Our Staff
Our well-informed, involved team is the vital link between donors, grantees, the Board of Trustees, Advisory Boards and the community at large. We are proud of their expertise, sensitivity to community issues, and accessibility to donors and grant seekers.
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
Kathleen H. Banks, CFRE
Kathleen Banks was appointed Interim President & CEO of the Community Foundations in May of 2023. Previously a consultant to CFHV from 2015 to 2017, Kathleen returns after having most recently served as Interim CEO of the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester. Some of her prior clients and employers include Clarkson University, Columbia University Medical Center, The Juilliard School, The Nature Conservancy, West Point Association of Graduates, and the Walkway Over the Hudson. Kathleen is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and preciously served on the Board of the former Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation. She holds a master's degree in nonprofit performing arts administration from NYU and a bachelor's in music from Ithaca College.
Development
Nancy Rossi Brownell
Vice President, Putnam
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Nancy Rossi Brownell joined CFHV in 2015 and is responsible for the asset development, marketing and outreach efforts for the Community Foundation of Putnam County. A life-long Hudson Valley resident, Nancy is a native of Putnam County and served the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley as a volunteer for ten years. She spent eight years as a member of the Board of Trustees, including two years as Board Chair, during which time she led the President/CEO search committee. Nancy’s prior experience includes service as a regional sales manager for a radiology equipment company, advertising sales consultant, director for a French foreign exchange program and as a broadcast journalist. Nancy brings years of marketing, development, management, public speaking and community foundation experience to her roles as Vice President Putnam and as a community volunteer. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Foundation, as Vice President for the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess, on the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of Putnam County and on the Board of Trustees for Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation. She is a member of the Professional Women of Putnam, the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as Vice President for Trinity-Pawling Pride Parents Association, Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Powelton Club and as a volunteer with Riverkeeper, The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Manitoga, Fishkill Elementary PTA, Fishkill Little League, the American Heart Association, the Tribeca Film Festival and what is now Arts Mid-Hudson. Nancy holds an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Ithaca College.
Kevin Quilty
Vice President, Ulster
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Kevin J. Quilty joined CFHV in 2012 and is responsible for the asset development, marketing and outreach efforts for the Community Foundation of Ulster County. Born and raised in Ulster County, Kevin graduated from Kingston High School (’69) and earned a Bachelors of Arts with a major in History from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH (’73). He studied language at the Universite de Besancon, France, earning a French language degree. He taught English in Versailles and travelled Europe extensively (’74-76). From 1977-2011, Kevin owned and operated Smith Mail Advertising Service in Kingston, a full service commercial printing business. Kevin was also a partner in the advertising firm of Crews, Quilty, Thompson and Wylde and worked as a Business Services Consultant for the Ulster County Development Corporation. He currently serves as: Vice President of the Business Alliance of Kingston, Kingston Mendelssohn Club (and past president) the Kingston Uptown Business Association (and past president) and serves as Government Affairs Chair on the board of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Benedictine Hospital and as a board member of the United Way of Ulster County, the Hudson Valley Senior Residence, the Kingston Kiwanis Club, the Kingston Boys and Girls Club, Friends of Historic Kingston, Gateway Community Industries and the Ulster County Council for the Arts, now Arts Mid-Hudson.
Serena Marrero
Vice President, Philanthropy
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Serena Marrero joined CFHV in December 2020. She is responsible for deepening and broadening the CFHV’s network of attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, brokers, and others who work regularly with their clients in the area of planned giving. She also works to develop and implement the Community Foundations’ gift planning and Legacy giving program and serves as a planned giving resource to donors, nonprofits, and professional advisors. Marrero most recently managed the Lostand Foundation. Her prior experience includes positions at Westchester Medical Center Foundation at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, Mohonk Preserve, Abilities First, and the New York Council on Nonprofit (NYCON). Marrero serves on the board of Arts Mid-Hudson and chairs its Development Committee. She is a founding board member and past president of the Mid-Hudson Valley Association of Fundraising Professionals and has served on Arts Mid Hudson grant review committees. She holds an associate degree in Graphic Design and Advertising Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development from SUNY New Paltz.
Finance and Administration
Darcy Kelly
Chief Financial Officer
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Darcy Kelly joined CFHV as Chief Financial Officer in April, 2020. She is responsible for various financial aspects of the organization. She previously worked at Poughkeepsie Day School as Business Manager and Assistant Business Manager for 25 years. In those roles, Darcy worked in the business and finance, human resources, development, and student database areas of the school. She also volunteered each year at the school's annual auction fundraiser. For the past several years, she has also attended the annual NYSAIS Business Affairs Conference at Mohonk Mountain House. Darcy is a lifelong resident of Dutchess County and appreciates what the Hudson Valley offers residents, sandwiched between Albany and New York City. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Marist College.
Margareth Tan Gorman
Margareth Tan Gorman joined CFHV in November 2022. She is responsible for gift and data entry of the foundations, generating reports from the database and creating new system profiles. Margareth also supports the CFO with processing vendor payments, investment data entry and financial reports. She previously worked for Hyde Park Central School District as a Senior Account Clerk in Payroll. She also worked for The Blue Book of Building and Construction Network for fifteen years with positions in Finance, Product Support, and Paid Order Processing. Margareth was born in the Philippines but has lived in the Hudson Valley region most of her life. She arrived in the United States speaking limited English but always believed in the American dream. Margareth graduated from Plattsburgh State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. She is grateful to work for a nonprofit and serve the community that has given her so many opportunities. She resides in Dutchess County with her husband and two sons.
Amanda Perez
Amanda Perez joined CFHV in June 2022. As the Executive Assistant for CFHV she is responsible for the overall administrative functions of the Poughkeepsie office and is the direct support for CEO, Sally Cross, and the Board of Trustees. Amanda was born and raised in Long Island, moving to the HudsonValley to pursue an Associates Degree from SUNY Orange. She previously worked as a Shipping Clerk and Office Administrator for a payroll company based in Monroe, where she first discovered her love for office management.
Programs and Grants
Cristin McPeake
Cristin McPeake joined CFHV in March 2014. She is responsible for monitoring individual grant and scholarship funds while working directly with donors to help them achieve their philanthropic goals. Cristin previously worked for Rock Solid Foundation in Austin, TX. As their Program Development and Improvement Coordinator she was responsible for developing licensing, contracting and accreditation submissions for start-up child and family service organizations. In addition to policy, procedure and quality improvement process development, she also maintained and developed data management systems for each organization with which she worked. Before her move from Texas in 2007, Cristin worked locally as a Quality Improvement Coordinator for The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. Cristin was born and raised in the Hudson Valley. She received her bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in Boston, MA.
Gabriella Fryer
Gabriella Fryer joined CFHV as Program and Finance Associate in June 2019. She has a long history of working for non-profits in Dutchess County, including the American Cancer Society, Abilities First (formerly Rehab Programs), Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation and the Art Effect (formerly Mill Street Loft). Most recently she served as Executive Director of Stringendo for over 7 years where she instituted their private lesson program and began the Poughkeepsie Initiative – an outreach program for young string players in the Poughkeepsie City School District. Gabriella also created the Annual Mid-Hudson Performing Arts College Fair an opportunity for middle and high school students interested in pursuing secondary educations and careers in music, theater, dance and film to meet and speak with representatives from colleges, universities and conservatories from around the county. Gabriella is a member of the Non-Profit Committee and the Women’s Leadership Alliance Committee of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Poughkeepsie Community Engagement Committee and the Poughkeepsie Youth Initiative. She has served as a volunteer for numerous non-profits in the Hudson Valley including Arts Mid-Hudson, Brenna’s Basement, Sparrows Nest, Hyde Park Baptist Church, ASPCA and Crate Escape. She was also a member of BNI for 14 years, serving as President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Chapter Growth Coordinator of her chapter during that time. Gabriella is a graduate of Vassar College with a BA in Liberal Arts and lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Elisabeth Giglio
Elisabeth Giglio joined CFHV as Program Assistant in September 2022. She is responsible for technical assistance for grant and scholarship applicants. Elisabeth previously worked at Bard College as Director of Career Development where she supported college students in achieving their career and post-graduate goals and later was hired as the Talent Acquisition Manager, where she focused on recruiting and DEI best practices. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of People and Culture at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies where she oversaw HR functions, including onboarding, orientation, recruiting and staff appreciation. Elisabeth is a SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional). She earned a B.A. from Earlham College and an M.S.W. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Elisabeth is also a Trustee of the Clinton Community Library and is a resident of Dutchess County.
Systems and Communications
Todd Thomas
Systems and Communications Manager
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Todd Thomas joined CFHV as Systems and Communications Manager in November of 2022. Todd is responsible for all internal and external communications and marketing including, but not limited to, online content, social media platforms, print materials and advertising. He also oversees the operational management of all internal systems, vendors, and the organizations database. Previous to CFHV, Todd worked in client services supporting the Retail Services Group of CBRE in their Tri-State offices in Manhattan; creating and managing marketing content for the group while offering operational administrative support. Prior, he was the Prospect Research Manager in the Advancement Department of The Culinary Institute of America; developing research strategies and reporting on prospective donors and sponsors to further fundraising goals. Throughout his adult life he has volunteered, fundraised and offered his time and skills to such nonprofits as GMHC, GLSEN, God's Love We Deliver, The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center and sat on the event planning committee of Hudson Valley Community Services. Todd started his career in the entertainment world as an actor and singer in theatre, film and television; and continues to perform occasionally to this day. Todd was born and raised in Poughkeepsie; where he attended F.D. Roosevelt High, Dutchess Community College where he majored in Communications and graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.