Leadership & Governance

Project Hospitality is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors and a diverse team of experienced leaders committed to advancing our mission, strengthening organizational excellence, and delivering meaningful impact across Staten Island.

Together, our leadership brings expertise in housing, healthcare, human services, community engagement, and organizational management to ensure that Project Hospitality continues to serve with compassion, accountability, and purpose.

Leadership In Action. Leading With Purpose. Strengthening Our Community

One Team. One Vision. One Project Hospitality.

A Message from the Board Chair

Dear Friends,

Project Hospitality embodies the power of compassion in action and the strength of a community that stands together. Our mission reflects a fundamental belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and the support needed to build a stable and fulfilling life.

Throughout my years of service on the Board of Directors, I have seen the importance of bringing people together around a shared commitment to our neighbors. Serving as Board Chair is both an honor and a responsibility—one grounded in ensuring that Project Hospitality remains a strong, accountable, and mission-driven organization for the individuals and families who depend on its services.

Our continued impact is made possible through the dedication of our staff, the leadership of our organization, the generosity of our donors, and the commitment of our community partners. Each plays an essential role in advancing our mission. Together, we can build on this work, respond to emerging needs, and help create a stronger, healthier, and more compassionate community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support of Project Hospitality. The work we share matters, and its impact reaches far beyond what any one of us can accomplish alone.

With gratitude,

Rev. Janet H. Jones
Chair, Board of Directors
Project Hospitality

Board of Directors

  • A woman with long blonde dreadlocks, wearing a black blazer, gold hoop earrings, and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

    Rev. Janet H. Jones

    Board Chair
    Pastor, Shrewsbury Avenue
    AME Zion Church

  • Image of Steve Clayton, Project Hospitality's Chief Advancement Officer

    Timothy C. Harrison, Esq

    First Vice-Chair

    Principal, TCH Realty & Development, Co, LLC
    Chair - Board of Trustees, Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC)

  • A smiling woman with curly black hair wearing a dark blazer, white blouse, and a pearl necklace against a blue background.

    John Vincent Scalia, Sr.

    Second Vice-Chair
    Owner/Funeral Director, Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc.

  • A woman with long red hair, light skin, and blue eyes smiling at the camera, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a navy blue top, standing in front of a plain gray background.

    Peter Tesoriero, CPA

    Treasurer
    Owner, Peter Tesoriero CPA, P.C.

  • A man dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and a yellow striped tie, wearing gray glasses, posing against a plain gray background.

    Dr. Aurelia Curtis, Ed.D

    Secretary
    Chair, Audit Committee
    Retired NYC Educator

    Executive Director
    Creative Learning Academy (CLA)

  • Dr. Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA

    Chair, Quality Improvement & Information Technology Committee

    Associate Dean
    Columbia University - Mailman School for Public Health

  • James Chin, Esq.

    Chair, Finance Committee

    Development Director
    Hudson Meridian

  • Rabbi Michael Howald

    Chair, Governance & Nomination Committee

    Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Israel
    Reform Church of Staten Island

  • Diane Louard-Michel

    Chair, Asset Management Committee

    Executive Director
    Lantern Community Services

  • Joseph Sicilian

    Chair, Development Committee

    Retired, NYC Educator

  • A young man with glasses, short dark hair, and facial hair, wearing a blue collared shirt under a black sweater, posing against a plain dark gray background.

    Giovanna Acquilano, CPA

    Managing Director
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Steven DeCosta, Esq.

  • Gary Malando

    Founder/Owner
    Gary’s Landscaping, LLC

  • Deacon John McBeth

    Con Edison

  • Dr. Bridget McCabe, MD, MPH, FAAP

    Senior Medical Director
    Blue Cross & Blue Shield

  • The Honorable Deborah Rose

    Former NYC Councilmember
    District 49

  • Maribel Sansone

  • Helen S. Settles

    Retired NYC Educator

  • Carmen Serrano Sherlock

  • Javaid Syed

    President & CEO
    Syed Enterprises

  • Joseph Torres

    Wealth Management Advisor
    Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

  • Yvette Washington-Wheatley

    Dean/Music Teacher
    Staten Island Academy

  • Dr. Wahib Zafar, MD

    Medical Hematologist-Oncologist
    Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC)

  • Rev. Dr. Darlene Willams

    Ex-Officio, Non-Voting Member
    President & CEO

Executive Leadership

  • A woman with long blonde dreadlocks, wearing a black blazer, gold hoop earrings, and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

    Rev. Dr. Darlene "Dr. Dee" Williams, Ph.D., D.R.E.

    President & Chief Executive Officer

    Read Bio
  • Image of Steve Clayton, Project Hospitality's Chief Advancement Officer

    Steve Clayton, MS

    Chief Advancement Officer 

    Read Bio
  • A smiling woman with curly black hair wearing a dark blazer, white blouse, and a pearl necklace against a blue background.

    Dr. Mathylde Frontus, Ph.D., LMSW

    Chief Program Officer

    Read Bio
  • A woman with long red hair, light skin, and blue eyes smiling at the camera, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a navy blue top, standing in front of a plain gray background.

    Michelle Gassama, MPH

    Chief Operating Officer

    Read Bio
  • A man dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and a yellow striped tie, wearing gray glasses, posing against a plain gray background.

    Luis Pico, MBA

    Chief Financial Officer

    Read Bio
  • A young man with glasses, short dark hair, and facial hair, wearing a blue collared shirt under a black sweater, posing against a plain dark gray background.

    Birat Shrestha, MBA

    Chief of Staff & Strategic Advisor to the CEO

    Read Bio

Program Services & Community Impact

Executive Management Team


  • A woman with curly brown hair wearing glasses and a blue floral dress, standing against a plain background.

    Gale Alwill, LCSW

    Deputy Chief Program Officer

    Division I - Housing, Wellness & Supportive Services Division

    Read Bio
  • A man wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, red patterned tie, and glasses, with a short haircut, smiling against a plain light gray background.

    Vacant

    Deputy Chief Program Officer

    Division II - Homeless, Residential, Youth & Care Coordination Services

    View Job
  • A portrait of a young woman with straight, light brown hair, fair skin, and blue eyes, smiling softly, wearing a cream-colored blazer over a blue and white patterned top, standing against a plain gray background.

    Rev. Karen Pershing, M.Div.

    Community Impact & Engagement Officer

    Division III - Community Initiatives & Engagement

    Read Bio

Senior Leadership Team

  • Fund Development

    Nicholas Arroyo,
    Director of Development & Philanthropy

    Vacant
    Associate Director, Government Grants & Contracts

  • Finance

    Narmika Khudatova
    Controller

    Nina Nico
    Director of Budgets

    Matthew Smith
    Budget Analyst

  • Human Resources

    Phyllis Gallucci
    Director of Human Resources

    Kautubh Thakur
    Director of Training & Culture

  • Compliance & Risk Management

    Thomas Angelillo, Esq.
    Senior Director, Legal & Compliance

  • Operations

    Kim Tabeek
    Director of Operations

    Jennifer Franzitta
    Executive Office Manager

    Vacant
    Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO/CPO

  • Quality Assurance & Data Management

    Jasmine Feliciano
    Director of Planning & Evaluation

  • PROGRAM SERVICES & OPERATIONS | COMMUNITY IMPACT & ENGAGEMENT

  • Housing, Wellness & Supportive Services Division

    Rasheed Ford
    Area Director, Housing Operations & Social Care Network

    Anna Naseer
    Area Director, Supportive Housing & HIV Services

    Gary Siegel, LCSW-R
    Area Director, Behavioral Health, Wellness & Recovery Services

    Jennifer Swinton
    Area Director, Permanent Supportive Housing & HIV Services

  • Homelessness, Residential, Youth & Care Coordination Division

    Ebenezer, Ayiku, LMSW
    Senior Program Director, Castleton Permanent/Affordable
    Supportive Housing

    Anthony Georges, LCSW, MPA
    Regional Director, Youth Housing & Support Services

    Lori Howe, LCSW-R
    Regional Director, Affordable Supportive Housing & Recovery Services

    Margaly (Mia) Lande, LMSW, MPA, MCASAC
    Regional Director, Single Adult Homeless Services
    Street Homeless Outreach Services

    Christina Penna, MSED
    Regional Director, Healthcare Management

    Lillian Simmons
    Senior Program Director
    Single Adult Drop-In Center

    Jasmine Williams, LMSW
    Regional Director, Family Homeless Services

  • Community Impact & Engagement Division

    Zulma Cruz
    Area Director, Community Initiatives

    Benefits Access  •  Free Tax Preparation •  NYC Benefits  •  Targeted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    Alex Hughes
    Senior Program Director, Hunger Prevention & Advocacy

    Food & Nutrition Program •  Food Pantries •  Soup Kitchen

Smiling woman handling produce in a grocery store.

The Faces of Project Hospitality

Behind every program is a dedicated network of staff members, volunteers, and community partners who make Project Hospitality’s work possible.

From preparing meals in soup kitchens to helping families secure stable housing and access to healthcare services, the people of Project Hospitality share a commitment to compassion, dignity, and community care.

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See Our Impact

Project Hospitality supports tens of thousands of Staten Island residents each year through food access, housing services, healthcare coordination, and community support.

Explore Our Impact

Interested in building a career that makes a direct impact in Staten Island communities? Explore opportunities with Project Hospitality.

See Open Positions