Biographies of Board Members
Board Officers
Marcia Kepecs, Co-Chair: Educator and CEO of a NYC agency that provides special education services to preschoolers; formerly Executive Director of a NYC nonprofit for 2 years; consultant to nonprofits and public agencies for 10 years.
Hank Dullea, Co-Chair: Vice President Emeritus: Cornell University; senior positions in New York State government; multiple board service including SUNY, TCAT, Tompkins County Public Library, Challenge Industries and Kendal at Ithaca.
Sally Dullea, Co-Chair: Over 25 years as V.P., Manager of Main Office of Citizens Savings Bank (now M&T Bank) helping people plan for retirement, and helping many local Not-for-Profits address their financial needs; also served on the Boards of Ithaca Rape Crisis, Challenge Industries; currently on the Board of Tompkins Community Action.
Jim Darnieder, Vice-Chair: Served for 15 years in sales and sales management with IBM, including District Sales Manager in the Syracuse office; before his recent retirement, Jim was the owner and operator of JD’s Fish n’ Grill Restaurant in Syracuse for 23 years.
Kathleen M. Garner, Co-Founder, Secretary: Retired from a career in Human Services and as an ordained Presbyterian minister; former Director Jansen Memorial Hospice and ED Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services; Founder Bereavement Center of Westchester; Co-chaired the Tompkins County United Way Campaign in 2013-14.
David Sprague, Treasurer: Senior partner and co-owner of Sprague & Jackson accounting firm; Treasurer of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, past President, serving on board for 23 years; past VP Hospicare of Tompkins County; past Treasurer of Hospicare Foundation.
Board Members
Wendy Aquadro: Formal and informal educator; retired, senior associate director of advising, Office of Undergraduate Biology, Cornell University; past program manager for parenting workshops, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County; retired middle school life sciences teacher and substitute teacher.
Sherry Burford: Retired from a longstanding career in consumer marketing research, culminating in 15-year ownership of strategic research consultancy serving financial services and telecommunications sectors; 17 years a career counselor and coach in private practice specializing in career management and transition planning; board service supporting religious education, contracted family daycare services, and parenting education; volunteer service in Holocaust education.
Robin Dubovi: Licensed clinical social worker; has worked at The Racker Centers, Catholic Charities and Ithaca College; served on the boards of the Center for Transformative Action and The Vitamin L Project.
Donna George: Clinical social worker, former Manager of Bereavement Services at HPCS (Hospicare & Palliative Care Services) providing over 20 years of grief counseling and support; Fellow in Thanatology through ADEC (Assoc. of Death, Education and Counseling); past secretary of Beechtree Board.
Rob Hillman, Co-Chair: Edwin H. Woodruff Professor of Law, Cornell Law School; former associate dean for academic affairs at the law school; former mentor in Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Big Brother program; board member Eastlake Homeowner’s Association.
Ann Lemley: Professor Emerita, Cornell University; Past President Cornell Assoc. of Professors Emeriti; former Department Chair, College of Human Ecology, Cornell; former Division Chair, American Chemical Society; former NY State Water Quality Professor, Cornell Cooperative Extension.; Chair of Development Committee, LLH.
Michelle Ochs: Trust Officer at Tompkins Financial Advisors; new resident of Ithaca; University of Pittsburgh School of Law graduate; extensive volunteer work with non-profits for both older adults and animals.
Leslie Quest, Co-Founder: Owner of freelance bookkeeping services; former board member of Tompkins Community Action; former board member Beechtree Care Center.
Carol Scheele: Former lecturer at Cornell University and Ithaca College; admissions and advising staff in Cornell’s College of Engineering; writing, editing and development responsibilities in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell; former volunteer, auxiliary president, board member, teen volunteer program director, and fundraiser at Cayuga Medical Center.
Tammarion Warren: Vice President of Operations, Warren Real Estate, with lead responsibilities in operations management, business performance and agent development; previously worked as Educator and Trainer for The Center for Foreign Affairs and Languages Training, and American Pacific University in Vietnam.
