DRC Board of Directors

Fran Melder, President of the Board

Debra Weaver is Vice President and Branch Manager of Orange County Trust Company’s Trust Way Branch in Middletown, New York and has been with the Company since 1987. Debra teaches the Company’s 4th grade program, “Teach Children to Save,” in local schools. She is on the Company’s team for the Goshen Relay for Life, an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. She served for eight years as Chairperson for the event. Debra also is the Company Team Leader for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Debra serves on the Advisory Board for Jewish Family Services. Debra has been a Celebrity Server for the Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club Celebrity Dinner for five years. Debra is a graduate of Mount Saint Mary College.

James A. Rollins, Sr., Secretary

Rob Unger, CPA, CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) is a partner at Judelson, Giordano & Siegel, CPA, PC and has been with the firm since 1996.  He is a member of the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Rob provides services to clients ranging from small entrepreneurial start-ups to large publicly traded corporations which include tax planning and preparation, business advisory services, accounting and auditing.  Rob oversees audits for commercial entities, not-for-profit organizations, and large employee benefit plans.  As the firm’s partner in charge of forensic accounting, Rob participates in fraud examinations and litigation support services. Rob is a Cum Laude graduate of Marywood University and served as a past board member of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Willa Freiband is an award-winning Senior Public Policy/Public Relations Specialist. She is a cofounder of FYI consultants which offers services in communications, media and strategic planning. Her experience in legislative and electoral campaigns has been instrumental in her work with DRC’s Collaborative Governing pilot project where she trained as a coach. Ms. Freiband is past president of Orange County Democratic Women; serves on the New York State Democratic Committee; is on the YWCA Orange County Board of Directors; is a member of the Woodbury Parks Commission; and is a 2016 recipient of the Women of Achievement award.

Katherine Smelter, Ed.D. is a Psychologist and Partner at Axis 1:  An Assessment Group.  She is also an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University’s Rockland County Campus and Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh.  Katherine has been a dedicated Volunteer Mediator with DRC for over 3 years. Katherine has served as a past Board Member and Officer on Putnam County’s Community Service Board and was a past Committee Member on Putnam County’s Developmental Disabilities Committee and Alcohol & Substance Abuse Committee.  She was also involved with the American School Counselor Association as an Editor.  She has been honored as an Outstanding Professional in Human Services and has appeared in Marquis Who’s Who.

Jill Sanders-DeMott, Esq. has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bard College and graduated from Northwestern School of Law in May 1983. She was admitted to practice law in New York State in March 1984. Jill has trained extensively in mediation with John Haynes among others and has also trained in Collaborative Law. Since 1985, Jill has been in practice as a Divorce Mediator in Westchester, Putnam and Orange Counties. Jill has co-mediated with Alan Frankel since 1992 with offices in both Mt. Kisco, New York and Mahopac, New York. In addition to her private practice, Jill has provided Divorce Mediation services for the Dispute Resolution Center of Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster Counties since 1991. Jill has trained mediators both in the court system and private practice mediators. Jill is an accredited member and Past President of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (NYSCDM) and a NYSDRA Certified Mediator.

Ann Hall-Krebs is a recently retired certified school administrator. Originally from Binghamton, NY, Ann worked as a guidance counselor and administrator for Binghamton City School District, and as Director of Student Services and Pupil Personnel Services at the Middletown and Newburgh School Districts. A graduate of Binghamton University and Oneonta State, Ann has extensive experience with counseling services, student support programming and curriculum development.  Ann believes that, with well-developed curriculum, targeted programming and positive support through The Dispute Resolution Center, parents and children can find success in their relationships, better connection within their community, and positive growth in their lives.

Kelley Briggs is the Principal and Brand Engineer of DesignWorks ONE.  She is a specialist in creative brand identity, graphic design and business-to-business marketing and advertising with over 25 years of industry experience that includes such prominent clients as American Express, Pitney Bowes, PepsiCo, ESPN The Magazine, The New York Philharmonic, Citibank, Canon, DuPont, Mobil and Columbia University. DesignWorks has been the recipient of numerous awards for creative excellence and was Working Women Magazine’s choice for Entrepreneurial Nominee in 2000 for Overall Excellence.  Kelley was honored in 2008 with a Working Women of Westchester (WOW)  Award. She is a past board member of the Advertising Club of Westchester, and has served on the Advisory Council of the State University of New York at Fredonia School of Business. She has mentored Columbia University MBA students and has donated creative resources to non-profit organizations including: WINiT—WomenInTravel, My Sisters’ Place and Girls Inc., Westchester.

Michelle McKeon, Board Member

Diane McKoy Wills, Board Member

Jill Varricchio, Board Member

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