People Who Care

A diverse collection of dedicated individuals work to fulfill VIBS' mission. Volunteers are the back bone of the agency, providing leadership on the Board of Directors; support and networking on the Resource Council; and direct services as Emergency Room Companions, Speakers Bureau, and child care volunteers.

A caring and knowledgeable staff of over 40 individuals provide hotline intervention, counseling, advocacy, court accompaniment, outreach, and community education. In addition to their educational training, the staff receive issue-specific, on-the-job training and continuing professional development. VIBS' employees have distinguished themselves in public advocacy and leadership and have received numerous awards and honors for their work.

Following are a few of these dedicated people.

STAFF LEADERSHIP

Pamela C. Johnston, M.A., Executive Director
Clarice Murphy, M.S., Associate Director
Donna Filiberto, Director of Finance
Laura Sisak, L.C.S.W.-R, Director of Counseling Services
Ruth Reynolds, Director of Advocacy
Anna Marie Weber, M.A., R.D.T., Director of Children's Services
Marlene Gregory, Director of Community Education
Melissa Macko, Director of H.A.L.T.

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Diane Caputi
Valley National Bank

Vice President
Lynne Adair Kramer
Touro Law Center

Secretary / Treasurer
Helen Gronus

Carla Jennings

Annmarie LaRosa
South Shore Children's Center

Janice M. Taraskas
Rizzi, Schwarz & Taraskas LLP

Julia Wallin

RESOURCE COUNCIL
Jean Baron

Beverly Birns, Ph.D.

Annabel Caner

Elizabeth Custodio
HSBC Mortgage Corporation

Rose D'Allesandro, 
Major Interiors

Robert Detor, C.S.W.
South Oaks Hospital

Robert Gaffney
Dowling College

Joan Gilroy
Cablevision

Katherine Heaviside
Epoch 5

Todd Jusas
Juiced Technologies

Angelina Martinez, C.S.W., 
Utopia Home Care

Gary Melius, 
Oheka Castle

Rev. Paul Ratzlaff,
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
of Huntington

Frederick Schiavone, M.D.,
Stony Brook University Hospital

Valentine Titus

Patricia Hill Williams
PHW Associates