Meet The NYCON Team

Megan Allen (she/her/hers)

Megan is widely recognized for her leadership role in development at BOCES, where she created and grew a grant-writing service that assisted nonprofits, school districts, BOCES, and municipalities statewide. She is also on the Board of the Capital District Women's Employment and Resource Center.

Peter Andrew

Leading Council Services Plus, NYCON's insurance and benefits subsidiary, since its inception over 20 years ago.

Penny Breig

Penny brings 30+ years of Customer Service and Commercial experience from her background in the Insurance and Plastics Recycling Industries. She joins NYCON as the Office and Fiscal Coordinator.

Mary Lou Carolan

Connection. Collaboration, Community. These are the hallmarks that have guided the work Mary Lou Carolan has done for non-profit organizations and public libraries for three decades. Implementing a community-centered approach, Mary Lou utilizes needs assessments, focus groups, strategic planning, and collaborative partnerships to strengthen support and build awareness and opportunities for the organizations she works with.

Candace Ellis-Shumpis

With over 20 years of accounting experience, Candace Administers NYCON’s Member Benefits – Medical, Dependent Care and Transit Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Reimbursement Arrangements.

Michelle Jarvais (she/her/hers)

As CFO for NYCON, she is responsible for all the fiscal operations of the consolidated entity, facility management, all human resource functions, manages the Group Employee Benefit Program, and oversees NYCON's fiscal staff.

Margaret Kilts

Margaret serves a dual role working with both NYCON’s membership team and BoardStrong.

Jeffrey Kosmacher

Jeffrey has deep staff, consulting, and service experience with varied nonprofits, as a communicator, advisor, fundraiser, and facilitator.

Marjorie Maniccia

Marjorie has spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector, previously in fundraising and development, and more recently in legal. She very much enjoys working with the NYCON staff, and especially the legal team. Marjorie fills her spare time with traveling, reading, cooking, and civic engagement.

Kelly S. Mathews (she/her/hers)

Since 1998, Kelly has led NYCON’s Financial Management Group, providing financial management technical assistance and training to nonprofit staff and boards of directors throughout New York State, both directly and via partnerships with New York State agencies and foundations.

Kate McNally

Kate brings over 20 years of experience designing and implementing capacity building initiatives. Kate has worked extensively with local and international nonprofits of all sizes, providing capacity building support, training, and technical assistance consulting services. She is passionate about helping nonprofits develop effective strategies that contribute to their success and sustainability.

Charlie Owens, (he/him/his)

Charlie serves NYCON’s membership by connecting them with the resources they need. He comes to NYCON with more than a decade of nonprofit administration experience at premiere arts and cultural organizations across the region.

Barbara Paxton, (she/her/hers)

Barbara has years of experience working with nonprofit boards and helping them achieve success.

MaryAnn Rosko (she/her/hers)

MaryAnn has over 12 years of experience in accounting and joined NYCON's team in 2016.

Erica Scheer

Erica is a nonprofit professional specializing in grants, governance, and event planning. She also serves as Secretary of the Board of the Lark Street Business Improvement District, supporting resident and business initiatives that creatively elevate and promote Lark Street.

Tamar Tait

With a background in public service, Tamar comes to NYCON from the New York State Attorney General’s White Plains Regional Office where she represented the Attorney General in the review and approval of transactions by not-for-profit and religious corporations. In prior private practice she specialized in municipal securities law helping to plan and implement publicly funded capital projects.

Susan Tornicelli

Sue’s focus is providing marketing strategy to promote educational events, NYCON consulting, and membership engagement.