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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2002
PR 331-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO
NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON WOMEN'S ISSUES

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment of thirty Commissioners to the Commission on Women's Issues: Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, Joanna Barsh, Carole Black, Dr. Michael Cohen, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Katie Couric, Evelyn Cunningham, Stephanie A. Cuskley, Karen Davis, Laura Ensler, Patricia Fili-Krushel, Dr. Alan R. Fleischman, Dr. Rosa Maria Gil, Mary Henwood-Klotz, Katherine S. Kahan, Nancy Kolben, Ellen Levine, Terry Lundgren, BettyJane Maniaci, Debra Martinez, Barbara Paul Robinson, Margarita Rosa, Marlene Sanders, Maria Semidei-Otero, Joan Steinberg, Louise Sunshine, Sally Susman, Jeanette Takamura, Delia Mia Ware-Tibbs and Sheila Wellington. The Commission also includes Commissioner Patricia L. Gatling of the New York City Commission on Human Rights and former Chairs of the Commission on the Status of Women: Edyth W. First, Dr. Ruth B. Cowan, Marcella Maxwell, Kay Wight, Susan Molinari and Amalia Betanzos who serve as ex-officio non-voting members. Anne Sutherland Fuchs serves as Chair of the Commisison and Carmen Rita Torrent is the Executive Director.

The Commission on Women's Issues (formerly the Commission on the Status of Women) was established by Mayoral Executive Order in 1975 as an advisory body to the Mayor on matters impacting the lives of women in New York City. The Commission also oversees the agenda and activities of the Women's Advisors Program, a program established in 1975 to promote equal rights and opportunities for women in city government.

"It is critical in the rebuilding and revitalizing of New York City to focus on the needs of women. We have the responsibility to set standards of excellence with the quality of support we give to the women of New York City," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The Commission is composed of a unique group of individuals dedicated to bringing about positive change for women in our great City. This Commission will work to positively impact women in many aspects of their lives."

The Commission has identified three main areas of concern: health, childcare and economic development. These three areas will become the basis of the Commission's initial platform. The Commission will educate the public and help strengthen the network of organizations in the public and private sectors working to expand career and other opportunities for women. One of the Commission's first efforts is to survey the City's largest private employers in order to provide insight as to how these organizations support women. This survey will be conducted pro bono in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, and Catalyst, Inc., a leading non-profit research and advisory organization.

"I am proud to live in a City where our Mayor is such a powerful advocate for women," said Chair of the Commission on Women's Issues Anne Sutherland Fuchs. "Our appointees are truly representative of the City's diversity and are well recognized leaders in their respective fields. The Commissioners will bring new energy and ideas that will be an important part of our mission."

Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn is an Owner and Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Inc., and Co-Chair and CEO of ProcurEase, LLC, a real estate data-technology company. She is also Vice Chair of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, an organization founded by Secretary of State Colin Powell. Ms. Ahmad-Llewellyn received a BS degree in Business Administration from Temple University.

Joanna Barsh is a Director of the New York office of McKinsey & Company, where she is a leader of the retail, media and private equity practices. She is a Trustee of the Sesame Workshop. Ms. Barsh received a BA with Honors in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters with Honors in English literature from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from the Harvard School of Business.

Carole Black is the President and CEO of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, which encompasses LIFETIME Television, the LIFETIME Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and LIFETIMETV.com. In October 2002, she was included in Fortune Magazine's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" and in January 2002, she was named one of BusinessWeek's Top 25 Managers of the Year. Ms. Black received a BA in English Literature from Ohio State University.

Dr. Michael Cohen is a Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Cohen is also a Trustee and Executive Officer of the Foundation for Child Development. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Mead Johnson Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Teaching. Dr. Cohen received a BA from Columbia College at Columbia University and an MD from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez is the President of the Hispanic Federation, a network of seventy-four Latino health and human services agencies serving more than two million Latinos annually. Ms. Cortés-Vázquez serves on various commissions and boards, including the Joint Federation Partnership, the Pfizer Women's Initiative, Washington Mutual's Board of Advisors and AARP's Statewide Executive Council. Ms. Cortés-Vázquez received an MPA from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and an Executive Certificate from the Columbia University School of Non-Profit Management.

Katie Couric is the co-anchor of "The Today Show." Ms. Couric joined the program in June 1990 as its first national correspondent and then served as substitute co-anchor from February 1991 until becoming permanent co-anchor. She is also a contributing anchor for "Dateline NBC." She has received numerous honors and awards for her work, including six Emmys, The Associated Press Award, and in May 2001 was honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody award for her series "Confronting Colon Cancer." Ms. Couric graduated with Honors from the University of Virginia.

Evelyn Cunningham is the founder of The Coalition of 100 Black Women. She spent 25 years as a reporter, columnist and New York City Editor with the Pittsburgh Courier covering major civil rights stories. She served on the White House Domestic Council and in 1969 joined the Task Force on Women's Rights and Responsibilities. Ms. Cunningham received a BA in Sociology from Long Island University and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from City College.

Stephanie A. Cuskley is the Managing Director and Project Manager of JPMorgan-Chase's leadership development center known as "Leadership Morgan-Chase" (LMC). Prior to joining LMC, Ms. Cuskley was Managing Director of the Company's High Yield Corporate Finance Department. Ms. Cuskley received a BA in Economics and Commerce from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Cornell University.

Karen Davis is the President of The Commonwealth Fund, a national philanthropic organization engaged in independent research on health and social policy issues. Before joining the Fund, she served as Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy in the Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Davis received both a BA in Mathematics and Economics, and a Doctorate in Economics from Rice University.

Laura Ensler is the Director of Early Head Start Program, sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Prior to joining the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, she worked at Beth Israel Medical Center for PANDA, an early intervention program for newborns exposed to drugs. Prior to that she was the Director of the Family Center at Brooklyn Friends School. Ms. Ensler received a BA degree from Franklin & Marshall College and an MS in Infant and Parent Development from the Bank Street College of Education.

Patricia Fili-Krushel is the Executive Vice-President of Administration at AOL Time Warner, Inc. Her responsibilities at AOL Time Warner include oversight of corporate human resources, employee development and growth, compensation and benefits, as well as security. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Second Stage Theater and is a member of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's Media Task Force. She received a BS from St. John's University and an MBA from Fordham University.

Dr. Alan R. Fleischman is the Director of the Division of Neonatology and Professor of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Senior Vice President of the New York Academy of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Fleischman is a Fellow of the Hastings Center in Garrison, New York, a founding member of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Committee on AIDS and a member of the New York State Governor's Task Force on Life and the Law. Dr. Fleischman graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the City College of New York and was first in his class at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Rosa Maria Gil is the Dean of Health Sciences for the City University of New York. Dr. Gil was Chair of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation and Special Advisor to the Mayor for Health Policy. She founded PHASE, Inc., which created innovative manpower development programs in the healthcare field and HIRE, Inc., which developed culturally relevant housing programs and case management services for persons with mental illness. Dr. Gil received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Oriente University in Cuba, an MSW from Fordham University School of Social Work and a Doctorate in Social Welfare from Adelphi University.

Mary Henwood-Klotz is the Director of Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division. She oversees the development and coordination of early cancer detection and prevention programs provided by the Cancer Society's professional and volunteer staff. She also manages the fiscal and fundraising activities of the Society. Ms. Henwood-Klotz received a BS in Marketing from American University and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University. She is a Doctoral candidate in Health Education at Columbia University's Teachers College.

Katherine S. Kahan is the Honorary Chair of the New York Women's Foundation, a cross-cultural alliance of women helping low-income women achieve sustained economic self-sufficiency and self-reliance. She is a member of the Board of the Citizens Committee for Children of New York City, a research and advocacy group, which champions the cause of children throughout the five boroughs. Ms. Kahan received a BA in Art History from Smith College and an MA in English from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Nancy Kolben is the Executive Director of ChildCare, Inc., the leading child care policy and advocacy organization in New York City. She co-directs the Center for Early Care and Education and is coordinating a statewide blueprint on the issue. Ms. Kolben also served as President and Founding Board Member of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. Ms. Kolben has guided the development of numerous publications on all aspects of early childhood policy and has spoken extensively on a comprehensive vision for early care and education.

Ellen Levine is the Editor-in-Chief of Good Housekeeping, the first woman to hold that post in the magazine's history. Ms. Levine is the former Editor-in-Chief of Redbook, Woman's Day and a former Senior Editor of Cosmopolitan. She currently serves on the Board of the New York Restoration Project; Lifetime Television's Board of Directors; Research!America Board of Directors; and the Board of Advisors of New York Women in Communications. Ms. Levine received a BA from Wellesley University in Political Science.

Terry Lundgren is President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Merchandising Officer of Federated Department Stores, Inc., the leading department store retailer in the United States. Terry Lundgren received a BA from Brandeis University and did post-graduate work at New York University. He received an Honorary Degree of Laws from the University of Arizona. Mr. Lundgren also holds an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Commercial Science from Suffolk University.

BettyJane Maniaci is an Agent and Registered Representative of the New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation. She is currently a New York Life Executive Council Member, Chair of the Staten Island Branch of the NYC Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and a board member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Ms. Maniaci received an MS in Health Science from Brooklyn College.

Debra Martinez is the Director of Facilitated Enrollment and Outreach for the State's Children's Health Insurance Program at the NYS Department of Health. In addition, she is President of the Grand Council of Hispanic Societies in Public Service. Prior to her service with the NYS Department of Health, Ms. Martinez served as Chair and Executive Director of the State Consumer Protection Board. Ms. Martinez received a BA in Psychology from Tufts University and an MA in Education from the Lehman College of the City University of New York.

Barbara Paul Robinson, Esq. is a Partner at Debevoise and Plimpton, where she is a member of the firm's Trusts and Estates Department. She is currently Treasurer and a Board Member of Catalyst, Inc., a Trustee of Bryn Mawr College and the William Nelson Cromwell Foundation. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Child Development, the American Arbitration Association, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under Law and the Fund for Modern Courts. Ms Robinson received an AB from Bryn Mawr and a JD from the Yale University School of Law.

Margarita Rosa, Esq. is the Executive Director of the Grand Street Settlement. She is a former New York State Commissioner of Human Rights and a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Minorities in the Profession. She is a member of the Mayor's Committee on the Judiciary. Ms. Rosa received an AB from Princeton University and a JD from the Harvard University School of Law.

Marlene Sanders has been a news correspondent, writer, producer and executive with ABC and CBS News. She is the recipient of numerous awards including three Emmys, two Christopher Awards, the Front Page Award and the Broadcast Women of the Year Award. She is Chair of the Advisory Board of WomensEnews.com and of Friends of RSVP, a part of the Community Service Society that recruits retired seniors. Ms. Sanders attended Ohio State University.

Maria Semidei-Otero is the Founder and President of the Women's Venture Fund, Inc., a
non-profit organization dedicated to assisting low-income and minority women become successful entrepreneurs. Ms. Semidei-Otero has a long history of active involvement in issues concerning women. In recognition for her commitment to women's economic development, she received Hispanic Magazine's "1998 Entrepreneur of the Year Award." Ms. Semidei-Otero received a BA from Queens College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

Joan Steinberg is an active civic leader, she has expressed her concern for issues involving women and girls through various not-for-profit commitments. She has served on the Board of the Citizens Budget Commission and the Council and Board of Trustees of the Juilliard School of Music. Ms. Steinberg received a BA degree in Political Science from DePauw University and a Masters from Columbia University.

Louise Sunshine is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Sunshine Group, one of the nation's premier marketing, leasing and sales organizations for luxury residential properties. Ms. Sunshine has managed and marketed the sales and leasing of over 50 residential developments. She was also Executive Vice President and Partner of the Trump Organization and instrumental in the development of many high profile properties.

Sally Susman is the Senior Vice President for Global Communications at Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. Prior to joining Estée Lauder Companies, Ms. Susman directed media relations, internal communications and governmental affairs for all of American Express' international operations and expanded its online presence in the United States. She is a Trustee of Connecticut College. Ms. Susman received a BA from Connecticut College.

Jeanette Takamura is the Dean of Columbia University School of Social Work. Dr. Takamura is the first female dean at the nation's oldest school of social work. She has served in senior positions in the state government of Hawaii and was Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Dr. Takamura received a BA degree in Political Science and Sociology and a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Hawaii, and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University.

Delia Mia Ware-Tibbs is Staff Director of Marketing, Consumer Finance, and Financial Analysis for Verizon. She has had an illustrious and extensive military career in the U.S. Army Reserve. As the former Captain of a Battalion, Ms. Ware-Gibbs was responsible for the training, health, welfare and morale of the soldiers under her command. Ms. Ware-Tibbs received a BS from Hampton University, and an MBA from St. Peters College.

Sheila Wellington is the President of Catalyst Inc., the nation's premier non-profit research and advisory organization on women's private sector leadership. She has spearheaded the most comprehensive research to date on women of color in corporate management. She is also a Trustee of the Nuveen Selected Portfolios and of several non-profit organizations. She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Yale School of Public Health in 2002. Ms. Wellington graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science, and received concurrent Masters Degree in Urban Studies and Public Health from Yale University.

The commissioners, appointed to a three-year term, serve in a non-salaried capacity. Research and programs supported by the Commission are funded through its not-for-profit corporation, The Commission on Women's Issues Fund, Inc.


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