Board Members, Left to right:
David Hiraldo, Joseph Carbone, Shanita Moonsammy,
Board President Lewis Miller, Executive Director Gil Cintron
Lew Miller, President
Lewis A. Miller, MS, is recognized in the United States and abroad as an entrepreneurial leader in medical publishing and continuing medical education. He has founded or co-founded 4 medical publishing companies, 2 consulting firms, an international CME company and 3 nonprofit organizations in the latter field, as well as 3 nonprofit organizations in affordable housing.
Miller was born in Brooklyn NY, attended the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and helped revive the Daily Princetonian after World War II. He worked for, the Schenectady Union-Star, then he and his wife founded a weekly newspaper, The Glastonbury (CT) Citizen, later moving to the Newark Star-Ledger, and eventually to the New York World-Telegram & Sun. Over the next 5 years, he rose to become assistant managing editor, overseeing 6 editions a day.
At age 32, Miller shifted to the medical publishing field, as executive editor of Medical Economics, a business magazine for doctors, and launched the company’s book division. He next co-founded Patient Care, a clinical journal that stood the industry on its head by new approaches to editorial and circulation. Patient Care went global in 1970, with editions in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia, UK, and Australia. His next startup was a medical record systems company that reduced errors in medical care. During this period, Lew also attended Columbia University Business School to get his master’s degree. And found time to create the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education, a nonprofit organization which has grown to over 2,000 members, and to write a book for the public: The Life You Save, A Guide to Getting the Best Possible Care from Doctors, Hospitals and Nursing Homes.
Miller and Dr. Joseph Gonnella, then dean of Jefferson Medical School, created the Patient Care Evaluation Service, which, under Federal contract, identified errors in hospital care around the country. Miller then focused his attention on international CME and publishing, bringing high-quality programming in the U.S. to other parts of the world. Before long, Lew was once again in a startup, this time as partner in Dowden Health Media, a highly successful company in medical journals, CME, and consumer health publications. In 2004, he founded WentzMiller Global Services, advising pharmaceutical and medical education company clients on global and U.S. CME and on business strategy and launched another nonprofit, the Global Alliance for Medical Education.
Miller’s busy business and professional career has been accompanied by his efforts to help others to be more successful in their lives and work. He has been a lay moderator in the Darien Congregational Church, organized adult education programs, and started 3 nonprofits to build affordable housing despite local opposition.
As an advocate of employment and training for disadvantaged people in the U.S., he chaired the Regional Workforce Development Board of Southern Connecticut, served on the board of the National Association of Private Industry Councils, and was vice-chair of the Connecticut Employment & Training Council. He has been honored nationally and regionally for his efforts. He is past chair of the Advisory Committee to the Connecticut Vocational-Technical School System and served as a member of a special advisory panel to the Connecticut Higher Education System. He was a founding trustee of the Albert Sabin Vaccine Institute and chaired its public policy committee.
Lew also brought his skills to bear at Princeton. He is past and current president of his class, set records in fund-raising in two campaigns and formed the Alumni Studies Program Committee for the university. Any time left for family? Somehow his marriage survived for 65 years, until Jean’s death in 2015; his son Dave is a retired special ed teacher in Darien High School, and daughter Kathy is COO of Bronx Regional Health Information Organization. Two grandchildren and two great grandchildren round out the family.
Lew’s mission, he says, is “to celebrate life.” And he feels that he has done so – not only his own life but the lives of those around him.
See Lew Miller: celebrar la vida ayudando a otros
Judith Rosenfeld, Secretary
Judith Rosenfeld has over 20 years of experience tackling issues connected to homelessness, mental health, and housing. She currently is Vice President of Special Projects at Breaking Ground, the largest nonprofit developer and operator of supportive housing for low income and chronically homeless New Yorkers. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing and executing a wide range of strategic initiatives to further the agency’s goals. As a member of the New York Supportive Housing Network Advocacy Committee, she helps spearhead advocacy efforts with local, state and national government agencies and elected officials.
Judith holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Rutgers University and a Master of Public Administration from New York University. She resides a Path ride away in Jersey City.
Karen Altfest, Treasurer
Karen Caplan Altfest, Ph.D., CFP®, is a Principal Advisor at Altfest Personal Wealth Management. She helps many of the firm’s clients on a variety of investment and financial planning issues and specializes in helping women clients and widows. Karen’s Financially Savvy Woman® programs, including the Women’s Financial $pa®, are popular with clients. Her focus is to educate and empower women. Karen is frequently a speaker about women and money and conducts educational seminars for recent widows and people looking to retire. In 2017, Karen’s article, “Life After Loss: 6 Smart Steps for Coping with Widowhood,” was published by the American Association of Individual Investors Journal. She was recognized as a “Top Women Wealth Advisor” by Forbes, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Karen is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, holds BA and MA degrees from Hunter College, and holds the CFP® designation. Karen received her Ph.D. in history from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY).
She was the Co-Director of the Financial Planning and Investments Program at The New School in New York City and the Coordinator of the Financial Planning program, a professional program for financial planners, which she originated at Pace University in White Plains, N.Y.
She is Co-Chair of the Alumni Professional Development Task Force of the Graduate Center of CUNY, Board Member of CUNY Graduate Center Foundation and McGill’s Alumni Board of New York, and Founder and former Chair of the New York Common Pantry; Board Member of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Manhattan, where she established the Altfest Women’s Education Fund.
Juana I. Pacheco
Juana is a senior fundraising and marketing executive with a proven track record of working with Fortune 500 corporations, corporate and private foundations, federal and state governments, small to mid-sized businesses, high net worth individuals, and not-for-profit agencies. A published expert in the field of economic and community development with 25+ years of experience in the non-profit sector, Juana works exclusively with organizations that align with her values and vision, specifically entities that focus on Hispanic, women’s, and economic development issues. Juana offers a blend of strategy, multicultural and segment expertise, and experience in building and managing successful partnerships.
Juana currently serves as the Chief Development Officer for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, working with the CEO and Board of Directors to ensure organizational sustainability through the utilization of enhanced technology and reach, as well as diversified funding sources. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts has motivated her volunteer time, having also served on the Board of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, New York City’s Community Board 11 (East Harlem), the Mt. Sinai Hospital Community Advisory Board (New York City), Princeton AlumniCorps, and the Latin American Legal Defense Fund (LALDEF) in New Jersey. Juana currently sits on the Boards of the following organizations: the Association of Latino Princeton Alumni, Treasurer, and Girls Rule the Law, Chair. Juana holds a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the National Urban Fellows Program (Baruch College CUNY). Juana, her daughter, and two rescue cats live in Pennington, New Jersey at this time.
Jane Holmes
Jane T. Holmes is a graduate of Horace Greeley High School Chappaqua, where she achieved an award for having done the most for the school, and of Wellesley College, with a B.A. in political Science.
Subsequently she worked in retail at Abraham and Strauss, and then with her mother in her antiques and interior design business, Crown House, in Chappaqua, eventually taking over and running it for 30 years. Retired to St.Augustine ,Florida in 2009, worked again in retail at Panama Hat Company, taught English as a second language, and was a docent at the Lightner Museum Relocated to N.Y.C.in 2020. She also served on the Beautification committee of the Town of New Castle, NY.
“Now that I am really settled in New York City, I am anxious to do more volunteer work; working with HImT would fulfill that desire and enable me to learn more about not-for-profits.”
Joseph Carbone
Joe Carbone has been President and Chief Executive Officer of The WorkPlace, Southern Connecticut, since 1996. The WorkPlace is a nationally recognized leader in creating innovative workforce programs. The WorkPlace’s entrepreneurial approach to workforce development has expanded the agency’s capacity to assist underserved populations, including workers with disabilities, at risk youth and veterans.
With his leadership, The WorkPlace, has combined the passion of a private not-for-profit with the accountability, innovation, and competitive spirit of a for-profit business to design and fund expanded services and assist more people.
In response to the Great Recession, The WorkPlace launched Platform to Employment (P2E) to assist the long-term unemployed return to work. The program’s success has been covered by national media, including “60 Minutes”. Joe was able to enlist financial support from national organizations including AARP Foundation, Walmart Foundations and Citibank to support the replication of P2E in more than a dozen states across the country.
Joe attended President Obama’s Summit on Long-term Unemployment at the White House. He helped elevate awareness of the plight of the long-term unemployed and the nation’s moral obligation to act. To ensure that all individuals can contribute to the workforce.
Melissa Maria, JD
As an attorney with New York Legal Assistance Group, Melissa Maria represents clients in Family Court proceedings, including Guardianships, Custody Petitions, and Special Findings Motions. She also represents clients in Immigration Court proceedings, including writing and filing briefs, motions, affidavits, applications for relief, and evidence in support of such applications. She prepares clients and witnesses for court and attend hearings with them. She preparex briefs before the Board of Immigration Appeals if a case is denied and conducts the appeals process. Melissa provides know your rights presentations to members of the community. As a senior staff attorney, she mentors new attorneys in their Immigration Court and Family Court cases.
Previously, as a staff attorney with a solo practitioner, she conducted legal research on a variety of issues, including guardianships, child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and immigration laws. She prepared legal documents and memorandums of law for immigration law cases for members of the Long Island immigrant community. She primarily worked with clients seeking asylum, residency, cancellation of removal, and visas.
Melissa got her undergraduate degree at SUNY, New Paltz, and her law degree at Hofstra University. She is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational Italian.
Shanita Moonsammy
Shanita was born and raised in Guyana, a tiny country bordering South America. She struggled to grow in an environment with racial tension and very little formal education available. She has grown into a strong, hardworking person who strives for nothing but the best.
Shanita’s character and personality stem from the need to help those around her. She babysits, takes care of the elderly and makes sure that her clients’ homes feel welcoming and warm. When others are stressed, she is often the first person they call to get advice and listen to her counsel to help resolve their problems.
She fled the harsh situation in her country and came to America and brought her husband in 2002. Sadly, she could not afford to bring her daughters with her and left them in the care of her mother. She often worked two or three jobs to support herself and send money for her children’s care and education.
Unfortunately, the life of an immigrant in America was not good for her marriage. Her husband became abusive. The path to success was often laid with challenges, but she completed certification as a home health aide and was self-employed as a housekeeper and home attendant.
One of her goals was to obtain a green card which she did in in 2020. Her dream is to become an American citizen. “Thanks to New York Legal Assistance group for its great work on my behalf,” she says. “My dreams were fulfilled when my daughters, son-in-law and grandchild were able to come to America. They are the source of my love, happiness, pride and joy. The idea of giving and not receiving anything in return motivates me. As a woman who has had to toil and adapt, I have gained experience in many areas. I hope to use my experiences to help other immigrants achieve their dreams of creating a life for themselves in this wonderful country.”
Mahesh Naithani
Leaving India in 1969 – with only $1 to his name – Mahesh landed in Europe and eventually the United States. Today Mahesh is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at PRISM.science, an AI company focused on gathering, indexing & analyzing biomedical content. Previously he was Founder and Chairman of Pharmaspectra (formerly Medmeme), a life sciences data and analytics company that supplied 18 of the top 25 pharmaceutical firms in the world. As founder, he drove innovations that allow pharma to see the connections among disparate data sources and derive insights that improve patient outcomes.
Prior to Pharmaspectra, he was the chairman of HCI and PERQ/HCI. There he developed the first measurements of publication readership, publication exposure, recall of medical advertising, and effectiveness of advertising message, all of which became industry gold standards. He founded Patient Care International in 1979, and developed the technique of medical content aggregation and international publishing and expanded the business into 18 countries in Europe, South America, and Africa. Earlier, he was the head of research at Miller & Fink, a leader in medical publications. It was here that he developed the insight that still drives all of his endeavors today: Knowledge is Sequential.
Mahesh holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and an MA from the University of Allahabad. He has been married for 46 years to Cristina and is the proud father of Siddhartha, 42, and Pratima, 38.
His cultural and community contributions include Board member of Princeton University International Cultural Center and New Jersey Red Cross; Creator/Producer of Music Festival of India (50th year of India’s Independence, 1997 – Carnegie Hall); Creator/Producer of Dance Festival of India (50th year of India’s Republic Day, 2008 – Carnegie Hall); Benefactor of Naithani House – Teacher Housing and Training Facility, Agastya Foundation, Andhra Pradesh, India; contributor for permanent, sustainable capital for professional training for disabled children – AT&T Technology Park & Institute for the Disabled, Gujurat, India.
Joselito Parmer
Joselito Parmer was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. A self-motivated and hard- working individual, he has always tried his best to achieve his goals. Although he had many roadblocks, through persistence and dedication he was able to engage with his community to get the help he needed. This eventually allowed him to pay it forward.
Joselito’s passion for helping others started as a teenager back in the Dominican Republic.
He would spend time doing social work as a peer counselor, created study groups for students, planned activities and fundraisers. He even volunteered for the Red Cross.
Joselito moved to Washington Heights in the fall of 1995. He lived with his mother and four other siblings. His family was blessed to come here legally, but it was not easy. English and social inequity were major obstacles for him and his family, but he was determined to tackle these head on.
He reached out to nonprofit organization such as Alianza Dominicana, The George Washington Educational Campus and various churches that offered courses in English as a second language. With time and patience, he gained enough confidenceto take the GED and pass it. This paved the road to college (Borough of Manhattan Community College) where he earned adegree in Business Administration.
Joselito currently holds the title as a Sales Manager at Select Jewelry, Inc in Long Island City. He is happily married to a wonderful husband and is father to a beautiful girl..