Below is a list of our former Professional Advisor Council members.

(as of April 1, 2024)

VICKI R. BRACKENS

When Vicki served on the Community Foundation board, she was president of Brackens Financial Solutions Network. Brackens co-hosted Financial Fitness on PBS affiliate WCNY-Syracuse, from 2012-15. She served on the board of directors at Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and served as a board member of the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology. She was a member of the Syracuse Area Salvation Army advisory board, and The Raymond von Dran IDEA board of advisors.

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Elaine Buffington, CPA

Partner, Dannible & McKee LLP
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Jack Capron

Principal, The Bonadio Group
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Peter L. Derrenbacker

Wealth Management Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Caragh Fahy, CFP

Caragh Fahy, CFP®

President & Owner, Madison Financial Planning Group

When Caragh served on the Community Foundation board, she had more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Caragh earned the Certified Financial Planner™ certification through the American College. She was Past-President and board member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). She was also invited to be one of 500 financial advisors to attend the exclusive Barron’s Top Women’s Summit. Prior to joining the board, Caragh served on the Community Foundation’s Professional Advisory Council. She also formerly served as Chair of the Women’s Fund of Central New York, an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation, which provides grants to local organizations that serve the needs of women and girls. Read More

Lee Gatta CLU, ChFC, AEP

Lee Gatta CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®

Financial Planner, Prudential Financial

 

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Gary Grossman, CPA/CFP

Consultant, Grossman St. Amour
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R. Andrew Hagen, CFP®

Financial Consultant, Equitable Advisors

Marion Hancock Fish

When Marion served on the Community Foundation board she was partner at Hancock Estabrook, LLP and a board member of several organizations including the New York State Bar Foundation, Onondaga Citizens League and Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. She was also involved with the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New York, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Foundation.

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Scott Harris

Vice President, Wealth Management, Empower Federal Credit Union
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Cole Henderson, CFP

Senior Vice President/Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

MADELYN H. HORNSTEIN

When Madelyn served on the Community Foundation board, she had been with Dermody, Burke & Brown since 1983 and served as the firm’s chief executive officer. Madelyn is a graduate of SUNY Cortland and holds an MBA from Syracuse University. She is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Women Presidents’ Organization, and was on the Firm Management and Nominating Committees for Allinial Global. Madelyn served as a board member for both CenterState CEO and the WISE Women’s Business Center, and was involved with the Professional Advisor Council and Mentoring program at Syracuse University.

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Karl Jacob, CPA/PFS

Tax Partner, Dannible & McKee LLP
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John King

Attorney/Retired
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Emilee Lawson Hatch

Estate Planning Attorney, Bousquet Holstein, PLLC
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Lisa Miller, CFP

Financial Planner, Equitable Advisors
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Kevin Nass

Retired, Fust Charles Chambers
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Richard Neal

Senior Vice President/Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
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Anne Ruffer

Estate Planning Attorney, Mackenzie Hughes LLP

MICHAEL E. O’CONNOR

Mike graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Syracuse University College of Law. He works as a trust and estate attorney and is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He once served as its past state chairman. He was an adjunct professor of taxation in the Syracuse University School of Law Master’s Program. He also served as board chair of Aurora of CNY and the Community Foundation.

“My field of practice is trusts and estates, and I do a lot of estate planning. I was very happy to be asked to be on the board. It’s always been thought of as one of the best boards to be on, the most pleasant experience, and it was. One of the purposes of the board was to have your finger on the pulse of the community. My fellow board members were on various boards and knew an awful lot about the community. Everybody didn’t know everything about everything, but in a group, you got a lot of input, which was very important.”

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Martin Schwab Headshot

Martin A. Schwab

Trusts and Estates Tax Attorney, Bond, Schoeneck & King

Compliance Officer

CHRISTINE WOODCOCK DETTOR

After graduating from Wellesley College and the Syracuse University College of Law, Christine has been leading a successful law career. When she served on the Community Foundation board, she was a partner with Bousquet Holstein, PLLC. Her philanthropic contributions include board service with Manlius Pebble Hill School and Loretto Management Corporation.

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Mark Worden

Senior Vice President - Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, UBS Financial Services Inc.

News & Stories

News Releases November 12, 2024

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed 19 grants totaling $239,850 from its Black ...

Blogs October 29, 2024

What We Are Up To | CNYCF Staff Updates

Read on to learn about the expertise amongst our team members as they drive change ...

Blogs October 25, 2024

How One Woman's Journey Fuels a Vision for Inclusive Support and Advocacy

Hear from Chayna Short, founder of Women Overcoming Obstacles Together, about how her transformative experiences ...

Blogs October 25, 2024

Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

With high hopes for a safe future for both the environment and the wildlife within ...

News Releases October 23, 2024

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

Resilia offers technology and one-to-one coaching to support effectiveness, creativity, and workflow in nonprofits across ...

Stories October 22, 2024

National Estate Planning Week

As we enter National Estate Planning Awareness Week, now's a good time for a brief ...

News Releases October 9, 2024

Four Local Organizations Graduate from Leadership Training Program

In May, leaders from four local grassroots groups celebrated their completion of The Leadership Classroom ...

News Releases October 8, 2024

Software Conversion Update

Important information about our software conversion and expected service suspensions and delays.

hand holding growing money
Publications September 16, 2024

Advising The Charitable Millionaire Next Door

With so many of your charitably-inclined clients holding large sums of money in 401(k)s and ...

News Releases November 12, 2024

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed 19 grants totaling $239,850 from its Black ...

Blogs October 29, 2024

What We Are Up To | CNYCF Staff Updates

Read on to learn about the expertise amongst our team members as they drive change ...

Blogs October 25, 2024

How One Woman's Journey Fuels a Vision for Inclusive Support and Advocacy

Hear from Chayna Short, founder of Women Overcoming Obstacles Together, about how her transformative experiences ...

Blogs October 25, 2024

Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

With high hopes for a safe future for both the environment and the wildlife within ...

News Releases October 23, 2024

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

Resilia offers technology and one-to-one coaching to support effectiveness, creativity, and workflow in nonprofits across ...

Stories October 22, 2024

National Estate Planning Week

As we enter National Estate Planning Awareness Week, now's a good time for a brief ...

News Releases October 9, 2024

Four Local Organizations Graduate from Leadership Training Program

In May, leaders from four local grassroots groups celebrated their completion of The Leadership Classroom ...

News Releases October 8, 2024

Software Conversion Update

Important information about our software conversion and expected service suspensions and delays.

hand holding growing money
Publications September 16, 2024

Advising The Charitable Millionaire Next Door

With so many of your charitably-inclined clients holding large sums of money in 401(k)s and ...

News & Stories