Bios - Staff and Board
Staff
Laura Caruso, Executive Director
Laura and her husband have lived in Pelham since 2012, where they raised their two children—both proud graduates of Pelham Memorial High School. She joined Pelham Together (formerly the Pelham PACT Coalition) in 2016 and has led the organization through a period of exciting growth, including the launch of its Youth Council and the expansion of mental health counseling services.
Before her work in Pelham, Laura spent a decade at a Manhattan-based nonprofit serving homeless families and children, ultimately as Vice President for Management and Budget, and later taught third grade in the Bronx.
Laura holds a degree in Economics from Colgate University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Education from Lehman College. She loves working in the community that gave so much to her family, and continuing to support young people is the best part of her job. When she’s not working, you can find her taking long walks or watching college basketball—preferably in person.
John Elliott, Director of Strategy & Communications
John Elliott moved to Pelham with his wife and 2 daughters in 2007 looking for a great community in which to raise their children. A former advertising and marketing executive, he brings more than 30 years of experience in communications, customer insight and strategic planning to Pelham Together.
In his years in Pelham John has volunteered as a rec soccer coach, rebuilt the Community Church website and lent a hand organizing the Pelham Half and 10K. His time at Pelham Together started in 2022 when he volunteered to help Pelicones, our youth-run ice cream truck business. This experience—and his belief in the importance of our mission—ed to him joining our board in 2023 and ultimately joining the staff in 2024. Now he uses his combination of professional and personal experience to connect the programs and benefits of Peltham Together to the needs of our community.
John graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in Marketing and Finance. When he’s not working you can find him running throughout Pelham when it is warm and skiing in Vermont when the snow falls.
Kim Trapasso, LCSW, PT Counseling Program Manager/Supervisor
Kim is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with more than a decade of experience supporting children and families. Before joining Pelham Together in 2023 to help launch Pelham Together Counseling, she worked as a clinician at the Westchester Institute for Human Development’s Family Program, providing therapy and support to families in the Westchester County Child Welfare system. She’s trained in several evidence-based practices and has extensive experience offering individual and group therapy, leading caregiver support groups, and mentoring graduate social work students.
Kim earned her MSW from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service and holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. A Westchester resident for much of her life, she loves using art and play therapy to connect with children. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband and two daughters, being crafty, and exploring nature together.
Linda Woodward, Program Coordinator
Linda and her husband have called Pelham home since 2006, where they’ve raised their three children. With more than 30 years in education as a high school science and special education teacher, she’s always been passionate about helping students grow and reach their full potential. An active part of the Pelham community, Linda has served on the Junior League of Pelham, the Pelham Education Foundation, and the Community Care Center, as well as in leadership roles across PTAs, including Hutchinson, PMHS, SEPTA, and PTAC. After three years on the Pelham Together Board, she now serves as Program Coordinator, continuing her lifelong commitment to youth and education. A curious lifelong learner, Linda loves traveling with her family, spending time in Rhode Island, and gazing up at the night sky—her favorite reminder to keep exploring, keep learning, and stay connected to the world around her.
Olivia Ting, Youth Advocate
Olivia (she/they) grew up in Pelham and has found home in many places: New York City, where she swam competitively for 10 years, Somerville, Massachusetts where she graduated from Tufts University with a degree in English and Sociology, and Annecy, France where she au paired for a year. Pelham, however, has always been the homebase; and it is with great pleasure that Olivia now gets to combine their skills in conducting community-based research, executing grassroots-oriented, mission-driven projects, and equipping our youth with dynamic skill sets. Olivia brings to Pelham Together a deep commitment to service—having written their thesis on HPV awareness and worked at the International Rescue Committee helping refugee families navigate resettlement services—and an acute awareness of intersectionality in communities. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys swimming in cold waters and knitting sweaters, and she loves talking about her favorite books.
Executive Board
Leah Tahbaz, Chair & President
Leah, her husband Chris, and their four kids moved to Pelham in 2003. All four Tahbazs attended Siwanoy, Pelham Middle School and Pelham Memorial High School. A former attorney, Leah is a long-time volunteer, serving Pelham’s youth and families on the Boards of: The Pelham Children’s Center, The Junior League, The Pelham Education Foundation, The Siwanoy PTA, PTA Council, The Community Care Center and PACT (precursors to Pelham Together), and The Pelham Board of Education. Most days she can be spotted walking around town—with a friend, listening to an audiobook, or with her dog, Millie. One of her biggest smiles comes from watching teens gain confidence and make friends through Pelham Together. Leah is proud that PT Counseling offers mental health care to young people, and work experience to social work students.
Liza Benner, Member
Liza is a Marriage and Family Therapist who works at the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center and in private practice. She and her husband moved to Pelham in 2016 with their two children, now students at Siwanoy and PMS. Drawn to Pelham’s small-town feel and tight-knit community, Liza found those same qualities reflected in Pelham Together—an organization dedicated to looking out for all kids and families. She is passionate about Pelham Together’s mission to help young people build meaningful connections—to one another, to the community, and to their own passions—while also providing parents with resources and support to navigate the challenges of raising kids today. Since becoming involved in 2019, Liza has loved watching the organization grow and evolve, and she looks forward to being a part of how that continues. You might spot her around town walking with her weighted vest and her little dog, Larry.
Geraldine Kurtz, Member
Geraldine moved to Pelham with her husband, Ryan, in March 2020—the same day remote work began “for two weeks” that lasted much longer! Raised in Paris by a French father and American mother, she attended Ecole Jeannine Manuel and later earned degrees from New York University, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Columbia University School of Social Work. Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, GK worked as a clinician and compliance team member at the Metropolitan Center for Mental Health and later as a counselor at NYU’s Wellness Services. She has a deep interest in mental health, education, and community well-being. Serving on the Pelham Together Board allows her to support youth and families while staying connected to a mission she cares deeply about. When she’s not volunteering or spending time with her two young children, GK enjoys travel, cooking, and walks around town with friends.
Marcos Rollan, Member
Marcos and his wife moved to Pelham in 2016 after 18 years in Manhattan and are now busy raising their three teenagers. Originally from Spain, tennis first brought Marcos to the United States to attend Blair Academy and later Brown University, where he double-majored in International Relations and Business-Economics.
With more than two decades on Wall Street serving leading global financial institutions, Marcos built a reputation for strategic leadership, operational expertise, and forging meaningful partnerships. A polyglot fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian (and proficient in Portuguese), he brings an international perspective to everything he does.
Today, Marcos has turned his lifelong love of athletics into his next chapter—as an elite sports professional and PTR-certified coach in tennis, padel, pickleball, and platform tennis. Passionate about developing strong athletes and building community through sport, he loves teaching players of all levels and ages. Mental health, in my experience, may be more important than physical health. Pelham Together does a fantastic job looking after its youth and making sure they have the resources to watch over each other.
Nandini Anandu, Secretary
Nandini and her family have lived in Pelham since 2005. She currently works as a part time physician in Internal Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital/Northwell Health. In addition to her day job, Nandini is an active member of the Health and Public Policy Committee of the ACP (American College of Physicians), where she and her colleagues advocate on a variety of public health issues. Locally, Nandini has been involved with the Pelham Art Center, and various school and PTA roles and committees, including the Wellness Committee for the school district. Her son Manu was one of the Pelham Hockey goalies. She still loves watching Manu play, frequently travelling down to UVA for his club hockey games. Go Hoos!
Sara Haberman,
Member
A Pelham resident since 2009, Sara lives with her husband and their two children, who attend Pelham schools. With more than 25 years of experience in counseling, education, and college advising, she brings a deep understanding of adolescents’ academic and emotional needs to her work and community involvement.
Her career began as a school counselor at Stuyvesant High School, followed by her role as Assistant Principal at Bard High School Early College, where she co-founded and led the college and guidance counseling program. Drawing on graduate training in school administration, counseling psychology, and social work, she founded Admission Sense in 2008 to help students and families navigate the college process.
Passionate about the intersection of education and mental health, Sara is proud to support Pelham Together’s mission of strengthening young people and families. Outside of work, she enjoys fitness, writing, and planning her next travel adventure.
Kara McLoughlin, Town Council Liaison
Kara McLoughlin, her husband, Chris D'Angelo, and two children have made Pelham their home for the past 20 years. They've participated in many of the excellent programs offered through the town. And knowing that it takes a village (or two and a town) to maintain that level of excellence, she has volunteered with so many of the nonprofit organizations in Pelham. Now, as an elected Town Council Member, Kara serves as the Town liaison to the Board. Through that role, she helps secure PT funding from the state and county and helps identify the needs of our young people.
She has a marketing and finance background and is the current President of the Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation but doesn’t get free ice cream as a perk. Good thing there’s Pelicones! In her spare time, she knits hats. Let her know if you’d like one!
Steve Salee, Treasurer
Steve is the founder and CEO of Wildfire Strategies, an organizational development consulting firm based in Pelham. Steve, his husband Michael, and three kids moved to Pelham five years ago when twins Aaron and Isabelle were starting 6th grade, and Daniel was starting 5th.
Steve founded Wildfire 15 years ago with a vision of creating healthy workplace cultures that catch on like wildfire and a mission to help high-stakes leaders and teams work better together so they can achieve their dreams. Steve is a Professional Certified Coach and Certified Mentor Coach through the International Coach Federation (ICF). He earned MSW and MPA degrees at Columbia University and has a BA from Brown University. Steve is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a Fellow with the Institute of Coaching and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work. He is also a member of the ICF, American College of Healthcare Executives, National Association of Social Workers, and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Steve loves to sing, row and write whenever he gets the chance.
Pilar bartlett, Member
Pilar moved to Pelham in 2018 with her husband and 3 children, excited to put down roots and get to know her new community. She joined the Junior League and got involved at her children’s schools, eventually serving on the Huguenot Nursery School board and as Prospect Hill PTA president. Currently, she is the VP of Project Development for the Pelham Education Foundation and a Daisy troop leader.
Pilar's educational background is in sociology, public policy, and education policy. Prior to living in NY, she was highly involved with Girls on the Run Philadelphia, a local chapter of a national afterschool program. As board chair, she helped develop its organizational infrastructure and fundraising capacity and cherishes the experience of being a part of the fledgling program's incredible growth and success. She hopes to use this experience to help Pelham Together increase its impact and is excited to find new ways to support parents.
When she is not on the sports sideline, Pilar loves hiking and going to NYBG with her family.
Anthea Kelsick, Member
Anthea is a strategy and communications executive who leads Nova Impact, a consultancy that helps mission-driven organizations sharpen their strategies, strengthen their teams, and communicate with clarity and purpose. She brings over 25 years of experience advising both businesses and nonprofits, and has served on national boards focused on corporate sustainability, stakeholder capitalism, and systemic change.
She lives in Pelham Manor with her husband and two children, both students in the Pelham schools. She also serves on the board of the Pelham Education Foundation and is an active PTA volunteer and community connector.
Anthea joined the Pelham Together board because she believes every young person deserves to feel connected, valued, and supported — and that mental health is a shared community responsibility. Outside of work and volunteering, you’ll find her hunting down the best new plays on and off Broadway, planning her next travel adventure, or sweating out reps at the gym.
Joanie Paradis, Member
Joanie and her two teenage children, who attend PMHS, have lived in Pelham since 2012. She is an active member of both the Pelham community and schools by having served on various sub committees for the Pelham Board of Education. She is also a former member of the Pelham Education Foundation, as well as the Citizend Nominating Committee, providing her with additional invaluable experience in the department of education. Joanie has been an educator for 28 years and has been a social studies teacher at the Hastings school district for the past 26 years, teaching a core class for middle school students and various electives over the years. Joanie is currently the Vice President of the Hastings teachers’ union and enjoys this role, as it allows her to forge relationships with both her colleagues and administration. With decades of firsthand experience with teenagers, she has a keen understanding of the development, needs, and challenges that young adults face today. In her free time, Joanie enjoys going to the beach with her dog and kids, travelling and experiencing new places, attending concerts, and watching football on Sundays.
Jenn Stoody
Jenn is Head of First Citizens Wealth Management and Brokerage Client Service, where she leads teams in delivering exceptional client experiences. Throughout her distinguished career in financial services, Jenn has excelled at converting strategic vision into executable plans that drive business growth, profitability and operational excellence.
Since moving to Pelham in 2020 with her wife Nicole and their two children, Jenn has been actively engaged in the community as a parent coach for Pelham Travel Soccer and Pelham recreation programs, Hutchinson PTA volunteer, and Treasurer for Pelham PTAC. A financial literacy advocate, she visits Hutchinson Elementary classrooms each year to teach kids about responsible money management. Jenn holds an MBA from Hofstra University and a B.S. in Mathematics from University at Albany.
Jenn’s passionate about creating spaces where youth, families, and community come together to build connections and develop skills for success—the heart of Pelham Together’s mission. When she’s not working, you’ll find Jenn outdoors with family and friends, whether in Pelham, at the beach, or on the slopes.