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.

nicole sorgi
director of operations
& community engagement

Nicole Sorgi has been with CCNW since 2020 and brings extensive experience in management, operations, and hospitality to the Center. Prior to joining CCNW, Nicole was Director of Events for global brands such as Hotel Gansevoort, Kimpton Hotels, Ian Schrager Hotels, and China Grill Management, focusing on hotel and restaurant openings, events, conferences, and food and beverage operations. Nicole also has experience in corporate real estate, working with William J. Farmer, Inc. in NYC where she relocated international and domestic employees for Spotify, Deutsche Bank, BlackRock, and BNP Paribas, handling all aspects from property showings to regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a NY State Real Estate License. Volunteering has always been a huge part of her life, and she has chaired projects for foundations such as A New Chance Animal Rescue, Share Our Strength, City Harvest, The James Beard Foundation, and Dress for Success. She lives in Katonah with her family and is so grateful to be a part of the incredible CCNW team!

noya guerrero
client services manager

Before immigrating in 1990 to the United States, where she joined her architect husband, Noya studied business administration in her native Ecuador. She is bilingual and became an American citizen in 2001. When she first arrived in the US, she worked as a housekeeper and babysitter.  Noya understands the travails of a new immigrant and dealing with difficult times. She applies this sensitivity to her everyday work counseling clients. For her part, the best aspect of working with the Community Center clients is "helping people with real problems who still manage to smile every day. They help me be a better person." Noya's work at the Community Center has been a family affair, as she has recruited her three teenage sons to volunteer regularly. She says it helps her children to "keep in touch with the real world." 

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.

lisa brotmann
communications manager

Lisa Brotmann joined the Community Center in the spring of 2017, bringing over 20 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 as Communications Manager 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 25 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!

tracy kaufman
development manager

Tracy Kaufman joined the Community Center staff in the spring of 2021. Tracy is a 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry having worked for numerous hotels in NYC and most recently as Director of Member Services for the Princeton Club of New York managing membership, events, communications, and human resources. With a wealth of experience in cultivating relationships and with her background in sales, Tracy brings her skills in connecting people to causes and businesses to opportunities to further build community goodwill and advance our fundraising goals. "There is nothing more satisfying than helping create a new relationship." I love discovering connections and I am constantly amazed by how many ways we are tethered together." Tracy is a 20-year resident of Katonah and lives with her husband, John. Their son, Alejandro attends Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. Tracy loves gardening, watching her son play baseball, dogs, and everything outdoors.

ann hardy
community shop manager

Ann Hardy join 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.”

amanda godsoe
client resource 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. 

julietta appleton
program specialist

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.