The Center for Family Justice
Leadership + Board
Deb has spent more than 35 years in non-profit management, with extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising, community mobilization and leadership and program development. Prior to joining The Center for Family Justice in 2007, she served as a CEO at various YMCAs in the region, leading four successful capital campaigns that resulted in the creation of a new YMCA, two renovations at different Ys, and most recently the remodeling The Center for Family Justice as it became the state’s first Family Justice Center in 2016.
Her tenure on the Town of Monroe’s Youth Commission in the 1990s led to her passion for strengthening youth programs that focused on after-school activities, in addition to implementing physical and well-being initiatives into these programs through the national YMCA. For a decade, she served as a faculty advisor with the national YMCA, writing curriculum and mainstreaming children with disabilities into physical educations programs in public schools throughout Connecticut.
She received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University; an M.S. degree in Exercise Physiology from Southern Connecticut State University; in addition to advanced studies in Special Education at Springfield College and Fundraising and Grant Writing Programs at New York University and the Grantsmanship Institute. Her awards include: Woman of Achievement in 1996 for the Eastern Field (YMCA of the USA); Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of America; Education Award from the Monroe Public Schools; Sacred Heart University Alumni Achievement Award in 2013. She and her husband, Jim, reside in Monroe, and have three adult daughters and six grandchildren. Her volunteer interests include being a public policy advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut for the past 5 years.
Mark provides overall leadership for managing financial resources, tracking and monitoring financial expenditures, and ensuring that financial spending is in line with agency budgets. In conjunction with the President/CEO and management team, he is responsible for implementing short- and long-term strategies for managing and improving the overall financial health and systems of CFJ. He also serves as the staff’s Human Resources contact.
Mark is accountable for all aspects of the Profit & Loss and all analysis, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting. He has more than 30 years of experience with finance, accounting and operations. Prior to joining CFJ in 2013, he spent 20 years with Pitney Bowes Management Services in Stamford. He is a Board of Trustee member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Fairfield/Westchester Chapter, where he has served as past President and Treasurer. Mark received a B.S. degree in Accounting and Business/Management from Sacred Heart University.
Kayte began her career at CFJ in 2007, working at Bridgeport’s Golden Hill Courthouse as a Family Violence Victim Advocate supporting family violence victims engaged with the criminal justice system. Kayte then supervised the criminal and civil court Family Violence Victim Advocates for four years before being chosen to lead CFJ’s Multidisciplinary Team.
In her current role, Kayte provides leadership to our Civil Legal, Court Advocacy, Crisis and Housing, and Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Latine Community Services units. Kayte is the Director of CFJ’s Child Advocacy Center and coordinates the Greater Bridgeport Multidisciplinary Team.
She also teaches law enforcement professionals about the dynamics of domestic violence and frequently teaches cadets in the Bridgeport Police Academy. Kayte co-chairs the Executive Committee of the Greater Bridgeport Multidisciplinary Team.Kayte is also CFJ’s Lethality Assessment Program coordinator and has sat on the Task Force to Study the State’s Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence. Kayte earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven. She has presented to a diverse array of audiences on topics such as domestic violence, sexual violence, the court system’s response to domestic violence, strangulation, and child abuse.
In 2017, Kayte was chosen as one of Westfair Communication’s “40 Under 40” honors recipients in Fairfield County. In 2023, she received the Connecticut Children’s Alliance MDT Hero Award.
Marissa began her career at CFJ in the development department as an associate and event planner. After a brief stint away, she is back now leading the development office which includes fundraising campaigns, special events, grant and foundation funding, volunteers, and PR/Marketing initiatives. She is tasked with seeking out and establishing new relationships for CFJ, as well as continuing to foster the many existing relationships that allow The Center to do the work it does so well.
Marissa initially joined CFJ after honing her leadership and fundraising skills in the tumultuous world of politics as the Finance Director first for Diane Farrell in her bid for U.S. Congress and then for former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. Marissa received her B.A in Sociology and Women’s Studies and master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Bridgeport (27th class) and recipient of Westfair Communications’ “40 Under 40” award (2016).
Amanda provides expertise, leadership and support to the agency’s prevention services. In her current role, Amanda promotes social change and justice through advocacy, collaboration and community organizing. She has worked with victims of domestic and sexual violence as well as diverse communities for more than 15 years, raising awareness about the impact of these issues through outreach and education.
In 2008, Amanda developed and continues to provide support to the state’s first White Ribbon Campaign at The Center for Family Justice, which engages men and boys in the prevention of domestic and sexual violence against women and girls. She also coordinates and facilitates the agency’s 40-hour state mandated certification training that focuses on domestic and sexual violence intervention and advocacy. Amanda received a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Women’s Studies and Criminal Justice, and a master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in community health education and promotion from Southern Connecticut State University.
Paul has been part of CFJ’s team since 2003 as the lead technical expert on staff implementing solutions that help CFJ advance its mission forward. He has more than 18 years of experience in IT and over 15 years in operations management. As COO, he also has oversight of CFJ’s Direct Services Team, which provides crisis and supportive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
In addition, safety and security is a major priority for Paul and his team. In 2012 Paul launched CFJ’s first-ever Health and Safety Committee. This committee provides employees with a forum to discuss real safety challenges, strategies and solutions.
In 2015 he was recognized for his noteworthy leadership as a “40 Under 40” honoree by Westfair Communication’s Fairfield County Business Journal.
Donna provides overall leadership for managing financial resources, tracking and monitoring financial expenditures, and ensuring that financial spending is in line with agency budgets. In conjunction with the President/CEO and management team, she is responsible for implementing short- and long-term strategies for managing and improving the overall financial health and systems of CFJ. She also serves as the staff’s Human Resources contact.
Donna is accountable for all aspects of the Profit & Loss and all analysis, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting. She has more than 30 years of experience in finance, planning & analysis, controllership, and operations.
Prior to joining CFJ in 2024, Donna spent 30+ years with GE Company/GE Capital.in a variety of roles including Finance, Risk Management, and Operations for several businesses and functions – such as the GE Foundation. Donna received a B.S. in Mathematics and a M.S. in Financial Management from Fairfield University.
Board of Directors
CHAIRPERSON: Sofia De Carvalho
M&T Bank
Dianne Auger
The Glinda Group
Sandra Carmichael
Community Leader
Rosinne Chlala
The Festivities Foundation
Pamela J. Dale, Esq.
Law Office of Pamela Dale, L.L.C.
Suzanne Gorab
Community Leader
TREASURER: Michael E. Lyngaas
Community Leader
Gary MacNamara
Sacred Heart University
Sarah Cwikla Mastropole
Stantec
Adriana Mazza
Ion Bank
VICE CHAIR: Kristin Okesson
Connoisseur Media
SECRETARY: Scott Redfern
Community Leader
Rev. Sara Smith, Esq. (LOA)
United Congregational Church
Josh Zabin
Ridgefield Public Schools, Director of Safety and Security
CFJ BOARD FELLOW:
Kristine Paz, LMSW
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County