EVENTS

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

• I want to assist WIC programs to be successful. To work with other board members to make changes to the WIC program go smoothly. To make sure that WIC program concerns are heard and addressed.
  

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

• I was a WIC Coordinator for 4 years for the Tri-County WIC Program and I was promoted to Executive Director of the agency in 2022. We have both small and large, rural and urban WIC sites so I’m am aware of strengths and challenge of different type of programs. We have 32 staff in our WIC and Peer Counselor programs. I been on many boards and held officer positions. I work with our board directly as part of my position responsibilities.

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

•  I have always been passionate about nutrition and loved having the opportunity to work in the public sector at WIC with well over 29 years of demonstrated leadership experience in nutrition and dietetic practice. As a WIC Coordinator I am committed to ensuring my WIC Program provides the highest quality of nutrition services to the participants, overall improving health outcomes of the most vulnerable populations in the poorest communities. I strongly believe in the WIC Programs mission and for the past two years I have served on the Metro WIC Association Board as the treasurer. I would love to serve on the NYS WIC Association Board because I can advocate for WIC participants and improve upon services provided.  Being on both boards would allow me to address issues at both the local and state level.
  

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

•  I have well over 29 years of experience working for the WIC Program both as a Nutrition Supervisor at Jamaica Hospital WIC Program and as a WIC Coordinator at Catholic Charities of Long Island.  I pursued my Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and food Science at Hunter College and my Master’s in Nutrition Education at Queens College. Upon acceptance into Queen College’s Dietetic Internship Program I pursued my dream of becoming a Registered Dietitian.  I always had a passion to counsel parents of children with special needs and worked both in WIC and Early intervention for many years teaching families healthy eating habits and encouraging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. 

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

• I have had the opportunity to serve on various committees for the WIC Association of NYS and have witnessed firsthand the work that the board and committee members do to improve the NYS WIC Program. From this experience, I have a good understanding of the commitment, time, and effort it takes to be on the Board of Directors. As past chair, I am also dedicated to working with the current chair to assist in the transition of her role as necessary.

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

• As previously mentioned, I have been a board member of this Association for the last 5 ½ years and therefore have a good understanding of the NYS WIC Association’s bylaws and how the board and its’ committee’s function.  In addition, I am a local agency WIC Director with varied experiences working within the local agency, which provides me with a good background of all aspects of the program.   Over the last few years, I have gained experience communicating with the NYSDOH and the National WIC Association, which can help to guide policy and program operation updates to benefit our WIC participants and local WIC agencies in NYS.  

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

•  I respect the work of the WIC Association of NYS, I believe that the board truly has the best interested in mind for the WIC LA’s, VMA’s and consumers in the work they do. I want to continue to be a part of a community that makes a difference and continues to advocate for the WIC Program as a whole.
   

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

•  I have served on the WIC Association of NYS Board for about 6 years, I currently serve as Vice Chair.

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

• I became involved as a Board Member in December 2016 and feel that my involvement on the board has helped shape myself professionally while developing more of a passion for the WIC Program. I enjoy becoming immersed into all things WIC. I would love to continue on the board and serve as a liaison between the WIC Association of NYS and the Central Region.

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

•  I have been serving WIC families for nearly eight years as both a Qualified Nutritionist and Site Manager in Northern New York, part of the Central Region. I work directly with our WIC families daily and love the interaction with participants. I serve as a local agency expert helping to train and support staff in the use of NYWIC.  I am always looking to expand my professional development and knowledge in community partnerships and WIC and had the opportunity to join the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors in December of 2016. I currently participate in the Nutrition and Breastfeeding Committee, Marketing and Membership Committee and recently joined the Outreach Ad-Hoc Committee. I also currently serve as a Co-Chair of the Consumer/Vendor Committee. 

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

• Advocacy for women and children: Serving as a board member for the WIC association allows me to actively contribute to the well-being and empowerment of women and children. It provides an opportunity to be part of an organization that focuses on promoting the health and nutrition of women and children, advocating for their rights, and supporting their overall development.
• Expertise and experience: Being a board member will allow me to share my expertise and experience in areas such as public health, nutrition, social services, or policy development. By utilizing my knowledge and skills, I can contribute to the decision-making process, strategic planning, and implementation of initiatives to improve the lives of women and children.
• Networking and collaboration: Being a board member often involves working closely with other professionals, community leaders, and stakeholders. This can lead to valuable networking opportunities and collaborations with individuals who share a common interest in women's and children's well-being. Such connections can enhance my personal and professional growth and foster positive change within the organization.
• Leadership and impact: Serving on the board allows me to play a leadership role and have a direct impact on the direction and activities of the association. By participating in decision-making, setting goals, and implementing initiatives, I can help shape policies and programs that address the specific needs of women and children, ultimately making a difference in their lives.
• Personal fulfillment: For me, being involved in a cause that I am passionate about can provide a sense of personal fulfillment. Serving on the board of the NYS WIC association allows me to contribute to a greater purpose and work towards creating positive change in the lives of women and children, which can be deeply rewarding on a personal level.

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors. 

•  I am currently the director of the largest WIC VMA in NYS with 28 years of experience in all aspects regarding WIC vendor issues. I have a master’s degree in public administration and currently manage a 3-million-dollar VMA budget. Starting in October of this year, I will become the Statewide VMA director with responsibility for vendor operations and management of all NYS WIC approved supermarkets, grocery stores, commissaries, and pharmacies. As a current NYS WIC Association board member, I have served on the executive committee as treasurer for 5 years and have a great understanding of the finance procedures and reporting requirements necessary to fulfill our financial obligations.  

1.    Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS?

• Well-nourished moms and babies strengthen individual lives, families and communities. I believe we all have a basic human right to the nutrition and health care we need to thrive. Personally, I am forever grateful for the breastfeeding and parenting support I received when I moved to a new community soon after the birth of my second child, in stark contrast to the lack of community support available to me with my first baby.
• Like many, I am troubled that WIC, the long and consistently proven premier public health nutrition program, is significantly underused. I would be honored to continue serving with and learning from WIC Association of NYS members and allies and contribute to the best of my ability to maximize participation in WIC.

2.    Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors.  

• Hunger Solutions New York has three decades of experience with outreach and advocacy around USDA programs, including SNAP and Child Nutrition Programs. From 2018-2020 we were under NYSDOH contract for WIC Help New York, a pilot project which included targeted outreach for WIC in 20 underserved counties, as well as statewide outreach to protect and strengthen this crucial program for current and future participants.
• I have used my MSW as an anti-hunger advocate for over two decades working with communities in NJ and NYS to expand their capacity to provide their members access to affordable and nutritious food through USDA nutrition assistance programs. I joined Hunger Solutions New York in 2003 and have served as a resource for organizations, agencies, and advocates to increase awareness of, support for, and participation in federal child nutrition programs, including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), SNAP, and since 2018, WIC. My overall nutrition assistance program experience includes statewide and regional outreach, statistical analysis of state and county participation, technical assistance around program regulation updates, and to a lesser extent, contract management and conference planning.
• In 2018, I began a new role through WIC Help New York to build and maintain new collaborations with related statewide, regional, and local partners to increase awareness of, support for and participation in WIC. I also monitored barriers to participation as reported from WIC Help NY Specialists, identified public policy and legislative initiatives, both administratively and legislatively, and advocated to protect the integrity and expand the reach of WIC.
• I have been honored to serve on the WIC Association of NYS board of directors for one term, participating in the Legislative, Marketing and Membership, and Ad Hoc 2020 Communications committees. I currently serve as co-chair of the Legislative Committee and have co-managed and created content for the Association’s developing 

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