our team


 

clare murray
executive director

Clare Murray is the Executive Director of the Community Center of Northern Westchester. She has held this position since 2016 prior to which she served as the Assistant Director for Operations at the Community Center from 2009. She has worked continuously to develop the organization which provides vital services to families and individuals struggling in our community and to meet their needs in the best possible way.  

Clare was born and raised on the south coast of England and trained as a physical therapist at the Bath School of Physiotherapy, graduating in 1984. She moved to Toronto, Canada in 1986, where she practiced as a physical therapist in a variety of settings ranging from emergency rooms to palliative care units to home care. She also lectured at the University of Toronto as a Clinical Instructor.  Upon moving to the United States in 2001 and settling in Bedford Hills with her husband and two young daughters, Clare managed a retail and wholesale clothing import business to support women artisans in South America and brings her skills in both business and health care to her non-profit work at the Community Center.

nancy hodor
interim director of operations and community engagement

Nancy Hodor recently joined the Community Center as Interim Director of Operations and Community Engagement, after first volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Raised in New Jersey, she earned her undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy from Ithaca College, and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University.

Nancy began her professional career in a local Westchester County hospital helping patients recover from traumatic hand injuries.  After many years, she transitioned to home care, providing compassionate care to seniors, homebound clients, and people with disabilities, in order to spend more time with her growing family and 3 daughters.  When the pandemic temporarily paused her professional work, she focused on giving back locally and became actively involved with the Center, quickly connecting with its commitment to treat everyone visiting the center with dignity and respect. 

A lifelong volunteer herself, Nancy is passionate about supporting and empowering the volunteers she works with, ensuring everyone has a meaningful and fun experience. She is equally as passionate in providing CCNW's clients with essential food, clothing and compassionate support.  Nancy currently lives in Katonah with her husband and two aging pups.

lisa brotmann
director of development and communications

Lisa Brotmann joined the Community Center in the spring of 2017, bringing over 25 years of experience as a graphic designer. After eight years in publishing and direct mail, she felt drawn to a more meaningful career and shifted to the non-profit sector. Over the next decade, Lisa played diverse roles at various local non-profits, from marketing to event coordination, before finding her passion at the Community Center of Northern Westchester.

Originally from Syracuse, NY, Lisa moved to Westchester County after graduating from SUNY-Binghamton. She has lived in Northern Westchester for over 30 years with her husband, two adult children, and their dog. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with loved ones, attending live music shows, and exploring the outdoors. She is thrilled to contribute to the Center's mission and loves being part of the CCNW team!

michelle delaurentis
director of operations

Michelle DeLaurentis joins the Community Center as Director of Operations, bringing 9 years of project management, event planning, and a passion for problem-solving. Her career was primarily spent in the alcohol beverage industry but after first volunteering at the center in 2020, she felt drawn to the meaningful work the center does. 

Michelle's background includes project execution, timeline management, corporate communications, and building strong collaborative teams. She is excited to bring those skills to CCNW as the organization enters an exciting new chapter in its expanded and renovated home.

She was born and raised in White Plains, is a SUNY Albany graduate, and now lives in Northern Westchester with her husband, baby boy, and their dog, Lucy. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, hand-making gifts for loved ones, perusing local Farmer’s markets, and exploring the Hudson Valley.

rosa cruz
client services manager

Rosa began volunteering at the Community Center in the fall of 2012 and has truly enjoyed every day of her involvement. In 2023, she joined the Center as a part-time Client Associate and is now honored and excited to serve as Client Services Manager.

For the past 13 years, Rosa has provided direct assistance to families seeking housing throughout Northern Westchester. She grew up in New York City and moved to Somers in 2006.

Rosa was a member of the NY Highbridge Lions Club in NYC, where her passion for service first took root. She is extremely happy to be part of the Community Center and proud to work alongside such a dedicated and compassionate group of people!

amanda godsoe
educational advancement coordinator

Amanda started volunteering regularly at the Community Center during March of 2020 and she joined the staff in the fall of 2021.  Amanda is the thirteenth generation of her family born and raised in the State of Maine.  Like her father and grandfather she is an artist and paints primarily in oils and acrylic.  After graduating from Princeton University, Amanda moved to Cambridge Massachusetts where she worked as in interface designer for a software company.  Once she moved to Westchester, she worked as a freelance web designer while raising her daughters and volunteering at their school. She has lived in Northern Westchester for 13 years with her husband, daughters and dog, Lola. Amanda is pleased to join the excellent staff of the Community Center to fulfill its important mission. 

celeste potash
community studio manager

Celeste worked for over twenty-five years in the publishing sector working both in editorial and design for books and magazines. Before she moved to Katonah, she worked for a privately held company helping to create textbooks and educational products.
 
In 1996, she started her own book packaging business with a partner. While working from home, she volunteered in the schools and at the Community Center.  She has had the pleasure of residing in Katonah for over 20 years.

ann hardy
community shop manager

Ann Hardy joined the Community Center in the spring of 2019 and “loves doing the most fulfilling and meaningful work of my career”.  Prior to joining CCNW she ran the Preppy Turtle, a consignment shop in Bedford Hills.

Ann also had a 20 year career in corporate marketing and communications and is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technolgy. She’s lived in Bedford Hills for over 20 years with her husband, two daughters and their dog.

jody mack
office manager

Jody Mack began as a volunteer at the Community Center in 2015 and became a staff member the following year.  Her past work as a library assistant, receptionist, and graphic designer allowed her to hone the organizational skills she employs in her role as Office Manager.  Jody enjoys the variety of her administrative tasks and finds inspiration in the smallest details of her work.  One of her favorite things to do is to add a new volunteer to the Volunteer Database. This gives Jody the opportunity to scroll through the extensive list of active volunteers and be reminded of their contributions to the work of the Center.  “I’ll catch the name of one of our founding members, still active after almost 30 years, or the name of a new student volunteer who’s just worked their first shift.  It’s a joyful reminder to me that our mission has always been sustained and renewed one willing heart at a time.”

julietta appleton
program coordinator

Julietta Appleton is the founder and former director of The Birth Cottage, the first freestanding birth center in Westchester County. She co-founded the Hudson Valley Birth Network and one of Montreal’s first rape crisis centers. Her writing credits include the books Sola, Clothing Optional, and Journey to Parenthood, and she served as editor for Spinning Babies’ Breech Birth Quick Guide and Spinning Babies’ Quick Reference Booklet. In addition, Julietta has translated the diary of Frida Kahlo and writings of Cuban dissidents. Through her work as a certified hypnotherapist, Julietta helps people overcome their fears and limiting beliefs, guiding them to create positive change and achieve their goals. Julietta has also been a textile artist, glass artist, and quilter for nearly thirty years. Julietta's unique combination of skills makes her a good fit for the Community Studio, where she began volunteering in 2021. She is honored to be the Studio's Program Assistant.

anthony pereira
operations assistant

Anthony Pereira is a dedicated professional with a multifaceted background in business and community service. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he showed unwavering commitment to CCNW as a regular volunteer, which led to him becoming a full-time staff member. Prior to joining the Community Center, Anthony managed distribution routes for Frito Lay throughout Westchester and Rockland Counties, this greatly enhanced his expertise in logistics and operations. Before that, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to own and operate a thriving vending business, as well as two successful retail stores in Lower Westchester. Anthony holds a degree in Communications from SUNY Brockport, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in various fields. Residing in Bedford Hills, Anthony Pereira is an invaluable asset to the Community Center and continues to make a positive impact on those around him.

briana ciardullo
development associate

Briana joined CCNW in the spring of 2025. She is from New Rochelle and graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and most recently, received a NonProfit Management Certificate from Fairfield University. She has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically in the fields of Development, Marketing, and Communications. Having worked at Foster Teen Employment Network as an Administrative Assistant and 914Cares as External Relations Coordinator, she brings a robust foundation to the Community Center. Briana is proud to stand with such an inspiring team as they work to provide each individual and family with the tools to succeed and flourish in every stage of life.

daisy kapahi
client services coordinator 

Daisy Kapahi began volunteering with CCNW in 2023 and quickly fell in love with the mission and community. With 10 years of working with the non-profit sector, Daisy brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every initiative she supports. During her time at ABC Television Network, she created impactful Health Promotion programs for employees, blending wellness with workplace engagement. At The Walt Disney Company, she worked in the community relations division. Daisy developed programs that not only benefited local communities but also fostered strong partnerships with key organizations. She is dedicated to using her experience to support meaningful change and deepen community connections.