Komen Greater New York City Affiliate Staff

Linda McNeil Tantawi
Linda McNeil Tantawi joined Komen Greater NYC as its Chief Executive Officer in January 2013. Since 2009, Linda had served as Executive Director of the CJ Foundation for SIDS, a national non-profit organization devoted to eliminating the tragedy of sudden unexpected infant and early childhood deaths, supporting grieving families, advancing medical research, furthering parent and professional education, and advocating for the health and survival of all children. For the 15 years prior, Linda led development and communications efforts at Volunteers of America of Greater New York, with tenures as Vice President and Chief Development and Communications Officer as well as Interim President and CEO. Earlier, she served as Director of Development for the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS in New York and as Senior Account Executive with J.C. Geever, Inc., a consulting firm that advises nonprofits on fundraising strategies. Linda attended the University of Massachusetts, where she received her Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude in Communications with a minor degree in Psychology. She also received a diploma in Social Psychology from the University of Kent, UK.

Chief Executive Officer
212-461-6180
ltantawi@komennyc.org

Vern T. Calhoun
Vern joined Komen Greater NYC as Director of Communications in June 2007. Before Komen Greater NYC, he launched the Oxford-style, three-on-three debate series Intelligence Squared US in New York, which is a sold-out sensation. Over the years, Vern has run two television production companies and a nonprofit theater company and was Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Forest City Ratner Companies, a major New York City real estate developer. An Emmy-winner for the special Free To Be…A Family, Vern has been nominated for the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel and Drama League awards and won a GLAAD Media Award for the revival of The Normal Heart at the Public Theater. He has raised millions of dollars for a wide variety of charities and politicians and produced many special events and benefits, including the first Presidential Gala of the Clinton administration, which took place at Lincoln Center. He is a graduate of Northwestern University with a BS in Radio/TV/Film and a minor in English.

Director of Communications
212-461-6188
vcalhoun@komennyc.org

Michael Cordelli
 Mike joined Komen Greater NYC as Database Manager in March 2012. Before joining Komen Greater NYC, Mike’s experience includes both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including positions at Thirteen/WNET, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Red Cross. He has 30 years of community volunteer experience with organizations large and small. Mike holds a BA degree in Chemistry from Assumption College.

Database Manager
212-461-6196
mcordelli@komennyc.org

Zenia E. Dacio-Mesina
Zenia joined Komen Greater NYC in October 2009. Previously, Zenia had worked in the development departments at the New York Hall of Science and the Bronx Zoo. Her experience also includes working with the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, an environmental/human rights organization in the Philippines, and working as an instructor at outdoor education camps in Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina. She holds a Master of Arts degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Otterbein College.

Grants Program Coordinator
212-461-6185
zdmesina@komennyc.org

Laura DeMartis
Laura joined Komen Greater NYC in June 2011. Before joining the staff, she worked at Digitas Health in New York as their Talent Operations Coordinator. Laura’s experience with breast cancer awareness and event planning was the core focus of her high school and college extra-curricular activities. Immediately following college, Laura served as the Special Events Intern for Komen Greater NYC. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from James Madison University.

Special Events & Volunteer Coordinator
646 380-0235
ldemartis@komennyc.org

Shawn Garrett
Shawn joined Komen Greater NYC in January 2002. Prior to coming to Komen, Shawn worked for the Ogden Corporation as the Treasury Assistant. Before Ogden, Shawn worked at an Internet start-up called Iguana Studios. Shawn received an Associates degree from Pace in 1997.

Finance & Administration Coordinator
212-461-6182
sgarrett@komennyc.org

Anita McFarlane, MPH
Anita joined Komen Greater NYC as Director of Grants & Public Policy in January 2010. She brings a wealth of knowledge in the cancer field along with six years on the Komen Greater NYC Grants Policy Committee, for which she was most recently Chair. Prior to joining Komen Greater NYC, Anita was the Partnership Program Manager for the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service in New York. As a Komen Greater NYC Board member, Anita helped inform and support Komen Greater NYC’s grants programs in several ways over the years .

Director of Grants & Public Policy
212-461-6189
amcfarlane@komennyc.org

Michelle Marquez, Esq.
Michelle joined Komen Greater NYC as Director of Development in May 2007. Her diverse background includes law, economic development and government relations. She recently served as the Vice President of Community and Government Affairs for the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation. Michelle was Vice President for Economic Development/Affirmative Action & Compliance at the Empire State Development Corporation, Vice President, Strategic Alliances for the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director, Nassau County Department of Economic Development. She received her law degree from Hofstra University. Michelle is a four-year breast cancer survivor.

Director of Development
212-461-6186
mmarquez@komennyc.org

Cynthia Ramirez
Cynthia joined Komen Greater NYC in January 2008. Before relocating to New York, Cynthia worked at The Fund for American Studies, an educational nonprofit in Washington, DC. While at The Fund, Cynthia coordinated the recruitment and admissions process for programs in Prague, Greece and Hong Kong. She also planned many events held in Washington and Greece, which often included embassy and government officials, foreign businessmen, nonprofit executives, and students from all over the world. She holds a B.A. in History and Politics from The Catholic University of America.

Associate Director of Special Events & Community Partnerships
212-461-6184
cramirez@komennyc.org

Jackie Schomburgh-Sam
Jacqueline Schomburgh-Sam recently joined Komen Greater NYC as Director of Finance & Administration. Jacqueline has over 15 years of budgeting and planning experience. Most recently, she worked as Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at Scholastic supporting the Entertainment division, which produced children's programming such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Goosebumps, Word Girl and Maya & Miguel. Prior to Scholastic, she worked as Business Manager for MTV Networks in the Nickelodeon division, supporting the Consumer Products Division as their Business Manager.

Director of Finance & Operations
212-461-6181
jsam@komennyc.org

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