Suzy Berkowitz

Executive Assistant to Ruth Lande Shuman + Social Media Coordinator

Suzy joined Publicolor in 2016 and has over 10 years of nonprofit youth development experience. She also works occasionally on weekends as an assistant teacher at a nonprofit martial arts school. Prior to joining Publicolor, Suzy worked as an Editorial Assistant at a chain of local newspapers covering Westchester County. Suzy enjoys harnessing the power and potential of social media to engage with people and to catalyze positive change. Suzy earned a B.A. in Journalism from SUNY New Paltz in 2014.

 

Tim Butler

Site Staff

Tim first got involved with Publicolor as a member of Paint Club back in 1998 after they visited his brother’s school. Publicolor also happens to be where he met his wife, who he says “gave me two beautiful kids who will also be in the program when they become of age.

 

José Figueroa

Director of Next Steps and Youth Development

José joined Publicolor in 2014 and has over 12 years of professional experience in youth development. Jose received his B.B.A. in Accounting from Baruch College in 2000, and his Masters in Divinity from Bethel Seminary in 2009. He was previously a Program Coordinator at the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, where he provided high school transition and academic supports to first-time 9th graders from underserved populations as well as college counseling, career counseling and job skills training for high school students. In addition to overseeing our Next Steps, COLOR Club, and tutoring programs during the academic year, he supervises our summer program, teaches our S.A.T. preparation courses, and manages the Publicolor Community Service scholarship.

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Alan Kornblum

Chief Development Officer

Alan brings over 20 years of Development leadership to the Publicolor team. With a focus on helping organizations grow their donor base and creating and implementing strategic fundraising plans, his path to this field began volunteering with youth development organizations, public schools, and coaching youth baseball, basketball, and soccer leagues.

 

Karen Hasher

Program Evaluation Manager

Karen has a wealth of experience evaluating programs and analyzing data. Digging into the data, to her, is like being a detective as she strives to uncover the story in the numbers. Prior to joining Publicolor in 2019, Karen worked for Leadership for Educational Equity conducting program analysis and teaching others to do so. Her love for color emerged from a quilting hobby and teaching an afterschool program in Fabric Arts. Whenever she has free time, Karen volunteers with a bird rescue organization and visits a local nursing home with her trained therapy dog, Ozzie.

 

Irma Nepomuceno

Director of School + Community Relations

Irma Nepomuceno has been with Publicolor since 2012 and holds a degree in Business Administration from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. She wears many hats but is mostly involved in securing school and community site partnerships, managing Paint Club, and event planning for fundraisers, galas, and volunteer groups. She is incredibly passionate about empowering youth and making meaningful connections. If she’s not scoping out new projects and meeting new principals, you can find her painting with the kids and jamming out to old school music. She’s a proud NY Yankees + Giants fan, coaches volleyball, and enjoys walks in the park with her dog Apollo. 

 

Maria Park

Senior Designer

Maria joined Publicolor in 2015. She has over 20 years experience working as an art director and designer for various design firms, corporations and non-profit organizations. Her expertise includes developing visual brands, designing marketing and promotional collateral, and creating graphics for special events. She has a strong background in print design, but now enjoys working on interactive projects as well. Maria received her AAS in Photography and BFA in Graphic Design from Fashion Institute of Technology, and earned an MFA in Design from School of Visual Arts. She is a happy mother of two athletic boys and loves to watch youth baseball games.

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Elizabeth Rose

Chief Financial Officer

Elizabeth Rose joined Publicolor as Chief Financial Officer in January, 2021. She previously served as Treasurer and a member of the Publicolor Board of Trustees.

 

She is a former CEO of School Operations and Deputy Chancellor for Operations at the New York City Department of Education (DOE), where she was responsible for facilities, transportation, food, health, safety and youth development, space management and the Public School Athletic League. She joined the DOE in 2009 as Director of Planning for Manhattan, and subsequently served as Chief of Staff for Intergovernmental Affairs, and Chief of Staff in the Division of Operations. 

 

Prior to joining the DOE, Elizabeth spent over a decade in digital media strategy and marketing, at Bertelsmann, Travelzoo and Vault.  She has also worked as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, and in consumer brand advertising.

 

Elizabeth has an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a BA from Rice University. She and her husband are the very proud parents of two college students and three dogs. 

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Natasha Seng

Director of COLOR Club + Design Education

Natasha manages COLOR Club and directs Summer Design Studio, immersing students in math and literacy through the scaffold of product design. Natasha holds joint Master degrees from Pratt Institute in Industrial Design and Art + Design K-12 Education.  Natasha is driven by a relentless curiosity and she holds an unwavering belief that the impact of design can transform, foster and cultivate a meaningful difference in our world. When she is not obsessing over design problems, you’ll find her at a hidden speakeasy, or planning her next adventure across the globe.

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Deborah Wolfsohn

Director of Government Relations

Deborah Wolfsohn has served as an attorney in New York in many capacities, including most recently as Special Counsel to the New York State Senate and in private practice specializing in public-private partnerships. She is a graduate of Brown University and New York University School of Law.