction; establishing organizational structure; leading comprehensive change management initiatives; and working with high performing senior leaders and leadership teams, enabling them to develop more effective and efficient ways of working together. She is passionate about unleashing the potential of talent and shaping how corporate culture affects individual performance.

MAC has accountability for developing and providing comprehensive human resources services, expertise, and policies and applying best practices, employee relations, succession planning, talent management, DEI, policy, culture building, organizational and performance management, and professional development.

MAC is highly skilled in management consulting, executive coaching, and entrepreneurship. MAC is a founding partner of Cascade Clarity AI, a business consulting and services firm. She earned multiple MBAs from NYU Stern School of Business, HEC Paris Business School, The London School of Economics and Political Science, and is a Global Fellow in Talent Management from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

MAC currently serves as the Board Vice President (former President for three terms) of Rebuilding Together NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-income residents of New York City through the preservation of affordable housing and the development of life-sustaining careers in construction trades.

Dr. Nadjete Natchaba has been working with people living with mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness for over 20 years as a clinician, administrator, and executive in human services. In her role as Chief Program Officer, she leads a team of devoted clinicians and administrators managing Assertive Community Treatment teams, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Home and Community Based Services, Care Coordination Services, shelters for single adults and families, and crisis respite residences.

Dr. Natchaba joined the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College as a faculty member teaching fundamental courses in the MSW program to expand her work of preparing our workforce to “show up” for people served. Dr. Natchaba is also a member of National Association of Black Social Workers and a graduate from the African Centered Academy. She was recognized by City & State New York in 2024 as a Nonprofit Trailblazer and in 2025 as a Black Trailblazer.

Supporting the workforce at S:US and in the larger community is Dr. Natchaba’s way of living up to her core value of interdependency.

Photo credit: Cantata Health.

MONICA SANTOS joined S:US in March 2020 as Chief Program Officer, Developmental Disabilities Services. In 2022, Behavioral Health Housing was added to Ms. Santos’ portfolio. She has supervisory responsibility for ensuring that quality housing, clinical, and support services are provided in accordance with all applicable regulatory, funding and agency requirements. She is also responsible for the development of budgets and the monitoring of resources. Ms. Santos was appointed to the Inter Agency Council board in February 2023. She was recognized by City & State New York in 2023 and 2024 as a Social Services Leader.

Ms. Santos started in the field as a Direct Service Professional and held increasingly responsible positions at AHRCNYC where she has spent the last 25 years. Her most recent position was Vice President, Residential Services and Housing Solutions. In this capacity, Ms. Santos oversaw $92M in residential services for 700 people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Ms. Santos holds an MA in Disability Studies from the School of Professional Studies, Graduate Center, CUNY. She had a stint in Botswana from 1988 to 1990 as a Peace Corps volunteer, which has helped to shape the person she is today. Ms. Santos’ personal philosophy is that “every life is of infinite value.”

Douglas Walerstein, formerly Senior Vice President of Finance, serves as S:US’ Chief Financial Officer. Doug joined S:US in April 2022 and has over 35 years of finance and project management/systems experience.

Doug is a Certified Public Accountant. He has a BS in Psychology and earned his master’s in accounting. In addition, he studied international business at the University of Manchester in England. He has worked for a large international Fortune 100 company and has served nine years as CFO for Polar Electro, a consumer marketing/distribution company in the wellness activity space. Doug was the CEO of a $100 million medical practice company and also worked for Deloitte, a global business consulting and professional services company, as a certified SAP system consultant to design and implement financial and HR systems.

Doug has served on local nonprofit boards in different capacities from Budget Chair to Treasurer and during college was a VISTA volunteer. He was part of a team that designed and implemented a program to teach and train young adults with physical disabilities to live on their own. In addition, Doug conducted outreach to underserved families to sign up their children to participate in summer camp. He comes from a family environment steeped in childcare advocacy and is thrilled to utilize his experience and skill set to help support and further S:US’ mission.