Board of Directors

Virginia Giordano is a long-time educator, a consultant who works with teachers and school districts throughout the United States and the author of a series of books and academic tools that are marketed under her Do Now brand. Much of her passion for learning, teaching and helping others comes from her older sister, Barbara, who was truly a "Renaissance" woman.

"I feel truly blessed to be the chairperson of the board of the Barbara E. Giordano Women’s Health and Education Foundation. The incredible work that this Foundation does in supporting, educating and empowering women not only honors Barbara, but all women!"

Virginia lives in Westchester County in a home that is filled with friends, laughter, light and love.

Phylis Shulman is an Assistant Principal in a high school in Riverdale. She has been an educator for many years, starting her professional life as a teacher, subsequently becoming a dean, a Director of a Mini School, a coach, and an administrator. She tries to instill a sense of responsibility and a love of learning into her students’ lives, with the goal of making sure all students apply to and attend a college of their choice.

"I am almost ready to retire from this phase in my life. I hope to be able to devote more time to the Foundation, working with women to enhance not only their lives, but mine as well. The Foundation is a great vehicle to keep my mind, body and soul - as well as that of other women - growing and strong."

Phylis is the mom of identical twin girls (now women), and will soon be a grandma. Her cats, Sky and Joey, would be very unhappy if she did not mention that they are an integral part of her life.

Dr. Marianne Messina is a Holistic Chiropractor who has been practicing in Westchester County for 23 years. Her emphasis is on women’s health including physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As a contributor to the Barbara E. Giordano Foundation, Dr. Messina is wholly dedicated to reaching out to women with a creative approach to health and education.

"My future vision includes launching a holistic health center dedicated to the needs of women in Westchester County, NY."

Her interests include exercise and fitness, yoga , gardening, whole foods and cooking as well as outside activities. She is married and passionate about her two daughters and family.

Karen M. Huntley is a lifelong resident of Westchester who has dedicated 25 years to working as a health care professional. Karen previously served on the board of the Days of Wonder Childcare in Dobbs Ferry. In her role at the Foundation she enjoys the opportunities afforded her to meet and learn from many fascinating women.

"I am committed to assisting people achieve their independence. What I enjoy most about the foundation is the positive impact it has on women."

Karen is a single woman with close family ties to a sister, two brothers and an adorable nephew. Her hobbies include reading, movies, traveling and most of all the pleasure of being around the water.

Elizabeth R. Matheson is a teacher, author, artist and lifetime student of energy work, meditation, and the transformative power of image making in healing in the natural world. She has studied the Usui Reiki Method of healing work with William Rand, the founder of the Reiki International Center and earned both a Reiki Master and Karuna Master Certification as a practitioner and teacher of Reiki. She conducts Reiki Circles and individual Reiki support to all that require her services.

"I bring a strong spiritual connection to my work that includes the use of mask-making and mandalas for healing and connecting to our inner being and higher selves."

She is a co-author of the book "Diagnosis Downs" which both addresses the preciousness of life and honors all children’s struggles to be acknowledged that they are born with purpose. Her work with children in the NYC school system has provided a strong basis of understanding the curative properties of art-making that supports a healthy lifestyle. Elizabeth is devoted to a life of service, healing, learning and laughter.

Cathleen O'Connor is an inspirational speaker, author, business coach and entrepreneur with a PhD in Metaphysical Counseling who provides workshops and mentoring services to individuals and organizations. As a former corporate executive and owner of StoneWater Sanctuary, a holistic wellness center in Westchester County, NY, Cathleen focuses on issues of work-life balance and business entrepreneurship. Through her alter ego as The Balance Whisperer, Cathleen humorously and insightfully blogs about work-life balance and women’s empowerment. She is the author of two books; Harriet Takes the Wheel, a fable about the work-life balance issue so prevalent in and out of corporate America today and The Everything Law of Attraction Dream Dictionary: An A to Z guide to using your dreams to attract success, prosperity, and love.

"My passions are writing, speaking, spirituality, business mentoring, and finding new approaches to stress management and life balance. One of my favorite aspects of my work is mentoring other women in business, working with women of all ages in developing effective techniques in leadership and management that naturally flow from who they are."

Cathleen also has a CD entitled From Stress to Serenity featuring guided imagery meditations designed to take you through the work day, including a 3-minute "De-stress at the desk" that can be done anytime workplace stress threatens to overwhelm. Cathleen sees private clients out of her home office and lectures and speaks at various venues throughout the United States.

Catherine A. Mayus, Esq. is the attorney for the Barbara E. Giordano Foundation in addition to a Whole School Reform consultant for the International Center for Leadership In Education. As such, she is committed to the educational opportunity goals the Foundation seeks to create for worthy recipients and is happy to serve on the board to further new initiatives. She is both a curriculum design specialist as well as a professional developer for the ICLE Model of Rigor, Relevance and Relationships as well as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program developer, both of which encourage women to move successfully into non-traditional career paths. In addition to 25 years in Administration and Supervision, she is also a linguist, having taught English, Italian, French and Spanish at the secondary level. She is licensed to practice law in both New York State and Connecticut. Currently, Catherine is a Professor of School Law at SUNY Stonybrook and at Iona College’s Graduate Program in Administration.

"My goal for all the women who participate in the Foundation’s powerful work is to serve as a resource, both personal and professional, to help them achieve their individual educational, entrepreneurial and financial planning goals. The Foundation provides a safe, healing environment where all women can share, listen, and grow or simply "eat heartily, chat quietly and laugh merrily" with old and new friends… A wonderful retreat from our busy lives."

Catherine resides in Armonk, NY but loves to travel to exotic lands with her wonderful spouse, Eric. She has a son, daughter and daughter-in-law and her mom prepares the best Tuscan meals in Westchester!

Karim Fugel is a Holistic Health Counselor and the founder of Lettuce and Freedom, LLC. Karim has cultivated the vital correlation between food and living a life of balance in order to achieve optimal health. Karim knows first-hand that when our diet changes, everything changes. The food we eat literally becomes our cells, blood tissues, organs and even our thoughts. Karim has studied a wide array of dietary theories under such diverse natural health luminaries as Andrew Weil, MD, Deepak Chopra, MD and Marion Nestle. She uses this knowledge to guide her clients to find which food and lifestyle choices help them achieve the energized and passionate life they desire.

"It’s not about acquiring more self-discipline or willpower. It’s about helping my clients to discover what nourishes them, what feeds them and ultimately what makes their lives extraordinary."

In addition to Karim’s passion for health counseling, she believes strongly in gentle hands-on touch to help client’s bodies release the pressures and stresses of everyday living. Through her Reiki practice, she combines the theory of CranioSacral Therapy to create a truly individual healing treatment. Karim is certified by Teachers College Columbia University in partnership with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She also holds a certificate in Food Therapy from The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health. Karim received her training in CranioSacral Therapy from The Upledger Institute.

Dr. Melody Bach has over 30 years’ experience in traditional & alternative healthcare. As co-director of Dobbs Ferry Chiropractic & Wholistic Health Center (1989-2007), she provided natural healing services for wellness, personal growth and transformation.

Her practice focus was on activating the body's energetic life forces while attuning individuals to access their innate wisdom for healthful living. Recently, she has been working with children as a Montessori educator.

Melody's goal is to facilitate and support individuals in living a life in alignment with their most heartfelt values, vision and sense of purpose through holistic health educational programs, transformational coaching and natural healing services. She will also be providing whole child education classes for parents and those interested in the integrated development (socially, mentally, physically & spiritually) of our children.

"We are at a very unique moment in history. It is a powerful time of renewal and reclaiming of our wholeness. I believe that the quickest, most joyful and effective way to move through the changes before us, is with a community of other women who also desire to learn, to share and to grow together, as is the Giordano Foundation."

Melody has a light hearted spirit and likes to laugh and have fun. She enjoys painting, gardening, bicycling and being in nature. She and her husband reside in Irvington, N.Y.