Get to know us.
OUR BOARD & LEADERSHIP TEAM

MHA of Columbia Greene is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of local healthcare & business professionals of various backgrounds to advocate for our mission. Our Executive Leadership Team oversees the overall business operations.

Our governing body
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors meet monthly to help direct the strategic objectives and policy of the organization. Get to know our Board of Directors below.

Join our Board

Executive Committee

Thomas Hess

Tom has dedicated his 40 year professional career to developing, implementing and monitoring federal, state, regional, local, and organizational specific programs toward the goal of reducing trauma and improving outcomes for child victims of severe abuse and/or neglect. He developed and provided oversight for all Child and Family Safety Programs funded through the NYS Office of Children Families Services as well the Federal Children's Justice Act Program. He has served on numerous national, Federal, State, and New York City task forces and committees.

President

Tom has dedicated his 40 year professional career to developing, implementing and monitoring federal, state, regional, local, and organizational specific programs toward the goal of reducing trauma and improving outcomes for child victims of severe abuse and/or neglect. He developed and provided oversight for all Child and Family Safety Programs funded through the NYS Office of Children Families Services as well the Federal Children's Justice Act Program. He has served on numerous national, Federal, State, and New York City task forces and committees.

Richard Washburn

Richard is a career public servant having over 32 years with the State of New York in the Human Resources, technology, and engineering fields. He is Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Ethics, former seat on the County Environment Management Council, and is trained in national Incident Management System (NIMS) for disaster preparedness and recovery. He serves as Chaplain to the Hudson Police Department, Greenport Fire Department, and multiple civil and community organizations in the county. He is also an active volunteer firefighter and certified as a peace officer with training in Fire Police Squad operations.

Vice President

Richard is a career public servant having over 32 years with the State of New York in the Human Resources, technology, and engineering fields. He is Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Ethics, former seat on the County Environment Management Council, and is trained in national Incident Management System (NIMS) for disaster preparedness and recovery. He serves as Chaplain to the Hudson Police Department, Greenport Fire Department, and multiple civil and community organizations in the county. He is also an active volunteer firefighter and certified as a peace officer with training in Fire Police Squad operations.

Joann Lewicki

Joann has an extensive history in nursing, primarily with over 30 years serving persons with developmental disabilities with COARC. She has also worked as a hospice nurse at Community Hospice of Columbia Greene for over 5 years, and was a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities under Governor George Pataki. Joann joined the MHA through her work as a board member of the Association in Meaningful Living (AIM) which merged with MHACG in 1997. Though now retired, Joann continues to give a voice to those who need help in advocating for themselves by continuing her board work here, on the Columbia County Chapter of the NYSARC Guardianship Committee, and on COARC's Human Rights Committee.

Secretary

Joann has an extensive history in nursing, primarily with over 30 years serving persons with developmental disabilities with COARC. She has also worked as a hospice nurse at Community Hospice of Columbia Greene for over 5 years, and was a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities under Governor George Pataki. Joann joined the MHA through her work as a board member of the Association in Meaningful Living (AIM) which merged with MHACG in 1997. Though now retired, Joann continues to give a voice to those who need help in advocating for themselves by continuing her board work here, on the Columbia County Chapter of the NYSARC Guardianship Committee, and on COARC's Human Rights Committee.

Elizabeth Daly

Beth is a long standing resident of Greene County serving Catskill Central School district for over 26 years. She holds a Masters and Advanced Certificate in School counseling and has a passion for working with young people and their families to share in their journey to becoming the best they can be. She has had a Youth Development Program Director position within the Cooperative Extension in Greene County and prior to being a board member recognized the value of this organization to the community, promoting mental health for the youth and families she works with.

Treasurer

Beth is a long standing resident of Greene County serving Catskill Central School district for over 26 years. She holds a Masters and Advanced Certificate in School counseling and has a passion for working with young people and their families to share in their journey to becoming the best they can be. She has had a Youth Development Program Director position within the Cooperative Extension in Greene County and prior to being a board member recognized the value of this organization to the community, promoting mental health for the youth and families she works with.

Board of Directors

Berne Bendel

Berne is a Professor of Education and Psychology at Columbia Greene Community College. She has been a long time volunteer and now Board Member of Columbia Opportunities and member of the Social Justice Educational Studies graduate program advisory board.

Director

Berne is a Professor of Education and Psychology at Columbia Greene Community College. She has been a long time volunteer and now Board Member of Columbia Opportunities and member of the Social Justice Educational Studies graduate program advisory board.

Cynthia Engel

Cynthia is a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, certified with the ANCC since 1986. She has been an academic at Columbia-Greene Community College for 35 years, educating RNs to advocate and meet the psychiatric mental health needs of clients. Her board membership has broadened her perspective of services offered at the MHA as well as the degree of expertise and commitment of the MHA staff.

Director

Cynthia is a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, certified with the ANCC since 1986. She has been an academic at Columbia-Greene Community College for 35 years, educating RNs to advocate and meet the psychiatric mental health needs of clients. Her board membership has broadened her perspective of services offered at the MHA as well as the degree of expertise and commitment of the MHA staff.

Jeanette Nesel

Jeanette is a co-founder & maltster with her husband of the Hudson Valley Malt/Germantown Beer Farm to supply malt to the Craft Beverage industry. Her background includes 40 years of Radio and Media marketing along with ownership of businesses and horses. In a broken world, she works to lend a hand to help fix it and joined the MHA to continue to give back to the community in which she lives.

Director

Jeanette is a co-founder & maltster with her husband of the Hudson Valley Malt/Germantown Beer Farm to supply malt to the Craft Beverage industry. Her background includes 40 years of Radio and Media marketing along with ownership of businesses and horses. In a broken world, she works to lend a hand to help fix it and joined the MHA to continue to give back to the community in which she lives.

Ryan Carty

Welcome Ryan as our newest board member. Profile coming soon.

Director

Welcome Ryan as our newest board member. Profile coming soon.

Our management team,
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Overseeing our operations, our directors provide support for all of our various programs to support our mission to advance mental health in the community. Get to know our management team below.

David R. Rossetti

David has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from SUNY Buffalo and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University at Albany. He previously served as Chief Officer of Behavioral Health for Northern Rivers Family Services, Executive Director of St. Paul’s Center in Rensselaer, as Clinical Director of the Family Counseling Center in Gloversville and as a program director for Four Winds Hospital in Syracuse. He also maintains a private practice providing individual, family, and group counseling and has worked as a consultant for the armed forces on topics including grief, loss, stress, and integration.

Chief Executive Officer

David has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from SUNY Buffalo and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University at Albany. He previously served as Chief Officer of Behavioral Health for Northern Rivers Family Services, Executive Director of St. Paul’s Center in Rensselaer, as Clinical Director of the Family Counseling Center in Gloversville and as a program director for Four Winds Hospital in Syracuse. He also maintains a private practice providing individual, family, and group counseling and has worked as a consultant for the armed forces on topics including grief, loss, stress, and integration.

Juliette Tomlinson

Juliette has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management and an Associate Degree in Human Services. She has over 30 years of experience working in nonprofit organizations in the human service field and over fifteen years in administration. With her passion for working with a diverse population of people, she has dedicated her knowledge and management ability to the many functions of Human Resources.

Chief Human Resource Officer

Juliette has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management and an Associate Degree in Human Services. She has over 30 years of experience working in nonprofit organizations in the human service field and over fifteen years in administration. With her passion for working with a diverse population of people, she has dedicated her knowledge and management ability to the many functions of Human Resources.

Paul Taylor

Paul has a Bachelor's Degree from the University at Albany in Urban Development Economics and Marketing Management. He has 22 years of pharmacy business management experience, during which he designed and implemented health and wellness marketing campaigns, led fundraising and marketing for numerous charity events, conducted training design and led its facilitation, and did strategy & program development and communications. He also has developed logos and business materials including a website for a few small businesses in the Albany area.

Chief Development & Communications Officer

Paul has a Bachelor's Degree from the University at Albany in Urban Development Economics and Marketing Management. He has 22 years of pharmacy business management experience, during which he designed and implemented health and wellness marketing campaigns, led fundraising and marketing for numerous charity events, conducted training design and led its facilitation, and did strategy & program development and communications. He also has developed logos and business materials including a website for a few small businesses in the Albany area.

Erik Aguilar

Erik has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology from the University at Buffalo. He has over 5 years of experience working in healthcare compliance in the areas of home health and addiction treatment as a compliance manager in the for-profit sector. Erik has experience in developing internal policies, internal auditing and data analysis, and maintains certifications in privacy compliance as well as risk management.

Chief Compliance Officer

Erik has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology from the University at Buffalo. He has over 5 years of experience working in healthcare compliance in the areas of home health and addiction treatment as a compliance manager in the for-profit sector. Erik has experience in developing internal policies, internal auditing and data analysis, and maintains certifications in privacy compliance as well as risk management.

Julianne Baumann

Julianne has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Fordham University and a Master's degree in social work from the University at Albany. She began her career at MHACG in the 1990s working in the PROS program as a Case Manager. After obtaining her master's degree, Julianne worked for Albany County Mental Health as a Supervisor in their Mobile Crisis Unit. Julianne returned to MHACG in 2008 as a Therapist and Community Educator for the REACH Center, and became Program Director in 2011. In 2015, she facilitated the integration of the Child Advocacy Center into MHACG and has served as Program Director for both programs until 2025. For over 25 years, Julianne has been dedicated to the community in Trauma, Forensic Social Work, and Crime Victim's Rights.

Chief of Clinical Services

Julianne has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Fordham University and a Master's degree in social work from the University at Albany. She began her career at MHACG in the 1990s working in the PROS program as a Case Manager. After obtaining her master's degree, Julianne worked for Albany County Mental Health as a Supervisor in their Mobile Crisis Unit. Julianne returned to MHACG in 2008 as a Therapist and Community Educator for the REACH Center, and became Program Director in 2011. In 2015, she facilitated the integration of the Child Advocacy Center into MHACG and has served as Program Director for both programs until 2025. For over 25 years, Julianne has been dedicated to the community in Trauma, Forensic Social Work, and Crime Victim's Rights.

Roxane Carpenter

Roxane has a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Family Studies and certification in Nonprofit Management from SUNY Oneonta. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families as a Special Education Advocate, Family Support Specialist, and grant writer. She is an experienced trainer and certified mediator.

Chief of Community Based Services

Roxane has a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Family Studies and certification in Nonprofit Management from SUNY Oneonta. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families as a Special Education Advocate, Family Support Specialist, and grant writer. She is an experienced trainer and certified mediator.

Susan Cody

Susie has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Empire State College. She began with Assistance in Meaningful Living (AIM) in 1980 and while obtaining her degree worked her way up, advancing into the Assistant Executive Director position. AIM merged to become a part of MHACG in 1997, creating our new Residential Division with Susie as the Director. In the over 42 years Susie has dedicated to Mental Health Residential Services, she has led through the development and expansion of additional funding projects and residential centers.

Chief of Residential Services

Susie has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Empire State College. She began with Assistance in Meaningful Living (AIM) in 1980 and while obtaining her degree worked her way up, advancing into the Assistant Executive Director position. AIM merged to become a part of MHACG in 1997, creating our new Residential Division with Susie as the Director. In the over 42 years Susie has dedicated to Mental Health Residential Services, she has led through the development and expansion of additional funding projects and residential centers.