WHO WE ARE
MEET OUR Executive Staff
Jennifer Neifeld
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Jennifer is a “Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Use Counselor (CASAC)” and a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach. She has worked in various positions within the agency since 2007. Jennifer was nominated as the Rural Health Champion of the Year in 2019. She is extremely integrated within her role promoting additional services that will benefit the communities and enhance services in the Capital Region.
Peter Kelsey
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Housing (Albany, NY)
Mr. Kelsey holds an MBA, and has been with PYHIT for 35 years. He is an intricate part of the senior management team and is responsible for home meal, housing, and employment/ vocational programs. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and camping.
Jackie Foster
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Treatment (Albany & Glens Falls, NY)
Jackie currently oversees operations for the OASAS certified clinical programs and residential programs. She has a degree in Psychology and is a Certified Addictions Counselor (CASAC Advanced). She has worked for PYHIT since 2008 holding various positions in the agency including being a counselor, supervisor, and director. Under her positions Jackie has worked with the staff to develop additional programs that serve people in the community and in jails. She has a passion for working with other community partners to bring needed services into the communities we serve. Jackie is a 20 under 40 award recipient as well as a Rural Health Champion award recipient. Outside of work Jackie enjoys traveling, kayaking, and most importantly watching her family do what they enjoy.
Margie Reilly
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Peter G. Young Foundation (Albany, NY)
Margie Reilly has her BS Degree from the College of Saint Rose and has been with the organization for the past 8 years. She is in charge of all fundraising for the Foundation, including year-end letter, annual report for donors, craft fair, concerts and our biggest fundraiser, the annual Saratoga Gala. She was the former Director of Development for the Academy of the Holy Names.
Kerri Bishop
Chief Financial Officer
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Kerri has her MBA with a specialization in Finance from NYU, a Paralegal degree from SUNY Stony Brook and her BA from St. John Fisher College. She has over 12 years of experience in the financial world in both the profit and nonprofit sectors.
Through data-driven approaches, she hopes to guide PYHIT so that decisions today can provide the greatest impact in the community, while ensuring the long-term financial health of the company.
Outside of work, she is an Adirondack 46er, avid Disney fan and enjoys spending time with her two sons.
Erin Gardner
DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Erin Gardner has a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the School of Social Welfare at SUNY Albany. She has been with the organization for almost four years. Starting off with creating the monthly newsletter for the residents at the Schuyler Inn, her role has grown to encompass grant writing, interagency collaboration and coordination, website redesign, and fund management. She has extensive experience with federal, state, and local funding opportunities and the management of contracts with local, state, and federal entities. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, meeting new people, and spending time with her dog, Ginnie Mae.
Edmund McTernan
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Edmund has spent 38 years in the Human Resources profession for a total of 11 different organizations, from small non-profits to worldwide Fortune 500’s. His work has spanned several industries (computer manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, higher and primary education) in all HR practice areas with concentrations in benefits, compliance, labor/employee relations, and team development. After high school, he spent a few years in retail on Long Island, which was definitely not for him. He then enrolled at University at Albany completed his MBA in HR and Organizational Administration. After meeting my wife while there, the Capital District became his home.
Ricky Thompson
DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
Ricky Thompson attended SUNY Buffalo State College. After working with several different New York State agencies, he retired and found his calling with the Altamont Program, Inc. Over the last 8 years, he has engaged in many roles including Janitorial instruction and working within the Parole Diversion program. Currently, he oversees all Information Technology tasks and responsibilities. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, has a passion for sports, especially the New York Jets. He loves the mission of the agency and is gratified by all the success stories.
Jerry Haldeman
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Jerry is currently the Financial Consultant for the agency and was previously the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to that, he spent 8 years in the United States Air Force and was the Chief Financial Officer for a health care organization for 30 years. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, camping, landscaping, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He especially enjoys winter vacation in Florida and vacation in Maine in the Fall.
Erin Gardner
DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Erin Gardner
DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Erin Gardner
DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Nicholas Kurtessis
CORPORATE COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Nicholas has over 35 years of experience working with an agency that is charged with ensuring the safety and well-being of children by assisting caregivers in developing a safe and stable environment for them known as Child Protective Services. He also worked at Saint Catherine’s Center for Children for four years as the Associate Executive Director in which he provided administrative oversight to the Foster Care and Residential Programs. He currently is responsible for ensuring that the organization is in compliance with both external and internal policies and bylaws.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Luibrand
BOARD PRESIDENT
Kevin Luibrand is a Civil Rights and Criminal Defense Attorney who represents people whose civil rights have been violated or have been accused of wrongdoing. He has been involved with the Board for approximately three years.
William Hennessy
VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY
William Hennessy is currently a licensed Mechanical and Civil engineer who plans and supervises a variety of engineering projects throughout New York State. He plays an integral role in ensuring that our properties and buildings are up to code, safe, and healthy for the residents that we serve.
James Morrell
TREASURER
Chief Operating Officer and Principal Owner of multiple businesses including hotels, radio stations, and car dealerships.
Donna Langan
BOARD MEMBER
Donna is a retired New York State (NYS) legislative assistant for NYS.
James Stone
BOARD MEMBER
James is the former Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health.
David champlin
BOARD MEMBER
Dave is a retired non-profit executive with over forty years of experience with the Salvation Army, primarily with assignments in upstate New York. Most recently, he was the Property Secretary where he was the primary contact between management, supervisors and various departments for the day-to-day coordination of facility related maintenance and property repairs. He is a U.S. Army veteran having served with the 101st Airborne Division.