Emily joined Brown & Weinraub after several years representing and advocating for a broad range of clients before the New York State legislative and executive branches. Emily’s work focuses on hospital systems, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and professional associations, with a particular focus on health care. She has advised clients on procurements and helped secure economic development funding for projects. Emily previously served as associate counsel in the New York State Senate Majority Counsel’s office where she advised the Majority Leader and Conference on Insurance and Banking issues. In this role she negotiated legislative and budget priorities with the New York Assembly and Governor’s Office. Her New York State government experience also includes work with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Division of Parole, and she has spent time working in the nonprofit sector and private legal practice.
Emily E. Whalen, Esq.
(Chair) Attorney
Brown & Weinraub
Albany
Dr. Dillion has more than 18 years of non-profit experience and extensive expertise developed while working across a variety of human service systems, including the British Criminal Justice System, outpatient service, settlement projects, and community college settings. Most recently, Dr. Dillion has served as the Senior Director of Programs at the Wilson Foundation, where he has enhanced the foundation’s efforts in reducing poverty by addressing residential instability, trauma, and racial inequities.
Junior Dillion, MA, LMHC, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Volunteers of America Upstate New York
Kristen is a partner and Practice Leader of the Professional Excellence Division with The Bonadio Group, the largest public accounting firm in Upstate New York and the 40th largest firm in the US. She has spent her career focused on the audit and accounting needs of a wide variety of clients, specializing in healthcare, not-for-profit organizations and closely held businesses. In addition, she is highly experienced in the areas of quality control, continuing Professional education for CPAs, leadership development, and risk management issues for our professional services firm.
Kristin M. Clark, CPA, FHFMA
(Treasurer)
Syracuse Office Managing Partner
The Bonadio Group
Rochester
Peter has been with the Long Island Housing Partnership since 1989. He is responsible for the overall operation of Long Island Housing Partnership and its Affiliates. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Policy Analysis and Public Management. In June 2002, Peter completed the Senior Executives Program in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also received the Harry Weiner Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995 and the Governor’s award for Excellence in Housing in 1994. He is a member of the 2007 Class of The Energeia Partnership – The Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College. Currently, he serves on the board of New York Housing Conference, Inc. Peter served as Chair to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Affordable Housing Advisory Council and was a former member of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. He now serves as Treasurer on the Board for The National Community Land Trust Network dba Grounded Solutions Network. Peter honored as top CFO in 2011 and in 2016 was honored as top CEO by the Long Island Business News.
Peter Elkowitz, Jr
President and Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Housing Partnership
Long Island
John serves as the chair of Cozen O'Connor’s OSHA Practice and is also the author of its safety and health blog, the OSHA Chronicle. He is a 1997 graduate of St. John's University School of Law. As a former prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, John was part of a litigation team that recovered approximately $4 million under the FLSA on behalf of New York State Environmental Conservation Officers. While at the DOL, he also received a commendation from OSHA’s regional administrator for his prosecution of a discrimination complaint under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. John is a founding member of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute, served as the co-editor of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (Section) electronic newsletter from to 2015-2019 and currently serves the vice-chair of the Member Engagement Committee of the Section. John is a board member of the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association and has taught business and employment law at the Pratt Institute and the New School.
John S. Ho, Esq.
(Secretary/Chair of Governance Committee) OSHA Practice, Cozen O’Connor
Cozen OConnor
New York City
Juan is currently a Senior Associate at KPMG’s consulting arm where he develops functional business analysis, evaluates IT integration projects and provides mitigation strategies on project risks. Prior to joining KPMG in 2015, Juan was a policy analyst for the New York State Assembly Codes Committee. He has also served as Assistant Press Secretary for Codes and was Committee Clerk for the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. Juan also worked for a short time with the Albany County Executive’s Office of Health and Human Services.
Juan Gabriel Genao
(Chair of External Affairs) Senior Associate, Advisory, KPMG US
KMPG US
Albany
Deb has had a successful career in academic administration, serving as Dean, Vice Provost, and Provost of SUNY Empire State College, the statewide SUNY institution designed for adult students. She is currently Professor of Social Science at the college, teaching online in LGBTQ studies and anthropology. She has an extensive scholarly record in anthropology and spent 20 years studying Swahili and conducting research in East Africa. She is an internationally recognized expert on gender and sexuality in Africa, and she is the recipient of many awards for her scholarship, teaching and service. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Deborah P. Amory, Ph.D.
Professor of Social Science
Empire State College
Saratoga Springs
Lola W. Brabham is the President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) in 2021. In that role she leads CICU, an Albany based not-for-profit organization that represents the chief executives of New York's 100+ independent (private, not-for-profit) colleges and universities on issues of public policy. She has served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Civil Service and President of the Civil Service Commission. As a member of Governor Andrew Cuomo's Cabinet, Ms. Brabham served on the New York State Council on Women and Girls, the Executive Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Review Board. Prior to joining the Department of Civil Service, Ms. Brabham served as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Chief Financial Officer for the New York State Department of Labor, as the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health, Medicaid and Oversight and the Director of Human Services in the Executive Chamber under Governor David Paterson, and held senior positions in the New York State Division of Budget. Her career began as a Legislative Budget Analyst for the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and as Chief of Staff in the New York State Assembly. Ms. Brabham possesses a dual Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from the State University of New York and a Master of Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
Lola W. Brabham
President
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Albany
Erin is a commercial litigator in Rochester, NY. She earned her J.D. degree, with high honors, from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, and also holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in English Literature from St. Bonaventure University. Erin practiced for six years at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Manhattan, and for four years at Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP in Rochester. In 2023, Erin joined the Rochester office of Weaver Mancuso Brightman PLLC as a Partner in their litigation practice.
Erin represents clients in federal and state court litigation arising from large-scale corporate transactions, commercial and residential real estate and loan agreements, complex contractual and shareholder arrangements, employment disputes, land-use matters, and bankruptcy issues.
Erin serves on the Boards of both the Monroe County Bar Association (MCBA) and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys (GRAWA), and has led and actively participated in several committees for both the MCBA and GRAWA, including the Litigation Council of the MCBA, and the Membership and Judicial Evaluation Committees of GRAWA.
Erin also dedicates much of her time to pro bono representation and community engagement on issues of social justice. She served as Chair of GRAWA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for two years, and is an active participant in the Lawyers' Coalition for Racial and Social Justice, a joint coalition of the MCBA, GRAWA, and Rochester Black Bar Association. Erin was also selected as one of only eleven community members comprising the inaugural antiracism task force formed by the MCBA: the President’s Commission on Anti-Racism.
Erin E. Elmouji, Esq.
Partner
Weaver Mancuso Brightman PLLC
Prior to her current role as a consultant for organizational development and corporate leadership development, Nancy spent 12 years as the founding Director of The Energeia Partnership, launched in 2005. Also known as the Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College, Energeia brings together proven and ethical leaders across Long Island to provide them with the information, support and the network necessary to help create change. Nancy designed the pedagogy, content and core curriculum for 12 – 15 dynamic workshops every year including: Energy, Land Use, Education, Institutional Racism, Criminal Justice, Health Care, Poverty, Transportation, Media and more. Nancy is the “master facilitator” and continually creates opportunities and parallel programs that teach groups how to work together more efficiently and effectively. Nancy has a diverse background in business, not for profit leadership and has a passion for building community. In addition to her consulting projects, she serves as a member of the Long Island Regional Planning Council, the Long Island Community Trust and Pal O Mine Equestrian. With a heart for all people, through education and collaboration, we can all be agents for change.
Nancy Engelhardt
Former Director
Energeia Partnership at Molloy College
Long Island
Tina Monshipour Foster is the Executive Director of the Volunteer Legal Services Project (VLSP), a non-profit organization that provides civil legal services to low-income clients in Monroe County, NY. Tina is a graduate of Cornell Law School and a long-time civil rights attorney and international human rights advocate for universal access to justice. Over the last two decades, Foster’s work has focused on pro bono initiatives to defend the rights of Muslim minorities who have been unfairly targeted by US national security initiatives, working with the Center for Constitutional Rights, where she co-founded their Guantanamo Global Justice Initiative. In 2006, Foster founded the International Justice Network (IJN), a non-profit organization that provides pro bono assistance to survivors of human rights abuses and their families.
Tina M. Foster
Executive Director
JustCause
Rochester
Vanessa is the Director of Intervention Services at In Our Own Voices and has been a part of the organization for four years. Vanessa received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from State University of New York at Cortland College in 2003. She has 15 years of experience in the mental health field. In her capacity at In Our Own Voices, Vanessa is primarily responsible for providing oversight of intervention services that provides HIV and Hepatitis C testing and support services to LGBT POC communities in the seven surrounding counties. Vanessa also engages with community partners on a local and regional level to ensure that access and information is available to the communities that have been most impacted by oppression.
Vanessa E. Gonzalez
Director of Intervention Services
In Our Own Voices, Inc.
Albany
Ginette is the founding Director of YAM Community Resource Center on Long Island, a group she created to help community members navigate the world of health, Medicaid and social services benefit. YAM’s primary community focus is the Haitian population, persons with disabilities and seniors in need. Ginette is a founding member of the Long Island Language Advocates Coalition and participates actively in meetings with the Suffolk County Executive offices, county legislators, DSS Commissioners, and other governmental entities. Her work with Empire Justice also includes identifying, referring and working with one of the plaintiffs in our Karamalla lawsuit. Ginette a Registered Nurse (RN) by training and profession and is a prominent and well-respected member of the Haitian community.
Ginette Rows, RN
Executive Officer/President
YAM Community Resource Inc.
Long Island
Ms. Sherman is the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Counsel at Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts. She formerly worked in the Albany office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where she focused primarily on Medicaid policy and health care regulatory and compliance matters. Prior to working at Manatt, she served as a clerk for the Appellate Division, Third Department. Ms. Sherman graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2014 and received her undergraduate degree from SUNY New Paltz. She currently lives in Troy, New York with her husband and children.
Megan Sherman, Esq.
Policy and Regulatory Affairs Counsel
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts
Kevin Spencer Beckford (he, his, him) is an internationally recognized Operations Executive, Change Agent & Anti-Racist strategist and Executive Servant Leader with experience working in the for-profit and non-profit sector.
Kevin is currently the SVP Chief People Officer of GRYT Health Inc., a Healthcare Technology company. Prior to that Kevin was the Sr. Director Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (2017-2021) at the University of Rochester (UR). In this role Kevin provided Anti-Racism and Equity strategies and direction to assist the UR in achieving a more equitable and inclusive culture for its 32,000 employees.
As a change agent, Kevin has led people, process and technology transitions within Call Center Operations, Information Technology, Marketing & Technical Communications, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Bank Financial Operations and Healthcare.
Additionally, Kevin has served in Executive Operational leadership roles at Bank of America, PNC Financial, Bank of Montréal and Executive roles in Healthcare and Academic Institutions. Kevin has also provided senior- and executive-level transition and change management consulting services for large, medium and small companies.
Throughout these assignments Kevin has brought a focus on operational excellence, effectively managing change, and championing diversity, equity & inclusion in every aspect of the workplace.
Kevin is also active in the community, working on social justice, anti-poverty, anti-racism and education initiatives. In November 2017, Kevin was elected to the Pittsford, NY Town Board and is the first African American to serve on the Pittsford Town Board in its more than 200-year history. He is also the co-founder of the Rochester Anti-Racism Coalition (RARAC).
Kevin received an Associated in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Monroe Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Roberts Wesleyan University in Organizational Management. Kevin is a life-long Servant Leader and feels he is at his best when he is serving others.
Kevin S. Beckford
Senior Vice President/Chief People Officer
GRYT Health
Darcie Falsioni is the owner of Falsioni Law, a boutique firm in West Seneca, NY. Having practiced on both sides of benefit administration (employer/plan sponsor and carrier/third-party administrator), Darcie brings unique and valuable perspectives to the table.
As former Senior Deputy Counsel at Independent Health Association, Inc. (IHA), Darcie advised internal clients and affiliates in employee benefits, human resources management, health law, and self-funded service. In addition to her role with IHA, she also served as Director of Legal and Compliance at Nova Healthcare Administrators, Inc., an IHA subsidiary and third-party administrator.
On the employer/plan sponsor side, Darcie practiced in the employee benefit groups of two of the region’s most respected firms, and as a former Partner at Bond, Schoeneck and King, PLLC and Counsel at Nixon Peabody LLP, she focused her practice primarily on administration and compliance for self-funded plans, serving as counsel for both employer plans and third-party administrators.
Darcie A. Falsioni, Esq.
Owner
Falsioni Law, PC
Fannie Glover is the Sr. Director of Equity & Inclusion at the Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC) in New York, responsible for the equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging efforts for the statewide network. Prior to this role, she served as the Business Leader Engagement Director- responsible for the oversight of Regional Business Leader’s Work Groups. This position managed the coordination, recruitment, and development of regional business leaders statewide. ECLC is a statewide membership organization that represents 35 Child Care Resource and Referral programs covering 62 counties of New York state. Ms. Glover has more than 15 years of experience in human resources and holds a degree in organizational development. She also is a trained facilitator for the Anti-Defamation League, an organization designed to build bridges of communication, understanding, and respect among diverse groups. Glover completed the inaugural BUILD Equity Leaders Action Network Fellowship, where she represented New York state as part of a national team advancing racial equity in early childhood systems.
Ms. Glover is a past board member of NYS Society Human Resources Management (NYSSHRM), and served in the roles of NYSSHRM Workforce Readiness Director, NYSSHRM Diversity Director, and Diversity Conference Chair. She also served as V.P. of AIM Services Inc.’s board of directors (an organization serving individuals with disabilities and brain injuries).
Ms. Glover is passionate about children, families, and DEIB issues.
Fannie Glover
Sr. Director of Equity and Inclusion
Early Care and Learning Council
Hilary is a labor and employment law attorney who represents and counsels employers in the public and private sectors in all areas of labor and employment law.
She regularly negotiates collective bargaining agreements and represents public employers in Civil Service Law Section 75 hearings, Education Law Section 3020-a disciplinary hearings, discrimination claims, employment litigation and unfair labor practice proceedings before Federal and State agencies and courts. Hilary is well versed in Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disability Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Taylor Law and the New York State Human Rights Law.
Hilary L. Moreira, Esq.
Attorney
Bond Schoneck & King PLLC
