Loving, caring activists
The small group of advocates who started SAGE in 1978 couldn’t have imagined the number of lives it would touch.
Today, SAGE advocates with and on behalf of LGBT elders nationwide. We operate five bustling, activity-filled senior centers in New York City, and our affiliate network programs events and services throughout the U.S. that are specifically geared toward the older LGBT community. We’re building affordable LGBT-welcoming housing in NYC, and we’ve trained more than 33,000 care providers across the U.S. how to best meet the needs of the nation’s large and growing LGBT senior population.
And we are now a staff of 70-plus passionate, dedicated employees in locations across the country.
Chief Executive Officer

Michael Adams
Michael Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of SAGE, the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults. Under Adams’s leadership, the scope of SAGE’s work on behalf of LGBT older people has grown tremendously, and SAGE has become the go-to organization on LGBT aging issues on a national scale.
Executive Vice President

Lynn Faria
Lynn Faria is the Executive Vice President at SAGE, where she leads SAGE’s Development and Policy teams. Prior to joining SAGE, Faria worked in senior leadership roles at the Empire State Pride Agenda (New York’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization), serving as Development Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Interim Executive Director.
Executive Team

David Rivera-Garcia
David Rivera-Garcia, CMA, MBA, is the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at SAGE, where he directs Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations, and Data Strategy Initiatives.

David Vincent
David Vincent, PhD is the Chief Program Officer with SAGE, where he provides vision, oversight and leadership to all direct service programs at SAGE, including care management, housing, behavioral health, and SAGE Center programming at SAGE.

Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is the Chief Innovation and Impact Officer at SAGE. In this position, Meyer leads the organization’s impact assessment, leadership development and diversity, equity and inclusion work, as well as the organization’s social enterprise (SAGECare) and select other national projects, such as the SAGE/HRC Long-Term Care Equality Index, SAGE’s National Resource Center on LGBT Aging; and SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative.

Patrick Aitcheson
Patrick Aitcheson is the Chief of Staff at SAGE. Previously, he worked for the Diverse Elders Coalition, of which SAGE is a founding member, for two years. Prior to that, Aitcheson worked on the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) HIV/AIDS hotline as a counselor, peer supervisor, and trainer.
Staff
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Aaron Tax Director of Advocacy
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Al Dominguez, SHRM-SCP Senior Director of Human Resources
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Alison Fichera Senior Case Manager
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Aliya Norton Tenant Coordinator
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Arnold Lewis Administrative Coordinator for Care Management
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Ashton Stewart Manager; SAGEVets program
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Aundaray Guess Site Manager, SAGE-GRIOT Innovative Senior Center of Brooklyn
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Bertis Shankle-Reyes Manager of Volunteers and Outreach
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Bill Gross Assistant Director of Special Programs
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Bob Gurecki SAGE Center Food Service Coordinator
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Cherise Sherriffe Program Coordinator, SAGE Center Bronx
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Christian Appel Senior Coordinator; Women’s Programming, Arts, Culture, and Technology
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Christina DaCosta Senior Director of Communications
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Daniel Puerto Housing Outreach Coordinator
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Debra Knight Program Coordinator, Sage Harlem
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Denise Atherley Director of Data Strategy Initiatives
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Dojun O’Connor Wellness Counselor
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Donnie L. Scruggs Site Manager, SAGE Center Brooklyn at Stonewall House
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Dorian Palumbo Compliance Manager
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Dorothy J. Helston Special Assistant, Programs and Development
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Emma Bessire Grassroots Organizer
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Gena Hymowech Concierge
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Geo Geonaldo Food Service, SAGE Center Bronx
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Ifunanya Okwumo Research and Data Analyst
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Ildiko Kovacs Administrative Program Coordinator, Edie Windsor SAGE Center
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Irene Tsikitas Director of Care Management Services
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James Derham Site Manager, The Edie Windsor SAGE Center
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James Worsdale Major Gifts Officer
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Jerry Chasen Director, Development
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Jesse Tucker IT Director
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Jessica Rozycki Communications and Advocacy Manager
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Jessica Stephens Senior Manager of Individual Giving and Database Development
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Joanna Rivera Program Coordinator - Harlem SAGE Center
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Joey Costello, LMSW Assistant Director of Care Management
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Jonathan Barrio Development Officer
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Jose Collazo Site Manager, SAGE Center Bronx
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Joseph Petrillo Facilities Maintenance Coordinator
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Joseph Wasserman Senior Director of Development
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Joshua Tweedy Program Assistant, Edie Windsor SAGE Center
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Julie Ugoretz Program Coordinator for the Friendly Visitor and SAGEConnect programs
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Karalin Sprague Director of Strategy & Impact Assessment
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Karen Cushing SAGECare Business Development Lead
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Kate Lowry Manager of Donor Engagement
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Latisha Millard-Bethea Director of Resident Services, NYC Housing Initiative
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Lauren Feiring Senior Clinical Tenant Coordinator
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Lauren Herndon Manager of Contracts and Grants
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Lauren Pongan National Director, Diverse Elders Coalition
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Leah Mathis Accounting Manager
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Lindsay Ortman Development Associate
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Lisa Eddy Program Coordinator, SAGE-GRIOT Innovative Senior Center of Brooklyn
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Lisa Sloan Program Director, SAGE-Pride Center of Staten Island
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Liz Kinports Care Manager
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Mariah Gormas Health & Wellness Program Coordinator
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Melissa Sklarz Senior Government Relations Strategist
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Ocean Le Program Associate, Diverse Elders Coalition
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Otto Roberts Director of Finance and Controller
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Patricia Fraser-Morales Program Assistant, SAGE Center Harlem
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Reyno Francisco Case Manager
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Rodrigue Anato IT Support Specialist
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Roy Inman Data Entry Coordinator
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Sadiya Abjani Director of Learning and Equity
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Sarah Savino Director of Facilities and Office Services
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Sarah Streat Manager of Institutional Partnerships
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Sasha Harrison Digital Communications Specialist
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Shawanna Boyd Care Manager
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Sherri Rase Youth and Senior Services Manager, SAGE-Pride Center of Staten Island
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Sherrill Wayland Director of National Education Initiatives
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Shieda Gregory Junior Accountant
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Steven Wilkinson, LMSW Senior Director of Programs and Services
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Suley Cruz Site Manager, SAGE Center Harlem
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Sumathy Applewhite Care Manager
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Sydney Kopp-Richardson Director, National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative
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Tim Johnston Senior Director of National Projects
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Ty Martin Harlem Community Liaison