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ONYA Board 2026

Dr. Carol Urbaitis

Vice President

Deb is originally from the Finger Lakes region, having grown up on a farm on the outskirts of Gorham, NY. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, she relocated to downstate New York where she taught for 9 years before going into school administration. Working her way up the administrative ladder, she retired in 2009 as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

After retiring from the NYS public school system, Deb, now with her husband, Pete, returned to live in the Finger Lakes region in 2010. Retirement was short lived as she assumed the role of Program Director for the BS in Organizational Management and the MSM in Business Management at Keuka College in the fall of 2011. She was active in this position until July 2021. After a 6-month consultant role as General Education Coordinator at the Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, NY, she decided to embrace retirement and enjoy travel and leisure.

Deb has been active in the Canandaigua community in different ways. She served as Vice President of the Towne Harbour Island HOA Board for several years; was active as a docent at Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion for 5 years; and served as a Board Trustee on the Wood Library Board for 9 years.

Her strengths lie in strategic planning with a focus on systems thinking. Deb’s interest in helping/serving the women/girls of our area is rooted in her many years of experience in working with students from kindergarten through to the Master’s degree level of college.

Dr. Carol Urbaitis

Vice-President

Dr. Carol Urbaitis joined Finger Lakes Community College in 1991 and has served in Student Affairs and Enrollment Management leadership roles, currently as Vice President of Enrollment Management since September 2008.

Carol currently serves as the Chair of the FLCC Association Board of Directors, as well as Vice Chair of the Geneva 2030 Executive Board and is a member of the Thompson Health Care Guild Board of Directors, serving as Chair of the Scholarship Committee. She previously served as the Vice President of the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA) and Northeast Regional Coordinator of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Carol is a past recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction Award.

Carol earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Communication from SUNY Brockport, a Master of Science in Education in College Student Development from Alfred University, and a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College.

Dr. Deb Gregory

President

Maggie Bringewatt

Secretary

Maggie is a community volunteer who serves on numerous non-profit governing Boards and Advisory Committees, with a focus on housing and senior services. Maggie has over 40 years experience in the development, financing and management of affordable housing, in the public, non-profit and for-profit sectors. In addition, Maggie has broad experience in organizational strategic planning and governance. Maggie resides in Canandaigua with her husband.

Sue O'Connor

Treasurer

Suzanne O’Connor has lived in Canandaigua since 2013. Starting her career in public accounting in Rochester, she moved into the oil & gas industry, banking and finance. She then spent 14 years working for a not-for-profit business incubator as its finance director until her retirement at the end of 2018. As finance director, she was responsible for accounting and reporting, facilities maintenance, technology, and HR functions. From 2015 through 2023 she was a board trustee at Wood Library Association, serving as treasurer for eight of those years.

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Jennifer Alessi

Jen Alessi is currently serving as the Assistant Provost for International Programs at San Francisco Bay University. A proud resident of Penn Yan in Yates County, Jen holds a Master’s degree in Business from Keuka College. She is deeply passionate about supporting international students and has built lasting relationships with many she has mentored throughout her career. Jen believes strongly in the power of education and personal growth to create opportunity. A lifelong learner herself, she credits the mentors in her life for helping her navigate challenges and find purpose. Jen is honored to serve on the ONYA board, where she brings her voice, experience, and commitment to empowering young people in her community.

Peggy Kane

Peggy Kane was born and raised in Southern Connecticut. After college I moved to São Paulo, Brazil teaching and counseling at the American School. During those years I was able to travel thru much of South America. I also taught in Lisbon Portugal and again, was lucky to travel through much of Europe. Upon my return to the States I worked at SUNY Colleges as a Professor and College Therapist. In 1982 I married Dr. Peter Kane and we lived and worked in Brockport raising four step-children.

In 1996 we moved to Canandaigua and were busy ever since volunteering for many community, political, and church organizations as well as traveling the world, living in St. Croix and Belize, and along the way caring for two teenage granddaughters as well as my aged and ailing parents.
When we moved to CanandaiguaI it was evident that social services, particularly for women and girls were poor or non existent. Thus, a group of local women (Jane Baker, Terri Hall, Lauree Hersche Meyer, Linda Martin, Barbara Hamlin, Adrienne Kantz, Sue Rea, Gail Furst, and myself)) contacted the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley to learn what they were doing for women and girls in a Five county area. Ultimately , we created the Ontario Yates Fund for Women with specific focus on grant funding to programs for women and girls in Ontario and Yates Counties. We began with $600.00 and with the generosity of so many people, 25 years later ONYA’s grants have touched the lives of literally thousands of women and girls.

I am so grateful to be a part of ONYA and am excited to see where ONYA will go in the next 25 years.

Leslie Mast

Leslie Mast, a lifelong resident of Canandaigua, currently lives with her husband and three children in the city of Canandaigua, where she works as an elementary special education teacher in the Canandaigua City School District. In addition to ONYA, she also serves on the Wood Library board of trustees, of which she served a term as Vice President from 2021-2022 and Board President from 2022-2024. Before that, she served as the Canandaigua PTSA's President from 2018-2020. She is involved with many local organizations as a volunteer and is always looking for new ways to get involved. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring historic sites, museums, and parks with her family, and is an avid reader.

Nancy Stelnyk

I have been a resident of Ontario County for 50 years, living in my present home in the City of Canandaigua for 40 years. I have one daughter (having brought her up as a single mom during all her school years, so I know how hard it is for women to support a family and what they need to achieve that important job). I have one granddaughter and 3 step-granddaughters and 4 step-great granddaughters. We truly are a blended family. I have worked in law firms as a legal assistant for the past 40 years. My volunteer experiences are past Junior League of Rochester member and board member, Past board members for The Granger Homestead, Canandaigua Lake Pure Waters and the Canandaigua Family YMCA (serving as president). I am presently involved with the Rotary Club of Canandaigua, just completing my year as President. I hold many committee positions with our Club and the District. After being divorced and remarried; then widowed, I am enjoying my life with my family, traveling, gardening and my pets, dog Ivy and cat Gloria. I’m very proud to be associated with ONYA.

Stacy Taylor

I have had a business life that has included many great opportunities. I was in banking for 20
years, holding many different positions, including Manager, Director and Vice President. My
management experience in the banking arena includes claims processors, IT staff and
bookkeeping staff.

After banking, I worked as a Manager and a Director at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield. My experience at Excellus includes managing auditors, project managers, provider management
and vendor oversight for the division. While working at Excellus, I was formally trained in
project management, strategic planning and received my Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma.

My non-work life experience includes Board Chair of Gleaners Community Kitchen in Canandaigua and a Board member for The George Ewing Forum.

Jody Tyler

Jody has served the Yates County Chamber of Commerce for over two decades, where she finds joy in helping small businesses flourish throughout the charming towns of the Finger Lakes. Deeply committed to community betterment, she has been involved with numerous nonprofits focused on environmental stewardship and empowering women, girls, and children. Jody lives in a cozy cabin in the woods between Keuka and Canandaigua Lakes with her daughter, Jayde. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening, and sharing her passion for healthy, sustainable living. Guided by the belief that knowledge and thoughtfulness can inspire others to care for both the planet and one another, Jody strives to make a positive impact every day.