Board of Directors
José Martin Jara, President
Partner, CKR Law LLP
Margery E. Ames, Esq., Vice President
Retired Executive Director, the Interagency Council of Developmental Disabilities, Inc.
Matthew del Percio, Vice President
Principal, Altman Vilandrie & Co.
Carol Chen, Treasurer
Managing Director, Genworth Financial
G. Crossan Seybolt, Jr., Secretary
Senior Vice-President, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Christopher M. Ackerman
Senior Researcher, Google
Susan S. Benedict
Director, The Scholarships Foundation, Inc.
Judith Benitez
Retired Office Manager, Child Study Center
Mark Broude
Partner, Latham & Watkins, LLP
Tony Cirincione
Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Joyce R. Coppin-Mondesire
Distinguished Visiting Professor, Mercy College
Jo Ann Davaris
Global Chief Privacy Officer, Mercer
Thomas Gallagher
Managing Director, BNY Mellon
Joseph C. Hoopes, Jr.
Independent Financial Consultant
Martin Maleska
Advisory Director, Investcorp International (retired)
Brigette R. McLeod-Williams
Senior Marketing Counsel, The Colgate-Palmolive Company
Karen Myrie
Community Volunteer
Ellen Polansky
Principal, Ernst & Young
Elizabeth M. Renyi
Community Volunteer
Robert Schanz
Independent Real Estate and Construction Consultant
Lawrence B. Thompson, Esq.
Attorney, Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP
Kim Walker
Intellectual Property Counsel, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Allen Waxman
General Counsel, Roivant Sciences, Inc.
Rising Ground is also supported by an Associate Board, a network of young professionals who contribute their time, talents, and resources to advance the work of our programs. For a full list of Associate Board members, click here.
Everyone at Rising Ground, led by Executive Director Alan Mucatel, is committed to all those we support.
Executive Staff
Alan Mucatel
Executive Director
Belinda Conway
Associate Executive Director
Angela Ghiozzi
Assistant Executive Director, Early Childhood Services
Carlton Mitchell
Assistant Executive Director, Foster Care, Preventive Services, and Juvenile Justice
Susan Sampogna
Assistant Executive Director, Residential Services
Denise Walsh
Assistant Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Support Services
Dr. Angela White
Assistant Executive Director, Education Services
Elise Zealand
General Counsel
Meredith Barber
Senior Director of Institutional Advancement
Elliot Hagler
Chief Financial Officer