Team
Charlie Venti, Executive Director, served as the Foundation’s Deputy Director from 2002 to 2010, helping to establish the Foundation’s funding priorities and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining The Nicholson Foundation, Charlie spent twenty-seven years with the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services and was the first Division Protective Services Caseworker to rise to the position of Director. He is an expert in the areas of youth development and child welfare. While providing the overall management for the Foundation today, Charlie also spearheads Nicholson’s child welfare and family support efforts.
Joan Randell, Deputy Director, served as the Foundation’s Director of Health and Rehabilitation for two years beginning in 2008. Joan has extensive experience in the development and implementation of public policy in the health, rehabilitation, and employment fields. A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Joan has expertise in working with special needs populations. She has conducted research and published widely, and she has created nationally recognized programs to help individuals with health, mental health, and substance abuse disorders attain maximum functionality. In addition to her responsibilities as Deputy Director, Joan continues to lead the Foundation’s health care efforts.
Nicole Butler, Director of Education, develops educational initiatives for the Foundation. She acts as a liaison with organizations that support educational programs for at-risk youth, including the Newark Public Schools, local colleges, community-based organizations, and government agencies. Nicole is experienced in developing strategic plans, programs, and funding sources for non-profit agencies. With an expertise in student personnel administration, she has also directed residential support programs for college students.
Rachel W. Cahill, Director of Health, has extensive experience in research, program development, and operations of healthcare and human services systems. She held leadership roles at New York City’s Human Resources Administration, developing large-scale innovative and cost-effective programs to help vulnerable populations move to self-sufficiency. Rachel was most recently an Administrative Director in the Department of Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center. She coordinates many of the Foundation’s health initiatives.
Maureen Deevey, Director of Program Support, has many years experience in public-sector policy, program development, and operations. She has held a number of managerial positions overseeing the development and evaluation of direct and contracted services for the City of New York. She has expertise in providing technical assistance to service providers across a wide range of human services delivery systems. Maureen monitors Nicholson-funded projects and provides technical assistance to many of the Foundation’s grantees.
Kay Hendon, Director of Early Childhood Services, has extensive experience in the areas of childcare, child welfare, and neighborhood services. Kay has held managerial positions in both the non-profit and public sectors and has spearheaded major public-policy initiatives. Most recently, she was the Associate Commissioner for Child Care Operations for New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services. At the Foundation, Kay focuses on the expansion of Pre-K enrollment, the integration of childcare with education, and the development of quality infant-toddler care.
Dyann Lonesome, Director of Criminal Justice, spent most of her career with the New Jersey State Parole Board, serving in many capacities. In her last role, as a District Parole Supervisor, she was responsible for the operation and supervision of the Newark parole office. Dyann is responsible for developing and directing the Foundation’s offender reentry initiatives including the new offender reentry one-stop at Essex County College and FORGE, an Essex County women’s reentry initiative.
Paul F. Saeman, Director of Workforce Development, has developed information systems for numerous government and community-based human services agencies. Paul has also developed and implemented welfare reform initiatives in several states with a special emphasis on employment and training. Paul is focusing on workforce development and information technology projects for the Foundation.
Fred Sambataro, Director of Administration, has extensive experience in fiscal management in the public sector. He previously served as the Administrator of Business Operations for the New Jersey State Division of Youth and Family Services. At the Foundation, Fred is responsible for fiscal and grant management. He also coordinates several of the Foundation’s initiatives serving vulnerable children and families.
Anthony Welch, Director of Family Services, has broad experience managing community-based programs that serve vulnerable children and families. He has served in leadership positions with a number of New Jersey organizations where he developed and implemented service programs that reduced poverty and increased social capital among disadvantaged families. Anthony coordinates family and children services for the Foundation.
Mark Hoover, the Foundation’s former Executive Director, retired in 2010. During the Foundation’s formative years, Mark developed its guiding principles and established strategic partnerships with government and community agencies. Mark’s vision and leadership led to many successful programs that improved the lives of New Jersey’s vulnerable families. A number of these are noted in the October 2010 speech given by the Foundation’s President, Jan Nicholson, to the Foundation’s government and community partners including Newark’s Mayor, Cory Booker, at a farewell reception honoring Mark.
September 2011