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Staff
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working
together towards a common goal
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| Mary
Beth joined the Samaritan Family as Executive Director in June 2005.
Her job is to stay out of the way in the kitchen, allow the talented
staff to do what they do best and provide management and policy
implementation in support of the Center's mission. |
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Mary
Beth grew up in the foothills of the Adirondacks; her career in human
services brought her east along the thruway from Buffalo to
finally settle in the Syracuse area in 1993. She graduated from Oswego
State University with a BS in psychology and returned there to receive
her MBA in 2000. Mary Beth brings eighteen years of experience in the
non-profit sector, positions ranging from direct service in the mental
health field to management at the United Way of Central New York.
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| Mary
Beth describes what brought her to the Samaritan Center, and what
brings so many of the Center's volunteers, as a "pull of the heart"; a
desire to make a direct difference in the community, one meal at a time. |
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Ann's
responsibilities include solicitation
of funding from individuals, groups, foundations and government. She
has successfully instituted The Good Samaritan Awards Dinner and the
Beach, Blues and BBQ (based on her own extensive experience in eating
and having fun.)
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| Ann
demonstrates the concept of many careers during a lifetime of work.
With a Bachelor's of Arts (magna cum laude) and a Master's of Arts from
Syracuse University (when the cows grazed on the quad), Ann taught
secondary social studies in a local school district for twelve years.
She also spent ten years as the Parish Resource Coordinator through
Catholic Charities, a few years directing the Community Service Senior
Employment Program for Onondaga County and almost three years as the
Development Director of the Central New York Alzheimer's Association.
She often tells the story of how she answered a tiny add in the
newspaper that sought someone interested in friend and fundraising.
That ad was for the job she now holds at the Samaritan Center. |
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| Ann
believes that the greatest asset we have is each other. Working
together as contributors of time, talent and treasure can feed the
hungry, whether that hunger is for food or meaning. She invites all to
come and join us as we live God's commandment to "Love one another." |
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| Dan
Wade
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Operations
Manager 315-472-8156
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| Dan is
the Emeril Lagasse of the Samaritan
Center. He is responsible for feeding the hundreds of guests that come
down to the center everyday. Along with supervising the daily cooking,
Dan manages all that deals with the kitchen from the inventory to the
invoices, from the roasting to the grease traps. |
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| Dan hails
from the great city of Boston. He
studied at Springfield College to receive a degree in Physical
Education and continued on to receive a master's degree from Bridgeport
University in Physical Education and Kinesiology. Throughout his life,
Dan has been a head high school coach for Baseball, Soccer, Basketball,
and Football, as well as a Science Teacher, and college Baseball coach.
He will tell you that cooking is a hobby (even though he has been
involved with Food Service Management for thirty-six years.) Dan is a
sports fanatic, but also enjoys watching old-time movies and spending
time with his sweetie Ida, four children and ten grandchildren. |
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| Brenda
is the enforcer of the Samaritan Center and is the
reason for a smooth meal operation. She assists with the food
preparation, cooking, and distribution of volunteer jobs during meal
service. She is also Dan's right-hand-woman in helping out with
whatever is needed from tedious paperwork, to managing community
services volunteers. |
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| Brenda
is a Syracuse native. She has held numerous jobs in the city such as
Machine Setup Operator at Bristol Meyers Pharmaceutical Company,
Machine Operator at Higbee Gasket Corporation, and Lunch/Support Aide
in the Bellevue Elementary School District. She has managed to hold
these jobs while at the same time raising her five children (Alisha,
Shawna, Billy, Cherelle, and Cherese) and making sure they excel in
school. |
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| Brenda
Mims
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Assistant
Operations Manager
315-472-8156
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| Maryanne
Grady joined
the Samaritan Center staff in April 2004. She is the Office Manager and
Weekend Supervisor. A native "Valley Girl:", she attended the
University of Delaware and majored in Chemistry. Her experiences
include teaching entry level lab classes for DuPont , working with
graduate and post doctoral candidates in research with solar energy and
auditing petroleum pollution for a major refining company. Her love of
cooking (and eating) inspired her to start a catering business in
Syracuse and to work for several other catering companies as well. She
brings energy, enthusiasm and considerable expertise to both of her
jobs. |
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Julie
began her work at the Samaritan Center in August 2008. She
graduated from Saint Joseph's University, where she majored in English
with a concentration in writing. Julie is originally from
Philadelphia, PA but is excited to now call Syracuse home.
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After
graduating from Saint Joe's, Julie decided to enter the Jesuit
Volunteer Corps because of their tradition of social justice.
Julie was placed at the Samaritan Center as guest Services and
Volunteer Coordinator. Julie is eager to get to know the guests
and volunteers this year, but she already feels welcome at the
Samaritan Center! Her personal motto for her life and this year
is best expressed in the words of Mother Theresa: "It is not how much
we do, but the love we put in the doing. It is not how much we
give, but the love we put in the giving."
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I
can’t believe that my year at the Samaritan
Center has ended.
August seemed so far away when I started. There was so much to
learn. Tons of new people to meet. I was nervous, but excited at
the same time. As I look back on my year, I’m grateful for the wonderful
experience I’ve had. And I know so much of it has to do with all the
people involved here.
There
are so many people to thank. To the staff of the Samaritan Center
– you all provided so much support and guidance as I found myself in a completely
new job. It would not have been as fun, and I wouldn’t have learned half
of what I have without you all. I’m so lucky to have had the chance to
work with you.
To
our volunteers, who are here week after week, it is your dedication to the Samaritan Center that allows us to fulfill our
mission. We would never be able to do so without your help.
And
to our guests – you have taught me so much more than I ever expected. I
have enjoyed having conversations with you and forming great relationships.
Thank
you again to everyone who has made my year the wonderful experience it has
been. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.
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