Megan Allen is CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON), a nonprofit organization working to develop and promote an effective and vibrant charitable community throughout New York State. With more than 3,000 members, NYCON empowers nonprofits through education, capacity building support, advocacy and more. Megan also serves as CEO of Board Strong, Inc., a NYCON affiliate that helps nonprofit organizations achieve the highest standards of board leadership, governance and oversight.

Prior to joining NYCON and BoardStrong in 2022, Megan founded and led a grant-writing service at Capital Region BOCES that helped nonprofits, school districts, BOCES and municipalities statewide realize more than $105 million in funding. In the past 20 years Megan has also worked in communications and development for nonprofit organizations and led two non-profit boards. Today she is a board member for the Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center.

Since joining NYCON in 2022, Megan has worked to strengthen the organization’s day-to-day operations and expand on its reputation as a leader in the nonprofit sector. Following a Member Outreach Tour that saw Megan meeting with members from across the state in 2022, she has focused in 2023 on implementing the feedback received to expand services. Including, she has also built on NYCON’s previous advocacy efforts, releasing the first annual State of the Sector report in early 2023. Diversifying NYCON’s funding sources, including strengthening existing funder relationships while building new ones has also been a focus. “I remain thrilled to be at NYCON, working with a wonderful staff and board to help support all of the amazing nonprofit organizations in New York State. I can’t wait to see what the year(s) ahead bring!”

Mr. Andrew is President and CEO of Council Services Plus (CS Plus), an insurance brokerage headquartered in New York State. Mr. Andrew has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and currently holds licenses for Life, Health, Property and Casualty. He is also a Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) designation holder.
He is a frequent speaker on issues such as employee benefits and risk management. He has contributed to, and been quoted on, nonprofit insurance issues in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the Nonprofit Risk Management Center's e-newsletter, and Guidestar's e-newsletter. In addition, Peter has provided trainings to New York State Society of CPAs, The National Council of Nonprofits and the NYS Attorney General's Charites Bureau.
Peter previously served on the Board of Directors of Good Causes, a nonprofit that supports and promotes affordable and comprehensive insurance for New York Nonprofits. Previously, served as President of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center based in Leesburg, VA, is a past President of the Northeastern New York Chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters {NAHU) and served on the board of directors of the NYS Association of Health Underwriters (NYSAHU).

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.
Helping chart new courses, implement innovative new programs and partnerships, and build strong infrastructure to support internal and external operations is key. Mary Lou works to encourage and inspire organizations to return to their heart center, their purpose, and to engage staff, boards, and community stakeholders to build sustainable organizations together.

Rachel DeMatteo is the Director and Market Leader for Your Part-Time Controller, LLC’s New York office. With 18 years of experience working with nonprofits, she has served across all sectors and is the leader of YPTC’s foundations specialization. Rachel is a CPA and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Pittsburgh, where she graduated summa cum laude.
Rachel is an active member of the NYSSCPAs’s Not-for-Profit Organizations committee and serves as Treasurer for Colt Coeur Theater Company.

John T. Kuznia is Truman Solutions’ owner and principal consultant. He has over 35 years experience in business administration as a CFO and HR Director, with the last 20 years working primarily in the nonprofit sector. As a consultant, he has assisted dozens of companies by filling interim leadership roles, managing transformative projects, or providing ongoing support of the organization’s financial or human resources functions. He earned his CPA while working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Albany, and is certified as a Sr. Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and a SHRM-SCP.
John also taught as an adjunct instructor in Human Resource Management at the Sage Graduate School, and as a guest lecturer at UAlbany. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Capital Region Human Resource Association. He also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of CAPTAIN/CHS, a local human services agency.

Allen L. Fetterman, CPA, MBA lectures extensively on not-for-profit accounting, auditing, federal single audits, tax-exempt issues and governance. He speaks at conferences, seminars and webcasts throughout the country. Allen was an assistant professor of accounting at a local college and a guest lecturer at Yale University and New York University. He was a member of the Faculty Bank of the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE). He is a past recipient of both the AICPA's and the FAE's Outstanding Discussion Leader Award. He has written articles published in national accounting periodicals in the United States and Israel on accounting and taxes for not-for-profit entities.

Allen served on the American Institute of CPAs Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee, Not-for-Profit Audit and Accounting Guide Task Force and Joint Trial Board. He chaired the New York State Society of CPAs Not-for-Profit Organizations, Professional Ethics, Audit, and Quality Controls Committees and the AICPA Joint Trial Board. He also served as Vice-President of the New York State Society of CPAs and as a Trustee of the Foundation for Accounting Education.

Allen retired in 2003 from Loeb & Troper, where he spent thirty-six years serving not-for-profit entities as an auditor and consultant, the last twenty-five years as a partner. In addition to his client responsibilities, he was the partner in charge of the firm’s quality controls and technical resources.

Allen received his BBA in Accounting from The City College of New York in 1968 and his MBA in Accounting from the Bernard M. Baruch College in 1972. He was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honorary society in business. He received his CPA certificate in 1973 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Allen has served on the governing boards of not-for-profit organizations, including positions as President, Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee. Allen and Mimi, his wife of 53 years, live in West Nyack, New York. They have two sons and four grandchildren.

Eric Laughlin has spent over 15 years serving both the nonprofit sector and the insurance industry. Born with a deep sense of compassion and a drive for excellence, Eric's journey has been marked by his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. Eric's early years were shaped by a strong sense of community and a desire to lend a helping hand to those in need. As he grew older, he realized that combining his passion for service with a career in insurance could provide him with the means to protect and empower individuals and organizations. Eric's professional journey began with the pursuit of knowledge and expertise. He obtained his Life, Accident, and Health Insurance licenses (LAH), providing him with a strong foundation in the insurance field and later obtained his Property and Casualty Insurance (P&C) license. His thirst for knowledge didn't stop there, as in 2015, he achieved the Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) designation, a testament to his dedication to staying at the forefront of industry best practices. However, it was Eric's profound commitment to the nonprofit sector that truly set him apart. For more than 15 years, he has dedicated his time and skills to nonprofit organizations, helping them navigate the complexities of insurance and risk management. His guidance has enabled numerous nonprofits to fulfill their missions and serve their communities effectively, even in challenging times. He understands the unique needs and challenges faced by nonprofits and is passionate about ensuring they have the protection and support required to thrive.

Ms. Litwack has worked in accounting since 2005 and has played a pivotal role in transforming client accounting engagements. She specializes in providing financial and organizational solutions to nonprofit organizations, utilizing state of the art technology combined with deep industry expertise. Ms. Litwack brings value to organizations through her proficiency in systems design, cloud technologies, audit preparedness, and accounting best practices.
Ms. Litwack was chair of CPA.com’s Digital CPA Advisory Board and has been recognized by City & State NY’s as a 2025 Above & Beyond: Social Services honoree. She serves as Treasurer of I Support the Girls, a national nonprofit that distributes essential hygiene items to those in need and is a board member of the BBB NY Education and Research Foundation. A thought leader across the accounting profession, she was appointed to the AICPA PCPS Executive Committee, serves as an advisor to the AICPA Startup Accelerator, and is a member of CPA.com’s CAS Advisory Council. Ms. Litwack also contributes her expertise as a judge for the Black Ambition Prize and as a member of the BILL Advisory Council.
Internally, Ms. Litwack is a founding member of Women on the Move, GRF’s women’s leadership initiative formalized in 2019. She is also a member of the Information Technology Alliance (ITA), an independent membership association that brings together mid-market technology professionals, consultants, and product/service providers to share information, learn best practices, improve their service capabilities, and build relationships that improve the way they, and their clients, do business. She serves on the firm’s DEI Council and leads GRF’s Employee Resource Groups, along with the firm’s technology and innovation strategy.

Vincent Marrone has worked in public policy, politics, community organizing and advocacy since 1986. Mr. Marrone was a Senior Legislative Assistant to the New York State Assembly Committee on Health for six years. His responsibilities included HIV/AIDS, substance use, legal drugs, tobacco and life and law issues. From 1993 through 1995, he was the Director of Government Relations and Strategic Planning for the AIDS Institute of the New York State Department of Health. At the Institute, he directed education and advocacy around AIDS policy and funding issues in Washington, D.C. and Albany. From 1996-1998, Mr. Marrone was the Director of Public Policy for the Lindesmith Center, a drug policy think tank at George Soros’s Open Society Institute. He also worked for the Research and Policy Reform Center, Inc. (RPR), a 501(c)(4) established by Mr. Soros to advocate on public policy issues. At RPR, Mr. Marrone worked with advocates, lobbyists and elected officials on matters pending in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and other locations around the country. From 1998-2000, Mr. Marrone was Director of Government Relations at The After-School Corporation, a public foundation supported by the Open Society Institute to expand the quantity and quality of after-school programs in New York State. In 2001, Mr. Marrone founded Public Strategies, LLC, which serves a variety of non-profit, foundation, and corporate clients with services that include strategic planning, government relations, lobbying, media relations and advocacy skills building. Mr. Marrone is a graduate of Cornell University, and grew up in Syracuse, New York. He now resides in Cross River, New York, with his wife and son.

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.

Mark Tessar is an accomplished Senior Audit Manager with over 16 years of experience specializing in audits of tax-exempt organizations, including charities, private foundations, professional associations, and other nonprofit entities. As a licensed CPA and CIA, he brings deep expertise in both external and internal audit functions, with a strong focus on risk assessment, compliance, and governance. His work includes significant experience auditing international organizations and navigating the complexities of cross-border operations, global regulatory requirements, and multi-currency financial reporting. In addition to leading external audit engagements, Mark has conducted internal audits for a range of organizations, offering strategic insights that enhance accountability and strengthen control environments.

Mr. Tessar is responsible for performing fieldwork and reviewing the work of audit staff, and client interaction on audits performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, Government Auditing Standards and the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). In addition, he ensures the efficient, timely and accurate completion of fieldwork, audit report preparation and other key deliverables.

Michael West is a Senior Vice President and the Senior Attorney at the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. He has served as a staff attorney with NYCON since 2002 and presently oversees NYCON’s Legal Services Group. Although he has represented clients in all areas of criminal and civil litigation, Mr. West’s practice has long been devoted exclusively to addressing issues concerning tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations, particularly those matters implicating corporate, tax, contract, real property and employment law. He is a recognized and respected advocate, not only for his own clients, but for the nonprofit community as a whole.

Mr. West provides a wide variety of legal services to charitable organizations, educational institutions and religious orders. Long-term, diversified professional engagements facilitated by NYCON have enabled him to develop expertise in numerous specialized areas of law unique to nonprofits—from corporate restructuring to property tax-exemption, and worker classification to restricted fund expenditures. Mike is, perhaps, most highly regarded for the innovation, dedication, effort and empathy that he exhibits in defense of nonprofits struggling to address seemingly insurmountable financial, regulatory or public relations predicaments among other forms of organizational crisis. He also regularly conducts training sessions for nonprofit boards of directors and executive staff, Continuing Legal Education classes for attorneys and discussions and seminars for the general public concerning charitable organizations, in addition, to offering testimony before legislative and regulatory authorities.

Michael West is admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York and is a graduate of Rutgers University and Albany Law School where he was recognized as a New York Chief Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo scholar and served as an Executive Editor with the Albany Law Review.