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Two local residents committed to giving their time and talents to help others joined the board of the Community Center of Northern Westchester. Dr. Joanne Marien, former Somers Superintendent of Schools was approved as a board member at CCNW’s November board meeting. Michael Fay, Vice President at IBM, was voted in at the Center’s December board meeting.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike and Joanne to our board. Their impressive individual experiences in business and education will make them valuable additions to our board,” said Sheryl Bernhard, co-president of the Community Center.

Fay, an 11-year Katonah resident, is Vice President for Corporate Marketing and Communications for IBM. “I have admired the Center’s work, and the impact it has, for some time,” Fay said of his reasons for joining the board. “I look forward to having an opportunity to contribute to the Center's important mission.”

 Marien is a familiar face to many in the wider community as the former Superintendent of Schools in Somers. She retired in 2010, a change that gave her time to get more involved in her Katonah community. “I have been a fan of the Center for a number of years and had the opportunity to volunteer there last fall,” she said. “That afforded me a chance to better understand the Center inside and out. I’m honored to be joining this Board and look forward to doing whatever I can to further the goals of this extraordinary organization,” Marien added.

Marien and Fay replace two board members who are stepping down. Lauren Cohen resigned because of an impending family move to South Africa. Manuel Mendez, is leaving the board, but not the Community Center. In November, Mendez became the Center’s new Programs Manager.

“Both Lauren and Manuel have been valuable colleagues in our work guiding the Center,” said Co-President Laura Kaplan. “We wish Lauren and her family the best on their international move and we look forward to continuing to work with Manuel on the Center’s expanding programs.”

Established in 1992, the not-for-profit Community Center of Northern Westchester provides supplemental food, clothing, and other resources to those in need in Northern Westchester County. The Center is sponsored by 29 churches, synagogues, schools and civic groups and operates with substantial volunteer support from the northern Westchester community.