Board of Directors
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Lisa Marchese - Chair
American Express Lisa Marchese is Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Development at American Express. In this role, Lisa leads teams whose global responsibilities include the coordination of acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, partnerships and divestitures for the Company, as well as the development of business unit and corporate M&A strategies. Lisa holds a MBA from Columbia University and graduated from Barnard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Lisa has been a board member for 5 years. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children. |
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Katharine Gill - Vice Chair
Katharine (Kate) Gill is a high-impact executive with over 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles at financial services firms ranging from start-ups to global organizations. A person-first leader, Katie cultivates and sustains talented, high performing teams with a passion for excellence. Adept in all aspects of global program management of software development projects, Katie has developed and executed product launches and high-profile marketing initiatives and has experience designing and executing marketing plans, building brand recognition, and enhancing an organization’s public profile. Kate’s career in Financial Services began in London where she worked for IBM Global Services delivering desktop modernization and harmonization as part of the Lloyds-TSB integration. Over the last 20 years, she has held a range of senior leadership roles at a variety of organizations including CIBC World Markets, Nomura Securities International, and most recently, Barclays PLC. A champion of women and girls, Katie is currently a board member of Groove With Me, and is also an active member of Advancing Women Executives, an organization focused on accelerating the careers of women in business to improve the global economy. Kate lives in New York City with her daughter and their Lagotto Romagnolo. When she’s not in the office, she enjoys spending time at the beach, traveling the world with her daughter, or running in Central Park. |
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Nkasi Okafor Wilken – Secretary
Nkasi Okafor Wilken is a senior legal and business affairs professional with more than 15-years experience leading and building legal, administrative, and privacy functions in start-up, non-profit, and private organizations. Nkasi has a demonstrable track record of driving to completion critical company initiatives; providing strategic counsel on a variety of matters to leadership and staff; and fostering positive company culture and practices. Nkasi began her career in New York City as a litigation associate at Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, LLP. From there she has worked in a variety of institutions, including the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, Columbia Law School, Glitch, and currently Teach For All. She is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Environmental Law Committee and the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Originally from Chicago, Nkasi currently resides in Brooklyn. When she isn’t working, you can find her reading fantasy novels, watching Star Trek, or stuffing her face while taking long walks throughout the city. Meredith Ayan
Meredith Ayan is a nonprofit professional and currently the Executive Director of SPCA International where she leads global animal welfare initiatives. Prior to joining SPCA International, Ms. Ayan worked as the event manager for a successful restaurant group in Manhattan. A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, she holds a degree in Dance with a Ballet concentration. Ms. Ayan is a Certified Fundraising Executive, the only professional accreditation in non-profit fundraising. Originally from Boston, Ms. Ayan currently resides in New York. |
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Marguerite D'Aloia
Professional tap teacher and stage performer Marguerite D’Aloia taught Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Tumbling for over 17 years before deciding to specialize in Tap. She has taught in various studios in New Jersey and most recently at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. Marguerite has appeared in many off Broadway productions as well as T.V., movies, commercials and industrials. Marguerite has been teaching Tap at Groove With Me since 1997. From 2007 to 2012, Marguerite served as the Chairwoman of Groove With Me's Board of Directors and became chair once again in the fall of 2015. Currently, Marguerite teaches 3 classes each week. |
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Allan Forsyth
Writer Allan Forsyth joined Groove With Me after reading about Abby Rosin’s Mont Blanc award in May of 2000. Allan became Groove With Me’s first board chairman in 2001 and served for the next six years, retiring in 2007 but continuing as a board member. A Princeton graduate and an Army veteran, Allan spent three decades as a senior editor and managing editor at various book publishing houses. Then he moved to the non-profit world, joining the boards of his children’s schools and summer camp, where he served as communications chair for three multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns. When his kids went to college, he found Groove With Me. |
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Sylvie Henry - Treasurer
Third Street Music School Sylvie Henry has over 20 years experience as a financial manager in the nonprofit industry. Sylvie is the Director of Finance of the Housing Division of Met Council on Jewish Poverty, responsible for the finance of over 20 buildings with 1600 apartments for the low income elderly. Sylvie previously was the VP of Finance for the New York Association for New Americans. At NYANA, she started as a payroll bookkeeper and then worked her way up to her senior financial position. She is an accounting graduate of Baruch College. To top it off, while working full time, Sylvie is the proud mother of two children and has been married for 20 years. |
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Rachel Lurie
Lurie Information Consulting, LLC Currently the records manager for a New York hospital, Rachel Lurie has a solid background in the financial-services industry where she worked as a compliance officer. In that capacity she managed a broad array of projects in the development of global corporate transaction monitoring. Her educational background includes a Master of Library Science degree from Rutgers University and an Advanced Certificate in Information and Library Science from Pratt Institute. Rachel is also an AIIM, ERM (Electronic Records Management) Practitioner, and has completed the KM Essentials program at the International Knowledge Management Institute. |
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Naseem Sayani
Digital Oxygen Naseem is a seasoned business and digital strategist with 20+ years of experience helping clients innovate and transform their businesses with digital innovation. She spent 7 years at Booz & Company, a premier management consulting firm, including 2 years as COO of Booz Digital, an in-house agency focused on launching new disruptive products and businesses. She also spent 2 years as Head of Strategy for Huge’s West Coast offices, and 2 years as Partner at BCG Digital Ventures, before founding Digital Oxygen, a boutique digital innovation consultancy. Most recently, she has taken on the role of Interim Vice President, Sales & Business Development for a SpaceTech start-up client, leading their digital strategy & marketing initiatives from the ground-up. Naseem is also an active angel investor, with an investment thesis focused on innovative seed state start-ups led by female- and femme- identifying founders. She has spoken at Impact A/S in Denmark, InRiver eCommerce in Chicago, CES, Digital Hollywood, OMMA LA, and Digital Entertainment world; and has been published by Huge Ideas, Campaign Magazine, AdAge, and Digiday on the topics of digital strategy, innovation, and fusing strategy and design to launch new ideas. She lives in Malibu, CA with her husband, their rowdy 2-year old, and their dog, Lola. |
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Jenny Thompson
Gibney Jenny Thompson is a nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience in the cultural sector. Currently, Jenny serves as Managing Director of Advancement at Gibney, where she collaborates closely with Founder, Artistic Director & CEO Gina Gibney on organizational priorities and oversees an integrated resource development and communications strategy. She previously directed Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s $90M capital/endowment campaign, led RIOULT Dance NY’s development efforts, and consulted multiple arts and culture clients on fundraising, campaign management, and strategic planning projects. She holds an M.A. in Arts Administration from UKY and a B.A. in Dance Studies, Choreography, and Writing about Performance from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Jenny is also a long-time Groove With Me advocate, formerly participating as a volunteer jazz dance teacher and a Young Professionals Committee Member. |
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Steve Wolinsky
Steve Wolinsky is a consultant for the investment management industry specializing in merger and acquisition integration, back office operations and IT programs. He worked at JP Morgan Chase for 25 years, where he was a senior vice president, managing back office services for investment managers. Previously, he managed the back offices of Latin American branches and capital market businesses in London. He was also the founder and CEO of a web-based transaction platform for real estate closings. Steve is a graduate of Brown University. He is married, with 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. |
in memoriam
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Gregory Hines
Dancer Tap dancer, actor, director, musician. Gregory Hines began dancing as a child and went on to launch a successful Broadway, television and film career. His notable movies include The Cotton Club and White Nights. |