Board of Directors
Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of volunteers who are business and community leaders and representatives from the College.
The Board:
- Oversees the Foundation's asset management,
- Develops new donors, and
- Plans and executes special fundraising events.
(from left: Laurel Sweeney, John A. DeGasperis, Esq., Vice Chair, Christopher Mikesh, Esq., and Floyd Lattin.)
John A. DeGasperis, Esq., Vice Chair
Christopher Mikesh, Esq., Secretary
John Bonavita-Goldman, M.D
Cheryl D. Bowers
Bill Calderara
Barbara Connelly Cohen
Alicia Collins, CPA
Scott Davis, P.E.
Tamika Dunkley
Nancy Huleatt
Rachel Reyes Jackson
Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq.
Olana O’Connor
Karen Osterhoudt
Darlene L. Pfeiffer
Dale Robbins
Victoria St. John-Gilligan
Robert Tonner
Kathleen "Katie" Zell, CPA
Lorraine Salmon, Executive Director
Directors Emeriti
Richard A. Anthony
Sally Berger
Robert T. Brown, SUNY Ulster President Emeritus
William H. Collier III, Esq.
Richard C. Croce
Daniel J. Devine
Beverly Finnegan
Richard A. Mantey
John M. Markes
Dr. Ann M. Marrott
Dennis A. O'Brien
Sara T. Rabbino
Richard V. Roth
David H. Rylance
Lorraine Salmon
William L. Spearman
Glenn B. Sutherland
Board Member Bios
John Bonavita-Goldman, MD, FACR, of Kingston is a retired board-certified radiologist. Dr. Bonavita-Goldman was most
recently an assistant professor of radiology at New York University School of Medicine,
teaching at NYU Langone Medical Center, and co-director of the NYU Langone Faculty
Radiology Practice. He earlier taught ultrasound to radiology residents, fellows and
rotating medical students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, now
the Perelman School of Medicine. He was additionally the school’s section chief of
emergency radiology.
As well as the Ulster Community College Foundation board, Dr. Bonavita-Goldman also serves on the Ulster County Planning Board, the Kingston Zoning Board of Appeals, the board of directors of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and the HealthAlliance Foundation board
Cheryl D. Bowers is President and CEO of Rondout Savings Bank and the first female to lead the bank in its 150-year history. She has been an integral part of Rondout’s Executive Leadership Team since 2008 after joining the mutual bank in 2001 as a founding Business Banking Department Team member. She has a strong track record of supporting technology advancements, strengthening consumer and business relationships, and developing high performance teams built on trust, integrity and empowerment, as well as creating a culture of goal setting, coaching and mentoring that supports employee growth and strategic initiative execution.
As an accomplished financial industry leader with more than 30 years of banking experience in a multitude of areas including Executive Leadership, Commercial and Retail Banking, Branch Management and Marketing, Cheryl has a deep commitment and passion for developing female leaders and creating more diversity in the financial services industry. She is a founding member and co-chair of the New York Bankers Association Women’s Leadership Conference, where she regularly speaks, moderates, and participates as a panelist. Most recently, she was a panelist at SUNY, New Paltz Women’s Leadership Summit and a Session Speaker at the “Own It” Conference, hosted by Entrepreneurial Studies at SUNY, Ulster.
Cheryl is dedicated to civic participation and volunteerism. She serves on the boards of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Kingston Boys and Girls Club, Lions Club of Kingston, and Vassar Brothers Medical Center and is Past Board Chair of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
In recognition of her community commitment and professional achievements, she is a past honoree of the YWCA Tribute to Women and recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award and Volunteer of the Decade award given by Gateway Community Industries. In April of 2018 she was named Businessperson of the Year and was inducted into the SUNY New Paltz Business Hall of Fame. In October of 2018 she was an honoree at the annual SUNY Ulster Community College Foundation Gala and was awarded Woman of the Year. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2019 United Way of Ulster County 2019 Raising Hope Honoree.
Cheryl is a high honors graduate from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA and attended Wharton Business School, where she earned her Leadership Certificate.
William “Bill” Calderara was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, and while he was the only child of
Charlie and Mary Calderara, he grew up as part of a big Italian family. His Dad had
4 siblings and his Mom was the youngest of 12 and almost all of them and their families
lived close, some only a floor away, so there was always Aunts, Uncles and more Cousins
than anyone could count around. Spontaneous family gatherings or Sunday dinners for
20 were regular event as was making homemade pasta, homemade wine or making a gourmet
meal from whatever was in the house, which at times wasn’t much. His parents and extended
family help instill many of the values that helped shape Bill’s character. Say please
and thank you, holding doors, respect your elders, treat people with respect & dignity,
family is everything, caring for your neighbors/community, quietly helping others,
giving the shirt off your back, keeping your word and work hard to get ahead were
not just sayings but a way of life and his parents were daily examples of these values
for him.
Bill was the first generation of his family to attend college and received his education at Fordham University and Iona College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration after double-majoring in accounting and computer science.
Professionally, Bill is an accomplished bank executive with over 30 years’ experience in leadership, strategic planning, business development, operations, risk management, finance and lending. He is currently President and CEO, of Ulster Savings Bank, a $1.2 billion Mutual Bank serving the Hudson Valley for 170 years. Under his leadership Ulster Savings has been recognized locally and nationally with numerous awards including being named one of the “Best Bank to Work For” by American Banker.
Mr. Calderara has also been very involved in community and industry leadership and currently he serves as a Board member of the Bardavon/UPAC, Ulster Community College Foundation, The Center for Financial Training, President of the Rip Van Winkle Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Treasurer of Pattern for Progress of the Hudson Valley, Treasurer of the Ulster County Italian American Foundation and Immediate Past President of the Kingston Rotary Club.
He is also a multiple Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, a United Way -Leadership Giving Society Member, a Lifetime Member of the National Eagle Scout Association, having earned the Eagle Scout Rank in 1978 and teaches at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado Boulder. He previously served on New York State Department of Banking -Advisory Board, Fannie Mae’s -Advisory Council, was President of Conn. Mortgage Bankers Association.
Bill has received numerous awards and recognitions, most recently he was inducted into the SUNY New Paltz School of Business Hall of Fame as the 2019 Business Person of the Year and the National Eagle Scout Association’s Outstanding Eagle Scout Award recipient also in 2019, just to name a few. In his spare time Bill is also a Professional Ski Instructor have earned PSIA Level 2.
He and his wife, Patti, reside in Kingston and have three adult children and four grandkids.
Barbara Connelly Cohen, has embodied the spirit of volunteerism in every sense of the word. She currently
serves on the boards of The Kingston Auxiliary of HealthAlliance, Jewish Federation
of Ulster County, Mental Health Association in Ulster County, HealthAlliance Foundation,
Children's Home of Kingston and Kingston Sunrise Rotary Club. She is a member of Congregation
Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and serves on their Membership & Welcoming Committee.
She is the founder and one of the editors of Kolenu, a publication of the Jewish
Federation of Ulster County. Barbara also serves on the Reher Center for Immigrant
Culture & History Committee and is devoted to restoring and preserving this treasure.
She is the Chairperson of Fall For Art Show & Sale dedicated to benefiting the arts
in the Hudson Valley, celebrating its 22nd year. She is the owner of Schwartz’s Inn
located in uptown Kingston, property owned by her husband’s family since 1917, and
I’m A Star t-shirts, dedicated to empowering children.
Barbara introduced the President’s Challenge Scholarship to her Sunrise Rotary Club and is proud that her club is the first service club to accept the challenge to support a student’s tuition to SUNY Ulster. Barbara believes that everyone deserves an education and she feels that the community is blessed to have SUNY Ulster in its backyard. By serving on the Foundation board she appreciates the opportunity to help make a significant difference in students’ lives.
Alicia Collins is an accounting consultant with 30+ years of experience in bookkeeping systems,
financial management systems, office administrative consulting and forensic accounting.
Alicia is a graduate of SUNY Ulster (‘93) where she received an Associates Degree of Arts in Math and Science and became a member of Phi Theta Kappa (‘92-’93). During Alicia’s tenure at SUNY Ulster she served as the Student Trustee on the college’s Board of Trustees. Alicia also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Community, Regional and Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Economics from Bard College (‘96). In 2012 Alicia earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from SUNY New Paltz where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and also received the President’s Award.
Alicia has been consulting since 2004 in both work-out and start-up consulting assignments for medical, real estate, and educational clients including working as a financial consultant for Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. from 2015 to 2020 where she supported the executive director in a complete restructure of the Foundations accounting and data management systems.
Alicia is a former Finance Committee member of the LBGTQ Center of Kingston.
She enjoys traveling the USA and internationally and continues her love of learning, currently studying ceramics and creating pottery here in the Hudson Valley.
Scott Davis, P.E. is a registered Professional Engineer licensed in NY, CT, MA, PA, NJ, NH and WY. Scott has more than 25 years of experience in Structural Design and Analysis, and Civil Engineering. He is active in the Eastern New York Chapter of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Scott’s project experience includes civil/site development design, residential and commercial building design and analysis, forensic structural analysis, and project management. He is experienced with AASHTO, AISC, NYSDOT, and ACI codes.
Tamika Dunkley is an alumnus of Ulster County Community College with an Associate in Nursing Science.
She went on to receive a Bachelor’s in Nursing Science from Chamberlain College of
Nursing. Spending the majority of her nursing career working in the critical care
unit as well as a building supervisor of a local long-term care facility.
Currently, the CEO of Seasoned Delicious Foods, a food product manufacturer based in Saugerties, NY. In September of 2020, opened up a small gourmet grocery market and cafe in the heart of midtown Kingston. And while “the food is our bread and butter,” the non-profit work is her heart. A portion of all sales goes directly to Seasoned Gives, a non-profit established to provide financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and job/life skills training with a special focus on BIPOC and women community members. Providing education on economics and how it affects communities of color through the “Circulation of Our Dollar” events. She has also been instrumental in the development of food equity and justice programs in Ulster County. And hosts a “Support Your Neighbor Program'' that has now distributed tens of thousands of pounds of food and meals to those in need. Cofounder of the Annual Caribbean Carnival in Saugerties which brings art, music, and food in addition to cultural education to Ulster County.
Currently, she is a board member of Harambee, Black Farmers United, Ulster County youth board, Ulster county workforce development, YWCA, Kingston Midtown Business Alliance, Blackout Coalition, and advisory of Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation. And has been instrumental in social justice initiatives such as the Saugerties police reform commission.
As a wife, mother and grandmother she has dedicated her life to creating a better world for the next generation. And looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the community as an Ulster Community College Foundation board member.
Nancy Huleatt is a 2002 Associate’s degree graduate in business from Ulster County Community College.
Since then, Nancy has served as a business secretary, event coordinator, culinary
arts supervisor and advisor, Save the Children and Bruderhof’s Auxiliary Volunteer
coordinator, and Bruderhof’s scholarship director.
Besides her professional accomplishments, Nancy is a vivacious mother of five children and is an active parental supporter of the Woodcrest School and Mount Aca.
Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq. earned his J.D. in 2003 from Western New England University School of Law in Springfield, MA, his BA in Accounting from State University of New York College at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY and his AS in Business Administration from Ulster County Community College, Stone Ridge, NY. Robert and his wife, Carly, are President’s Challenge Scholarship sponsors and our SUNY Alumni.
Olana O’Connor, SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz Alumna, fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, English, elementary level Spanish and Polish, previously Ellenville Middle School - Social Studies 8th Grade 2009-2013 and current board focus is the President’s Challenge Scholarship. Olana is married to Joe O’Connor, Esq. and they are current sponsors for the President’s Challenge Scholarship.
Karen Osterhoudt
Bio to come.
Victoria St. John-Gilligan is a tireless worker on behalf of community causes and institutions. She is highly respected for her energy, judgment, and ability to organize and motivate individuals. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for many major regional organizations and is a recognized leader on behalf of the not for profit and educational communities. Her commitment to Ulster County Community College and its mission has been foremost among her interests and activities for almost a decade. Her father, the late attorney Howard C. St. John, was instrumental in the establishment of the College and the family has been strongly associated with it for many decades.
Robert Tonner https://www.roberttonnerdesign.com/ Sculptor and Character Designer, Founder of The Tonner Doll Company (1991 to 2018), Entrepreneur and essential charitable donor and supporter of the SUNY Ulster Fashion and Design program.
Dale Robbins is the Creative Director, Pie Design www.piedesign.com. Pie Design is a small shop that staffs some of New York’s top design and animation talent.
Kathleen “Katie” Zell is a certified public accountant and graduate of Western New England University.
She also holds a Master of Accounting from the University of Hartford. Katie is the
President of Zell CPA, PC, a public accounting firm in Kingston, NY, specializing
in taxation services for individuals and businesses.
Prior to starting her own firm, she worked for PKHB CPAs PC (formerly Kimball & O’Brien, PC) for 13 years specializing in taxes and not-for-profit accounting, auditing, and taxation. She also worked as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers for three years in their private company services department.
Katie continues to serve as a volunteer giving back to her community, having held leadership positions on many boards throughout Ulster County, including the Junior League of Kingston, People’s Place and the Friends of the Senate House, and most currently, the Ulster Federal Credit Union, Cornell Cooperative Extension – Ulster County, and Ashokan Center.
Katie currently lives in Hurley, NY, with her husband Andrew and their daughter, Peyton, and son, Augustus.
