All staff can be reached at:

Coro New York Leadership Center
42 Broadway, Suite 1827-35
New York, New York 10004
(212) 248-2935 | main phone
(212) 248-2970 | fax

Elvira Catter-Martinez, Program Manager
ecatter-martinez@coronewyork.org (ext. 221)

Elvira is intricately involved in the program design and implementation process. She has a passion for leadership development and believes that civically minded individuals can create change for themselves and for others.  Prior to joining Coro, Elvira helped communities in Manhattan and the Bronx connect with their local community gardens. She is also interested in sustainability—and actively reduces her footprint and loves helping others do the same. Elvira has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Florida International University. She enjoys spending her free time with family, reading, and traveling.  Elvira lives in Jackson Heights with her husband Alessandro and their dogs.

 

José Dobles, Program Director of the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council

jdobles@coronewyork.org (ext. 323)

José Dobles has over ten years of youth development experience and has won several awards for his work with young people around issues of social justice including the Academy for Educational Development Emerging Leaders Fellowship, the Comite Noviembre Mejor de la Comunidad Award (Best of the Community Award), and the Ann M. Bennett and John C. Bennet Fellowship for Commitment to Social Justice. Jose is passionate about giving young people the skills and opportunities to be agents of change within their communities. He holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.Div from Union Theological Seminary.

Laura Gale, Director of the Fellows Program in Public Affairs
lgale@coronewyork.org (ext. 302)

Laura has a background in leadership development, coaching, education and the arts. Before joining the Coro staff in 2011, Laura founded and managed a nonprofit arts organization and worked in urban schools to cultivate creativity, collaboration, and institutional change. She holds a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Organizational Development from The New School, as well as undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Sociology.  Throughout her work in multiple sectors, Laura has used experiential learning as a tool for civic engagement, self-discovery and social change, and she is committed to the personal and professional development of New York City’s emerging leaders. Laura is also passionate about learning, travel, yoga, and brunch.

Kristen Illes, Senior Director of Programs
killes@coronewyork.org (ext. 301)

Kristen joined the Coro New York Leadership Center in September, 2009 as Senior Director of Programs. Her focus will be on working with the team of talented program and recruitment staff to support ongoing high quality programs in alignment with Coro's mission, strategic plan and Theory of Change. Kristen's career has been focused in the not-profit sector and for close to 15 years has been privileged to hold management positions with a focus on training. Kristen is an avid learner who loves the possibilities that arise from the practice of leadership, vision, collaboration and teamwork. Balancing work, the all-important life aspect includes spending time with her son Connor, partner Jeff, family and friends. Summertime, she will be in the sun by the water or in her flower gardens and during the winter you will find her in the kitchen cooking something delicious for Sunday dinner.

Maya Lampson, Program Director for Leadership New York
mlampson@coronewyork.org (ext. 304)

Maya is the Program Director for Leadership New York (LNY). Providing thoughtful facilitation and professional development are the continuing thread of her multi-sector career. Previously, Maya developed and offered professional development and training for program staff in offices domestic and abroad for the Ford Foundation. She earned a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) at Dominican University in San Rafael, California and a Master's degree in Public Administration (valedictorian) at Baruch College via the National Urban Fellows in New York City.  Maya is a proud AmeriCorps Alum (NCCC and Campus Reads) and was elected to the AmeriCorps Alums board 2002-2003.  She is a member of the local food-coop, peer counseling for cultural competence and Latin dance communities.  Maya is committed to lifelong learning and developing savvy, capable change agents for New York City.

Cristina Marquez, Director of Immigrant Civic Leadership Program
cmarquez@coronewyork.org  (ext. 320)

Cristina Marquez is the Director of Coro’s Immigrant Civic Leadership Program (ICLP).  She brings to the position her passion to serve immigrant communities coupled with her professional experience developing and delivering programs and trainings.  Most recently she served as a consultant for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and was a 2010 U.S. Census Partnership Specialist.  Her education includes an MA in Educational Leadership, Policy and Politics from Teachers College at Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Latin American Studies from the University of California,San Diego.

Scott Millstein, Executive Director
smillstein@coronewyork.org (ext. 306)

Scott has spent the last 10 years in senior positions at Safe Horizon, the country's leading victim assistance organization. His experience at Safe Horizon encompasses all aspects of financial, fundraising, and programmatic operations during a significant period of growth and expansion. Scott has also served as the Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the New York City Department of Homeless Services as well as at other NYC agencies including the Mayor's Office and the Parks Department. Scott is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and holds an M.P.A. from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the Center for Community Partnerships.

Christopher Neal, Program Director for Exploring Leadership
cneal@coronewyork.org (ext. 321)

J. Christopher Neal is a "native son" of Detroit Michigan. The son of two talented artists, Harold L. Neal, a celebrated painter, and Claire Neal, a classically trained vocalist, Christopher is a painter and began his formal art training at Mumford High School and at the Center (now College) for Creative Studies' Saturday Workshops. He later went on to study Fine Art, African-American Studies, and Women's Studies at Eastern Michigan University. After completing his undergraduate studies he enrolled in Howard University's Master's of Fine Arts program, not quite sure of his prospects but open to the journey. Christopher came to Coro with an Arts Education background, which he began developing shortly after arriving in New York City. He has taught in classrooms across all five Boroughs and Connecticut.

Eve Nunez, Database Administrator
enunez@coronewyork.org

Eve helps Coro achieve its database, research, and analysis needs as the Database Administrator. As an undergrad, she participated in a four-year internship at Green Haven Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Upstate New York, and developed a profound sense of commitment to social issues and the non-profit sector and an appreciation for a liberal arts degree. For the last fourteen years, Eve has been working for CASES, an alternative to incarceration program, first as a case manager, then as the lead database specialist/administrator for the IT department, helping CASES fulfill its mission statement through constant vigilance and analysis of its greatest asset - data. In her free time, Eve enjoys cycling along the Hudson River, playing chess, keeping up with CERN developments, and coming up with reasons why she should get a puppy.

Clara Park, Exploring Leadership Program Facilitator
cpark@coronewyork.org (ext. 322)

Clara holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with a minor in Human Rights, from Trinity College (CT). She is passionate about working with youth and has a great deal of experience doing so, both abroad and in her community. In her free time Clara enjoys traveling, playing her acoustic guitar, and baking for her friends and family.

Jennifer Schecter, Director of Development & Alumni Affairs
jschecter@coronewyork.org (ext. 318)

Jennifer's primary responsibility is to enhance the relationships among Coro and its alumni, in addition to events and donor stewardship. She comes to Coro from Bnai Zion Foundation, where she spent nearly three years working in development. Jennifer studied Literature, Creative Writing, and Anthropology at Ball State University, African-American Studies and Oral History at Columbia University, and Improv Comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. She enjoys cooking, baking, and running in New York City parks in daylight.

Thomas E. Steele, Recruitment Manager
tsteele@coronewyork.org (ext. 303)

Thomas E. Steele oversees the recruitment and selection cycles of Coro’s six training programs, as well as the management of outreach and coordination of internship placements for the Fellows Program in Public Affairs and Exploring Leadership Program.  Thomas’ passion to affect change is demonstrated through his career in non-profit management.  Having worked in program management and fund development, Thomas was last employed at the American Red Cross in Greater New York where he served as Assistant Director, Volunteer Recruitment, directing the Chapter’s effort to recruit and train 10,000 volunteers and later as Director, Staff Engagement.  Thomas attended the University of Notre Dame as an English major, and remains passionate about ND athletics, the Mets, Jets, and tennis.  Thomas lives in Newark, NJ with his two American Champion Yorkshire Terriers.

Jeff Yurcan, Alumni Community Coordinator
jyurcan@coronewyork.org (ext. 309)

Jeff Yurcan is the Alumni Community Coordinator with responsibility over alumni affairs and communications. He has a background in alumni affairs at both the University and national affinity group level. Jeff has also worked as a professional political operative, managing successful political campaigns throughout the Northeast. He is a graduate of LaSalle University with a degree in communications.