Board Bios

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2025-2026

President

Cynthia Branca
Certified Financial Planner™, Investment Adviser Representative

Vice President

Angela Langston
Visual Art Educator

Treasurer

Maryann Schugmann
CPA, Partner Grassi & Co

Secretary

Marjorie R. Guenther, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Human Resources Director, Arc Rockland, Congers, NY

Ellie Becker
President, E. R. Becker Marketing & Consulting, LLC

Widley Cesar
Director of Demand Supply, BrightFarms

Matthew Cherry
President, CEO · Intelex, Ltd. Mr. Cherry is a business intelligence specialist with a broad background in the investigative, financial due diligence and physical security fields.

Matthew Cherry spent much of his professional career as a business intelligence specialist with a broad background in the investigative, financial due diligence and physical security fields. He has conducted and managed a wide range of projects throughout the world, drawing upon his diverse experience and his many professional affiliations. In addition to his business pursuits, Matthew is a photographer, cinematographer and CGI artist. When not working or creating images, he also likes to sail, cook, and sculpt.

Jane Cowles
Attorney, Jane Cowles Attorney

Shirley Goebel Christie
Entrepreneurial and creative leader, former visual arts and art history educator

Marc Hajjar
Head of Insurance Services at Hodinkee, USPAP compliant appraiser and licensed Property and Casualty insurance broker. Fine art appraiser, with experience in insurance and collection management for Phillips, Sothebys, Winston Art Group, AXA Art

A seasoned professional with 10+ years in fine art, jewelry, and collectibles, Marc Hajjar specializes in appraisals, insurance, and collection management. His background includes positions at Hodinkee (currently Head of Insurance Services), Phillips, Sotheby's, Winston Art Group, and AXA Art. Marc is USPAP compliant art and collectibles appraiser and a licensed insurance broker across all 50 states.

Michael Hays
Retired from McGraw Hill publishing; Board President, Historical Society of the Nyacks, local historian and author of Nyack People & Places, a weekly blog

Tamara Jhashi, Ph.D.
Executive Search Consultant, AGB Search, LLC; former Provost and Senior VP, New Jersey City University, and Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Mercy College

Barbara Kram
Corporate Marketing and Communications Executive, former Head of Public Affairs and Marketing for Freer Gallery of Art, former Executive Director at the Barnum Museum