Alison Kappel, BA |
Alison Kappel, BA as the Assistant Program Coordinator, Recreation and Rehabilitation and Transportation Services she provides direct assistance to the director of Recreation and Rehabilitative services. Her duties include coordination and assistance with all crisis services and Recreation and Fitness Programs; Loan and Donation, Durable Medical Equipment, and Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapy services. In addition to providing assistance to the Transportation Coordinator Alison acts as a direct liaison for members with NYC/MTA Access. Contact Alison at akappel@msnyc.org. |
Alyssa Vinci, BA |
As Administrative Associate, Programs and Services, Alyssa assists in all aspects of event execution. She provides administrative support including assisting in the maintenance of the member database. Alyssa also manages the department's publication inventory and ensures program offerings are included on the chapter's event calendar. Contact Alyssa at avinci@msnyc.org. |
Andrea Arzt, LCSW |
As Associate Vice President, Clinical and Direct Services, Andrea develops and maintains relationships with MS clinicians, comprehensive care centers and other partners in care . Andrea develops educational and clinical opportunities in MS for healthcare professionals and students including: Janet Pearce Nurse Education Program, Student Nurse Project, and Medical Student Internships. Andrea also oversees social workers and nurses at Centers for Comprehensive MS Care and the Clinical Advisory Committee. She manages professional education and outreach to health professionals and community organizations, public awareness of research, and researcher engagement and recruitment. Andrea supervises directors of counseling & hispanic outreach, rec and rehab and care management. Contact Andrea at aarzt@msnyc.org. |
Anastatia Fabris, LCSW |
As Director, Care Management and Family Support Services since August 2008, Anastatia is responsible for management and supervision of care management services, crisis counseling, home care, home-delivered meals, heavy-duty housecleaning, entitlement information and referrals, crisis financial assistance and respite care. She manages chapter caregiver wellness and couples workshops. Supervises the assistant care manager. Contact Anastatia at afabris@msnyc.org. |
Anne Davis, ESQ |
As volunteer Director, Legal Programs and Services, Anne provides legal information and referrals to chapter members. She provides legal materials and offers information to members on insurance coverage, job and housing discrimination and consumer rights, as well as other legal issues faced by people with MS. Anne also organizes the chapter's annual Legal Day and annual evening legal education program. Anne supervises Rose Man, the legal assistant. Contact Anne at adavis@msnyc.org. |
Barbara McKeon, MA, CRC, LMHC |
As Director, Employment Programs and Services, Barbara provides vocational counseling to members regarding a variety of employment issues. She answers questions related to reasonable accommodations, disclosure, maintaining employment, returning to work, changing careers, and other employment concerns. Barbara plans several seminars related to MS and employment issues and also oversees the Business Advisory Council, job club, First Connection coordinators for newly diagnosed, education scholarships and member programs committees. Contact Barbara at bmckeon@msnyc.org. |
Carol Giordano, BA |
As Coordinator, Recreation and Rehabilitation, Carol assists with management of recreational and rehabilitative programs and services. She coordinates recreation and sports programs in Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Sullivan counties. Carol also manages the air conditioner and medical transportation programs. Contact Carol at cgiordano@msnyc.org. |
Carolyn Frankel, BA |
As Senior Program Specialist, Carolyn manages networking/educational programs for people with MS in their 20s and 30s and underserved populations (Rural and African-American communities). She coordinates educational and social programs such as: Discovery Day, Spring Fling and Legal Day. Carolyn oversees the chapter’s relationship with the NMSS Information Resource Center and chapter resource development, manages programs’ content on the chapter’s website, and trains and certifies staff in NMSS information and referral. She also manages the Computer Outreach Program and Mission related elements at Mass Market and Special Events. |
Christine Valentin, LCSW |
As Care Management Assistant, Christine screens members for home care eligibility and critical short term needs. Christine also assists with exploring housing resources and completing housing applications, conducts performance measurement outcome surveys and other tasks to support care management services. Contact Christine at christine.valentin@nmss.org. |
Debby Bennett, BS |
As Vice President, Programs and Services Debby provides overall strategic direction to the department providing programs and services for more than 10,000 members, their families and friends. She develops and manages the operational plan, expenses and restricted revenue for the department. She plans and organizes the Chapter's annual meeting and is responsible for all mission related activities. Debby directly supervises the program directors of education, clinical services, employment and the executive administrative assistant. Contact Debby at dbennett@msnyc.org. |
Eugene Veigl, BA |
Director of Advocacy Programs, Gene serves as the lead on New York State advocacy and is the chapter’s advocacy staff representative. As the statewide lead, Gene directs and coordinates all advocacy in the state related to statewide issues. Local advocacy work focuses on issues impacting people affected by MS which are specific to our chapter territory, engaging chapter volunteers and performing local work necessary to support statewide initiatives. Gene leads the research and analysis of state and local legislation and policy relating to health care, disability rights, long term care, housing and transportation. He oversees our Government Relations Committees and Activist Network and maintains the advocacy section of our chapter website. Contact at eugene.veigl@nmss.org |
JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple, BA, CTR |
As Director, Recreation and Rehabilitation Programs and Services, JoEllen oversees various crisis services provided to chapter members, including physical, occupational and speech therapies, home and auto modifications, and medical transportation. JoEllen also manages the recreation, fitness and adapted sports programs in all five boroughs, and professional education programs for rehabilitation therapists. Jo Ellen supervises the program coordinator, recreation & rehabilitation, recreation group leaders and program assistants. Contact JoEllen at jzembruski@msnyc.org. |
Michelle Lenox, BA |
As Senior Manager, Education and Community Outreach, Michelle plans, develops and implements client education programs offered by the chapter including all MS Awareness activities. She educates the public and health care community about MS and the Chapter’s mission, programs and services at in-services, health fairs and educational forums. Her role in Community Outreach entails cultivating new collaborative opportunities with community partners and coalitions with like-minded goals. Contact Michelle at michelle.lenox@nmss.org. |
Moyra Rondon, LCSW |
As Senior Director, Counseling and Hispanic Outreach, Moyra manages many counseling related programs including: support groups, self-help groups, peer support, and referrals. She also directs Spanish outreach for the chapter. Moyra serves as the chapter liaison for pediatric MS clinics at Columbia/Stony Brook Medical Center. She conducts annual trainings for professional, peer counseling consultants, and self-help group leaders. Moyra supervises the Volunteer Manager and Sr. Manager, Education. Contact Moyra at mrondon@msnyc.org. |
Melody Soto |
As Executive Administrative Assistant, Melody facilitates organizational and administrative support to the programs, services and advocacy department. She creates and updates web content and online registration forms for the department. Melody also processes registrations for various programs, provides general information, and distributes new and general member packets of information. Melody is responsible for entering new member information into the database and processing any updates to that information. Melody supervises Administrative Associate. Contact Melody at msoto@msnyc.org. |
Rose Man |
Provides administrative support to the Director of Legal Services. Her responsibilities include maintaining law library, legal resources and assisting with the planning of annual Legal Day. Contact Rose at rman@msnyc.org. |
Toula Sifnaios, BA |
As First Connection Coordinator, Toula provides newly diagnosed members and those new to the chapter with information they may request about MS and the programs and services the chapter provides. She connects members to useful chapter and community resources, services, programs and referrals. She also assists the Associate Vice President of Counseling and Clinical Programs with coordination of newly diagnosed support groups and assists the Director of Education with educational programs for the newly diagnosed. Contact Toula at tsifnaios@msnyc.org. |