WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Five Newly Appointed Members Begin Terms January 2021
January 12, 2021, Rochester, N.Y. — Willow Domestic Violence Center is thrilled to welcome five newly-elected board members: Mubarak Bashir, Victor Sanchez, Denee Stirpe, Tashanda Thomas, and Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres were voted on at the December 2020 Board of Directors’ meeting and begin their first three-year terms this month.
Mubarak Bashir (him, his) is the Regional Director of Greyston’s Rochester Center for Open Hiring. His role includes introducing the innovative Open Hiring® model to the Rochester community, assisting local businesses in creating more inclusive workforces and job opportunities for individuals who face barriers to employment. Mubarak holds an MPA from the College at Brockport of the State University of New York. He serves on the boards of the Interfaith Alliance of Rochester and Urban Choice Charter School, and as a board observer at the United Way. Mubarak was recently recognized as one of Rochester Business Journal‘s 2020 Forty Under 40. He is also a graduate of United Way’s 2019 African American Leadership Development Program, where he was nominated by his peers as the class representative.
Victor Sanchez (him, his) is the Virtual Design and Construction Coordinator for Wegmans Foods Market. He moved to the United State from Mexico at six years old and became a naturalized citizen in 2018. He has worked to improve public transportation access and increasing neighborhood stability and quality of life. He is currently the Co-Chair of RocCity Coalition, an organization with the objective to attract, retain, and empower young professionals in the area. Victor is an active volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign of Western NY, working to help support the organization’s mission to gain equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Trillium Health, a health center that specializes in LGBTQ+ health care and supporting those living with HIV.
Denee Stirpe (she, her) is the Vice President of Human Resources at Baldwin Richardson Foods, where she leads all HR and Talent initiatives including executive coaching, workforce strategy, business process improvement, talent management, and organizational development, compensation, and benefits. She has over 20 years of experience in HR for companies including GateHouse Media and Xerox Corporation. Denee currently serves as a volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House in addition to Willow Domestic Violence Center. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Masters of Business Administration at University of Rochester Simon Business School.
Tashanda Thomas (she, her) is the Director of Human Resources at WXXI Public Broadcasting Council. She was recognized as one of the RBJ’s Forty under 40 honorees in 2018 and was a 2019 Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce IGNITE Future Leaders Award finalist. Tashanda currently serves as a volunteer with the YMCA of Greater Rochester in addition to Willow Domestic Violence Center. Prior to this, she has volunteered with a number of agencies, including the YWCA, Food Link, Community Place, Hillside, Ibero and the Salvation Army. Tashanda holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Monroe Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources from St. John Fisher College.
As the Commissioner of Recreation and Youth Services for the City of Rochester, Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres is responsible for operations in organizations with budgets as large as an $85 million and is experienced in navigating diverse government and private funding streams, grants, business partners and investments. Daniele has served the president of the Arc of Yates County, the chief operating officer of Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority; the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating officer of Trillium Health; Regional Director of the United Way of Greater Rochester and was head of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Heritage Christian Services.
“This group of board members have individually devoted themselves to making Rochester, and our world, a better place to live,” says Meaghan de Chateauvieux (she, her), President & CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center. “We are thrilled to welcome individuals focused on domestic violence education and prevention in our community and beyond. Their leadership within their respective fields elevates the work we are doing at Willow and I am looking forward to exciting opportunities ahead.”
Willow Center Board Chair, Erica Tickle (she, her) added, “These five additions to the Willow Board are a wonderful complement to the strengths of our existing members. As board members, we each have our personal ‘Willow Why’ and understand that together with the staff and community, we can do great things to support survivors. I look forward to continuing this important work moving forward.”
Photos available upon request.
ABOUT WILLOW CENTER
Founded in 1979, Willow Domestic Violence Center has provided comprehensive domestic violence services for the Greater Rochester community for over 40 years, reaching a yearly average of 7,000 survivors of domestic violence. The organization provides a full continuum of free and confidential services, without judgement, including a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, case management, prevention outreach and training.
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