Meet Our Leadership Team

Michelle Gramoglia is the President and CEO of Woodland Pond at New Paltz, a Lifeplan Community in the Hudson Valley of New York. Michelle earned her Bachelor’s of Accounting from UMASS Amherst and embarked on a career in public accounting. Seven years in, Michelle realized that she was seeking something more fulfilling, and ended up taking an indirect but fortuitous path to her position at Woodland Pond. Having been with the community since construction, and a challenging fill period after the community opened in 2009, Michelle has seen extreme challenges and opportunities at Woodland Pond, and in the industry. Michelle joined the CCRC Cabinet of LeadingAgeNY in 2012, eventually becoming Vice President, then President of the Cabinet, a position that she has handed over to her successor this summer. Michelle is a voting board member of Smiley Brother’s Inc. (“Mohonk Mountain House”), and of Diaz Memorial Ambulance Service, Inc. in Saugerties, NY.

Michelle and her husband are happily raising two very active, engaged children, spending all free time at one travel sport or another.

Christi graduated from Marist College in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Christi has over 25 years of experience working in the healthcare finance field. Prior to coming to Woodland Pond in 2009, she worked at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck N.Y. It was here that she realized how much she enjoyed working with and being around seniors. She resides in Dutchess County with her husband Jeff and four children Nick, Brady, Dara and Tristan. When not working her time is mostly spent as a “soccer mom”.

Rob has worked in long term health care for the past 25 years in regard to Environmental Services and central supply, including 22 years at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck N.Y. Rob started his career as a housekeeper, working his way up to Environmental Services Supervisor, then Manager. Rob also spent time at The Baptist home in Rhinebeck managing their central supplies department.

Tom holds a Bachelors degree from SUNY Oswego in Industrial Arts Education. He completed the Facilities Management Certificate Program at NYU and was a certified NYS Code Enforcement Officer. Tom was an Industrial Arts Teacher for a while then went into Facilities Management. Over the past 25 years Tom has managed the facilities and operations of senior housing, retail, public schools, and human service agencies in the Hudson Valley.

Shannon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Health Service Management. With immense experience in marketing and administration, she began her career at Woodland Pond as the Marketing Coordinator in 2013 and transitioned into her role as Director of Marketing. Shannon’s personality, skills and desire to help senior adults are a perfect match for this position. She truly enjoys helping new residents plan their retirement at Woodland Pond.

Shannon resides in Marlboro, with her husband, four children and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Jason Irish, the Director of Concierge & Communication Services, has been on staff at Woodland Pond since April 2015.  His hard work, dedication and 18 plus years’ experience in customer service has allowed him to blossom into the position he currently holds.  Prior to Woodland Pond, Jason worked at Mohonk Mountain House for 8 years, starting there during his senior year at SUNY New Paltz.  Jason resides in Lagrange with his wife and two children.  Most hours away from work are spent with his family; at his kids’ practices and games or being the handyman at one of his wife’s fitness studios.

Phil has been in the Hospitality Industry for more than half of his life. He knew from the age of 8 (when he asked for an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas) that culinary was a passion that he wanted to pursue. Phil graduated with a double major from Johnson & Wales University and has since worked in cities such as Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. In 2021, he planted his roots in Dutchess County with his Wife Amber and Daughter Josephine (Josie). When he is not a work, Phil is honing his skills in shuffleboard as he is a world champion silver medalist with dreams to win gold.

Sarah has been serving seniors for over 20 years. Her experience began as an activity leader, personal care aide and housekeeper at an adult home. She then earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and art therapy with a focus on seniors and her master’s degree in Gerontology with a graduate certificate in death and dying.

After college, Sarah held positions as a geriatric care manager for Sherwood Associates, case manager at a Hyatt senior living community and a care consultant for the Alzheimer’s Association. She then found her home at Woodland Pond as the Resident Services Director, supervising the concierge, activities coordinator, wellness nurse, transportation services and providing social work services to residents.

Philip Mehl, LMSW, NHA, RAC-CT has worked in health care for over 25 years. He has experience working as a Social Worker and Director in long term care, acute care, medical surgical units, emergency departments and trauma centers. Philip did his undergraduate studies in Social Work at New York University and obtained his MSW from Columbia University. He received his Nursing Home Administrator’s License in 2008 and has helped facilities reach and maintain 5 Stars on the Medicare.gov website. Philip serves as a consultant for LeadingAge New York, where he assists other long term care facilities develop quality systems. He has been the recipient of Leadership awards from The American College of Health Care Administrators and The Healthcare Association of New York State.

Philip brings to his work a strong focus on Person Centered Care, workplace culture, and sustaining quality initiatives through team building, effective communication, and root cause analysis. Philip has a strong background in music and theater and spends his time between New York City and the Hudson Valley, where he currently lives with his husband and two beautiful daughters.

Debra Vining has worked in long term care for over 12yrs. The last 7yrs serving as the Director of Nursing in long term care.  Debra knew early on in her nursing career that long term care nursing was her passion. Debra is excited to bring her love of nursing and experience to the Woodland Pond family.  She resides in Ulster Park, New York with her husband and children.

Jonathan brings over twenty-five years of experience as an Occupational Therapist and over five years supervisory experience to the Rehab Department at Woodland Pond. During this time, he has worked in a variety of settings, but ultimately found working with seniors to be the most rewarding.

Prior to receiving an advanced degree in Occupational Therapy, Jonathan worked for a community mental health center in New Jersey where he earned his Certificate in Social Work. His training as a Social Worker makes him uniquely qualified – not only to work with patients whose lives have been altered by accident or injury – but also to support the people whose job it is to assist those individuals with the task of rebuilding their lives.

Originally graduating from SUNY at New Paltz with a degree in Art, he fell in love with the Hudson Valley and returned here to live. His background as an artist allows him to approach problems creatively – viewing them with a global perspective that generally yields results. This training has been instrumental in the creation of adaptive devices and treatment strategies that have facilitated a greater level of independence for his clients.

Before stepping into the role of Director, Jonathan has been with the Rehab Department at Woodland Pond since just after it opened its doors. Over the years, he has developed a sense of belonging and a deep commitment to our residents. He has established a working rapport with members of every department and has created a “lead by example” role in affecting change. Throughout his years as a therapist, Jonathan has been successful in bringing a personal quality and enthusiasm to his work that transcends the process of providing rehabilitative care.

Chris joined the Woodland Pond Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves on the Executive and Finance Committees. The Jazz and Psychology programs at SUNY New Paltz lured Chris from northwestern Connecticut to the Hudson Valley in 1996. With a B.A. in Psychology, he remained at SUNY New Paltz for graduate studies in Experimental Psychology and Counseling and served as an Admissions Officer, Academic Advisor, Instructor in the Psychology Department and ice hockey coach. He entered the financial-life-planning profession in 2001 and went on to found Beyond Wealth Management, a boutique firm with expertise helping clients develop strategies for college, estate planning, asset protection, investment management and closely held business succession. He frequently speaks at industry conventions about helping clients make informed decisions where money, life and family collide. Chris is Chair Emeritus, Board of Directors, New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a former Trustee of the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum.

Chris, his wife, Christy, and their two girls make their home in the heart of the Mid-Hudson Valley where they always find time to savor the cultural and outdoor offerings of the region. Chris enjoys cooking, having racked up thirty hours of professional chef continuing-education credits, and plays the drums as part of the music accompaniment at his church’s services.

Several decades ago, Michael discovered New Paltz during a fling climbing in the Shawangunks. When he was offered a job at Marist College as Assistant Professor in the Biology Department, New Paltz was the only place he and his wife looked for a home. They had fallen in love with this town, and 25 years later, they still love calling it their home. Michael began his civic work as a member of the New Paltz Environmental Conservation Commission. He later chaired that commission. He co-chaired the New Paltz Open Space Committee, which oversaw preparation of the community’s open space inventory, a plan for the conservation of open space, and a successful $2,000,000 open-space-bond referendum. He was elected twice to the Village Board of Trustees, where he also served as the Deputy Mayor. He was appointed to the Village’s Planning Board in 2011 and chaired that board for several years. He is currently on the advisory councils of Historic Huguenot Street and The Mill Brook Preserve.

Michael is trained as a facilitator in land-use conflict resolution. He has trained others in these skills, and has facilitated meetings concerning two local projects, one being Woodland Pond. He is an avid reader of science fiction, general interest science, urban planning, and history. He raises Newfoundland dogs, loves to cook, and is trying to perfect his homemade pizza.

Dr. Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the West Indies-Mona, Kingston. She also has an M.S.Ed., and a Ph.D, both in special education, from Southern Illinois University. Dr. Garrick Duhaney has held a broad range of teaching and administrative positions in Jamaica and the United States. She joined the SUNY New Paltz faculty in fall of 1996 as a professor of special education and, since June 2004, has held the positions of Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School. She served the college as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2010-11. As Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Garrick Duhaney administers New Paltz’s more than 50 masters and advanced study programs. In November 2016 she was appointed Interim Dean of Extended Learning.

Dr. Garrick Duhaney has held a number of teaching positions and is the recipient of a distinguished teaching award. Her research interests include inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms, meeting the educational needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and responsive teacher education for a diverse society. She has published dozens of articles and several book chapters in various refereed scholarly publications. She also has given several keynote addresses and numerous presentations at various international, national, and regional professional meetings. She has served as editor, associate editor, and reviewer for several refereed publications. Dr. Garrick Duhaney has received many awards including a United States Agency for International Development scholarship, a nomination to the National Institute for Urban School Improvement, a P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship, and the 1992 Illinois Congress of Parent and Teachers Special Education Annual Scholarship.

Dr. Dick Barry has occupied many roles in a long career in education: high school English teacher, multi-department supervisor, principal, district director of education, university lecturer, editor of educational newsletters, presenter at regional and national conferences, and curriculum consultant to a dozen Long Island school districts. He has also served on numerous community councils, boards and committees. A Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude graduate of New York University where he obtained an M.A., Dick then earned a second master’s degree and his doctorate from Columbia University, all four degrees on full fellowships and in related fields of English. He also did post-doctoral work at Harvard in strategic organizational planning and at Hunter College in administrative leadership.

Over a thirty-year span Dick has worked with Literacy Volunteers of America, tutoring adults in basic literacy, and he also conducted evening classes preparing adults for the high school equivalency exams. In retirement Dick has published twelve books, two specifically recounting his first two years and then eight years of residency at Woodland Pond, titled Experiencing Woodland Pond and Celebrating Woodland Pond.

Tracy Badgley has a personal connection with Woodland Pond since she would often visit her aunt, now deceased, who was a resident. Over the years, she has also had Woodland Pond residents as tax clients. In addition, she knows business colleagues and various friends, previous neighbors and acquaintances who currently reside at Woodland Pond.

A Certified Public Accountant, Tracy is a partner at PKF O’Connor Davies with over twenty-five years of distinguished public accounting experience. Her professional focus includes women-owned businesses, not-for-profit organizations, management transitions, financial statement preparation, representation before state and federal tax authorities, divorce advisory services, employee benefit plans and corporate tax structuring.

Tracy serves on the Business Advisory Council for SUNY New Paltz where she provides real world advice to the School of Business. She is a member of both the New York State Society of CPAs (where she is a past-President of the Mid-Hudson Chapter and currently serves on the Executive Board) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Tracy also serves as a professional advisor to the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan and is a current board member of the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce and Dispute Resolution Association. She holds a B.A. from Hofstra University School of Business.

With a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University and an M.Div. from Yale University, Dr. Stephen Bauman has been a pastor of several Methodist churches in various locations including New Paltz, Georgetown and Long Ridge, Ct. and, most recently, Manhattan, New York, from which position he recently retired. In this post, he organized and implemented city-wide, national and international outreach programs addressing human deprivations and crises, developed multi-million-dollar budgets, supervised the restoration and renovation of an historically significant physical plant and initiated the development of a mission statement, core values and strategic planning processes.

The founder and co-chair of The Partnership of Faith in New York City, a consortium of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders, Stephen was a long-time award-winning radio commentator on WCBS News Radio and hosted a television program promoting interfaith cooperation. His background also includes work with Covenant House, a Manhattan shelter for runaway children living on the streets, and a groundbreaking program for mothers with children 0-3 years old living below the poverty line in Washington Heights, NY. He comes to us with vast experience serving on multiple boards, and he is a published author. In retirement, he resides with his wife, Melissa, in High Falls.

After a long and varied career, Dean Lewallen was delighted to join the ranks of semi-retired professionals in the spring of 2019 and embark on the start of his ‘third career’. His first commenced post B.A. as a mental health worker and professional fund raiser. Post-graduate school marked the start of his second, with a thirty-eight-year run in tax-exempt/public finance as a key member of the portfolio management teams at leading investment, financial guaranty and financial advisory companies. For his third act, his focus will be serving on non-profit boards in a volunteer capacity as well as part-time representation of creditors overseeing restructured non-profit organizations and companies.

Most recently, Mr. Lewallen was Senior Vice President and High-Yield Municipal Credit Analyst with AllianceBernstein, where he utilized his sophisticated analytical skills developed through the negotiation and structuring of new (as well as the restructuring of distressed) high-yield tax-exempt securities/private placements. This included responsibility for a wide variety of credit sectors including senior/assisted living, land secured, affordable housing, lower-rated health care and project finance revenue bonds. Prior to AB, he did much the same at Dreyfus/BNY Mellon, Prudential Financial, and MBIA. He started in 1981 as a financial advisor to local government clients of the Bank of New York.

In a volunteer capacity, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Leopold Schepp Foundation in New York.

Mr. Lewallen was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He earned his B.A. “With Distinction” in 1975 from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a major in Psychology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Psi Chi national honorary societies. After moving to New York State, he received his M.B.A. in Finance from Cornell University in 1981. Over the years, he gave numerous presentations at industry conferences and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 from Smith’s Research & Ratings Review, an industry publication.

Marc A. Schain is the managing partner of the New Paltz office of Schain and Company, a full service Certified Public Accounting firm with offices in New Paltz, New York and Coral Springs, Florida. In addition, Marc is also a licensed investment representative.

Marc currently serves as President of The Jewish Congregation of New Paltz. He has previously served as President of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and Wiltwyck Golf Club, the Paltz Club and the Treasurer of the Jewish Federation of Ulster County and of The Jewish Congregation of New Paltz. Marc has also previously served on the boards of The Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Music in the Mountains and McKenna Productions, Inc. Marc is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and has practiced in New Paltz since 1975. His practice consists of serving many small businesses providing tax, accounting cash flow analysis, forecasting and business valuations. He is also a financial advisor with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisors, LLC Cetera entities are under separate ownership from any other named entity (70 N. Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY, 12561 (845) 255-5888).

Marc is a graduate of Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, NY and The New York Institute of Technology with a B.S. degree in Accounting. Marc, along with his wife, Colleen, and their two Labrador Retrievers live in High Falls, N.Y. Credentials: Licensed CPA, Series 7, Series 66, Registered Investment Advisor, Life and health insurance, Certification for Long-Term Care, Certification for NYS Partnership for Long-Term Care.

Ray and his wife, Anne, became residents of Woodland Pond in March 2011. Both were charter members of the Editorial Committee of “The Gardiner Gazette.” Anne published “The Silence of the Bell: Monitoring Eastern Box Turtles with Australian Cattle Dogs”; both compiled two editions of “Wartimes Remembered: World War II and Korea”; and after Anne was diagnosed with corticobasal syndrome and died in 2020, Ray wrote “Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: My Wife’s Ordeal.”
He is a former chair of Woodland Pond’s Mill Brook Preserve Committee (now the Land Conservation Committee). Ray has served as a board member and chair of the Finance Committee of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust; as a trustee of the Pound Ridge Library; and managed two successful municipal ballot propositions to fund the preservation of open space, one in Pound Ridge and one in Gardiner, NY.
Ray was a Fulbright Scholar and has a B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

Sally Cross was appointed President & CEO of the Community Foundations in June of 2020. She first joined the Foundations in 2014 as Director of Planned Giving, and later as Vice President for Philanthropy. As CEO, she leads CFHV’s work to provide community and philanthropic leadership to inspire and celebrate local charitable giving and civic engagement. Working with dedicated volunteers, nonprofit and civic leaders, generous individuals, and others, she promotes philanthropic investments to build an equitable and inclusive Hudson Valley.
Her career as a nonprofit development professional includes leading SUNY New Paltz’s Foundation and Alumni Affairs, Portland State University’s College of Engineering, and Oregon Wild. She received her BA in Political Science and Economics from Columbia University’s Barnard College and a MPA in Nonprofit Leadership from Portland State University. Sally is a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) and has been an adjunct professor in Bay Path University’s graduate program in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy. She currently serves on the board of the Hudson Valley Estate Planning Council and the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.
Sally discovered New Paltz and the Gunks while in college and moved to Rosendale in 2001 where she lives less than a mile from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail with her husband Mark, assorted pets, and a big garden.