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Pattern for Progress Names Three Regional Leaders to Board of Directors
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress named three regional leaders to its Board of Directors, bringing expertise from across the housing, planning, and labor sectors.
Monique Clarke is a mortgage officer with The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), where she finances affordable and multifamily housing developments across the Hudson Valley. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate, lending, and community development, she works with mission-driven developers and public partners to expand access to equitable, high-quality housing. She is active in regional housing initiatives through CPC and is a member of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors.
Tom Gandolfini is the business manager and financial secretary of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 373. He also serves on the executive boards of the Hudson Valley Building Trades and the New York State Pipe Trades Association. A graduate of Newburgh Free Academy, Gandolfini began his career as an apprentice with Local 373 and is dedicated to creating strong career opportunities for union men and women throughout the Hudson Valley.
Matthew Steinberg, AICP, is a senior associate at DTS Provident, where he leads environmental and land use planning for major development projects across the Hudson Valley. With more than 20 years of public- and private-sector experience, he has overseen high-profile initiatives including Broadview Senior Living at SUNY Purchase and the redevelopment of the former Reader’s Digest campus in Chappaqua. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
The directors were nominated in the fall and formally elected in December by Pattern for Progress’s membership, which includes businesses, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and local governments in the Hudson Valley.
Board members support Pattern for Progress’s nonprofit mission by guiding strategic planning and governance, advancing research and education efforts, supporting fundraising, and helping ensure the organization’s work informs decision-making across the nine-county region.
Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland Names Stephen Papas as Executive Director
Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR) has named Stephen Papas as Executive Director, succeeding Dan Eudene, who will retire on Feb. 6th.
Papas brings a longstanding commitment to community service, proven leadership expertise, and deep roots in the Rockland County community. He will leverage this experience to lead a team in combating food insecurity, ensuring access to shelter, and supporting new immigrants as they build stable, independent lives in Rockland.
Stephen Papas serves as President and CEO of United Way of Rockland County. He previously served with the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County and then spent six years at Meals on Wheels of Rockland. In his current role with United Way, Papas leads cross-sector efforts bringing together nonprofits, business and government to address pressing needs in Rockland County.
“I am honored to join Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland and to continue the vital work this organization does every day to serve our neighbors in need. I look forward to building on the incredible foundation that Dan and the CCCSR team have established.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to lead Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland,” said Joan Facelle, Board Chair of CCCSR. “We believe he is the right person to shepherd CCCSR’s continued growth and development for the benefit of our Rockland community. We also thank Dan for his many years of service and for leading the organization into a bright future where we can truly make a difference one family at a time. We wish him a happy retirement.”
St. Thomas Aquinas College Awarded Google Grant to Expand High-Demand Programs
St. Thomas Aquinas College has received a grant from Google.org through its partnership with Rize Education, supporting the Institution’s work to develop future-focused academic programs aligned with evolving student and workforce needs. The grant was awarded to select members of the Lower Cost Models Consortium (LCMC), a national consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to lowering the cost of higher education through innovative academic models powered by Rize Education.
“We look forward to supplementing our in-person learning environment with innovative new on-line academic programs of the future,” said Ken Daly, president of St. Thomas Aquinas College. “This enhanced curriculum will enable our students to become leaders in the careers of the future.”
St. Thomas Aquinas College has signed a foundational agreement with Rize Education to support the assessment and development of several new in-demand academic programs targeted to launch between now and 2030. These initiatives build upon the College’s recently introduced MBA programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics, while also providing full access to Rize’s extensive online course catalog. This work is grounded in the College’s commitment to mission-based, in-person education, complemented by thoughtfully integrated online offerings.
In close collaboration with faculty, the College is assessing new undergraduate offerings to expand its academic portfolio in in-demand fields. These efforts build upon existing Rize-supported undergraduate programs, including the Supply Chain Management minor, and reflect a continued commitment to academic innovation grounded in real-world relevance.
“This initiative is transformative for liberal arts institutions like St. Thomas Aquinas College” said Kevin Harrington, CEO and Co-founder of Rize Education. “It enables colleges to adapt quickly to the evolving educational and career landscape, providing students with valuable skills in growing fields while preserving the rich academic and on-campus experiences for which these schools are known.”
Student data further reinforces the importance of this work. According to Rize Education’s The Hybrid College Wins report, 91 percent of high school students want at least one online course per semester, and 81 percent of college students are confident they can succeed in online courses. Overall, 92 percent of MBA students rated online courses as good or better than other graduate courses. These findings align with St. Thomas Aquinas College’s approach to integrating online learning as a strategic supplement to in-person education, while preserving community, mentorship, and hands-on learning engagement.
“Rize and the LCMC have developed an incredible model of innovation that prepares students for fulfilling careers, while preserving valuable components of a traditional college experience,” said Kim Roberts, a Director at Google.org.
