Board of Directors
José Martin Jara, President
Partner, Archer & Greiner P.C.
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
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
Chief Executive Officer
Belinda Conway
Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer
Sharron Madden
Executive Vice President / Chief Program Officer
Elise Zealand
Executive Vice President / General Counsel
Elliot Hagler
Executive Vice President / Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Garofalo
Senior Vice President for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services
Angela Ghiozzi
Senior Vice President for Early Childhood Services
Carlton Mitchell
Senior Vice President for Children & Family Services
Anne Patterson
Senior Vice President for STEPS to End Family Violence
Susan Sampogna
Senior Vice President for Residential & Youth Development
Christina Soddano
Senior Vice President for Mental Health & Health Services
Dr. Angela White
Senior Vice President for Education Services