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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.