Board

Advisory Board

Sy Baumstein – Joe Branda – Kathy Branda – Matthew Brennan – Denise Conkling – Ed Greenberg  – Gary Leventhal – Kate Nafz – Luciana Rufolo – Maxine Samson – Lynda Slepp – Donna Spallina – Dan Stenchever

The members of the Advisory Board bring diverse experience and skills to the Opportunity Center. Our blend of family members, experts in the field and others with varied career talents help us to address the many needs of The Opportunity Center as we evolve as an organization.

Matt Brennan, the President of the Board was originally drawn to the Center because of a family member. The Opportunity Center is very fortunate that he has stayed involved and brings legal expertise as well as personal experience and hard earned wisdom. Donna Spallina, who heads the Parent Association and Kathy Branda have been instrumental in our fundraising activities and bring a lot of energy and support to the center. They were both originally drawn to the Center by an attending family member as were
Maxine Samson, Joe Branda and Luciana Rufolo. Each family member brings their personal experiences to help other members of the board and staff better understand our clients. In addition, Joe is a local businessman who has used his gym to help with fundraising and as a change of pace for our attendees. Luciana is an MSW with invaluable experience in the not for profit world.

Sy Baumstein has served on the Opportunity Center Board since its inception and in addition to bringing the knowledge he gained as head of Special Education for Fair Lawn he brings a deep and long standing knowledge of the community and the people in it. Sy reached into the school system to bring three former coworkers to the Board. Ed Greenberg, Lynda Slepp (Secretary of the Board), and Denise Conkling have a wealth of experience helping adults with disabilities meet their challenges – as school psychologists and special educators, experience that will help the Center continue to grow and improve.

Gary Leventhal, the center’s Treasurer, brings business and financial acumen to the Center. Danny Stenchever (Vice President of the Board), brings extensive experience with community involvement as a business owner and through the Lions Club (Dan is a past district governor of the Lions). Kate Nafz, head of the Children’s Department in the Fair Lawn library, is a recent addition to the Board. While only recently joining the Board, Kate has been a friend of The Opportunity Center for many years, welcoming our participants at the library and helping to create activities that they enjoy and which help them to learn and grow. We are fortunate to have her passion for helping people and expertise and perspective added to the Board.

We keep Sy Baumstein listed on the board to honor his service to the Opportunity Center and to our Board, from our earliest days up to his recent passing. Sy’s wisdom, humanity and experience still guides our directors, many of whom were privileged to serve with him at The Center for many years and those directors who worked with Sy during his tenure as the head of Special Education in the Fair Lawn schools. His passion for The Opportunity Center and his drive for excellence led Sy to recruit former colleagues to the Board. Ed Greenberg, Lynda Slepp (Secretary of the Board), Hinda Sliclen and Denise Conkling have brought a wealth of experience helping adults with disabilities meet their challenges – as school psychologists and special educators. Their experience helps the Center to continue to grow and thrive. Thank you

Sy, we will never forget you.