The Foundation Board at Rockland Community College is comprised of accomplished individuals from the community who are committed to supporting the institution’s students and advancing its mission.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Walter Goldman, Chair, RCC Foundation
Walter Goldman, a resident of Rockland County for 40 years, has always been an entrepreneur by figuring out how to meet the needs of others with business solutions. At 16 he started the Bagelnuts, a delivery service, which delivered fresh bagels and donuts to your door every Sunday before 9:00AM.
At 18, Walter started a small business, Rockland Dating Service. In college, in upstate New York, Walter realized that many students needed to get their belongings to and from their downstate home and The College Carriers were born.
In an effort to continue to find ways to assist others by using technology, in 1985 at the beginning of the decentralization of distributed data processing, Walter started a company called Magnacom Data Products. By 1999, this value-added reseller grew to $30,000,000 in sales by offering back-office data solutions, maintenance and repair services.
Walter sold his computer business in 2005 and went on to concentrate on financial planning, operations and logistics, efficiency and assisting others in developing businesses from the ground up to early-stage funding.
In 2009, Walter started a management consulting firm called Goldkap Consulting Group which helps companies start, grow and scale. He continues to own and operate this business today.
Walter has experience in writing and executing business plans, finding ways to bring organizations and executives of organizations to the next level in their business careers while keeping a constant eye on margins, profitability and solutions that can be managed and monitored.
Walter speaks at professional associations throughout the tri-state area and has given multiple classes on how to make it as an entrepreneur in today’s economy.
Walter graduated from Pace University with a BBA in Marketing with a minor in finance. Walter is married with 4 adult children. He is a mentor for SCORE, facilitates board meetings for not-for-profits ensuring best practices are implemented and also sits on multiple boards within the Rockland County community. Walter is involved with the REACH program at Good Samaritan Hospital, runs the Rockland Business Owners Group and Chairperson of the Rockland Community College Foundation Board. In his spare time, Walter enjoys traveling, reading business books and helping people who want to grow in business.
Howard Hellman, Vice Chair, RCC Foundation
Howard Hellman, a devoted third generation Rocklander, has forged a remarkable journey through education and entrepreneurship. He graduated from Ramapo High School in 1970 and went on to earn degrees from Rockland Community College in 1972 and the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1974. In 1970, Howard founded All Bright Electric, an enterprise that has grown to include 100 dedicated employees, serving a diverse clientele in sectors such as Institutional, Healthcare, Educational, Utility, Commercial, Multi-family, and Industrial markets. Expanding his horizons in 2000, he established Hellman Management, overseeing a vast portfolio of over 2,000 residential condominium units and commercial properties.
Howard’s deep commitment to community service has garnered him numerous awards, including the United Way Volunteer Appreciation Award, the Boy Scouts of the Hudson Valley Distinguished Citizen Award, and the Rockland Economic Development Corp Economic Development Award, to name a few. He actively engages with various not-for-profit organizations, serving as Vice Chair for Bridges and the RCC Foundation and holding positions on the boards of the Boy Scouts of the Hudson Valley, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity, among others. Past leadership roles include Chair of the YMCA and American Red Cross, as well as Captain of the Spring Hill Ambulance Corp. Howard is a former President of the Nyack Rotary Club. Most recently Howard was recognized by the Rockland Community Foundation as the 2023 Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist and was also received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Professional Contribution Award by the New York State Community College Trustees.
Within Rockland County, Howard is instrumental in shaping its future, serving as Chair of the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency and Vice Chair of the Workforce Development Board. Beyond his professional and community commitments, Howard finds joy in hobbies such as organizing, disc golf, jogging, hiking, and real estate. His personal life is enriched by his loving family.
Irene Coughlin, Treasurer, RCC Foundation
Irene A. Coughlin, Chief Financial Officer joined Portables Unlimited, Inc. in January 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mrs. Coughlin served in a variety of executive financial positions at Curtis Instruments, Inc and Hypres, Inc. over a 17- year period. She comes to Portables with expertise in GAAP reporting, business consolidations/M&A (domestic and international), bank financing, auditing, and compliance.
Irene is a frequent speaker to the RCC President’s society and enjoys mentoring students in their future endeavors.
During her career she has held a variety of finance positions including, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance & Administration, and Controller and was instrumental in securing financing and restructuring the companies to adapt to today’s changing business needs. Mrs. Coughlin holds a BBA in Public Accounting from Pace University.
Mark Acker, Secretary, RCC Foundation
Adam O'Gorman
Adam has a business-oriented mindset. He started a very successful tutoring business when he was 17 and continued to run it for 10 years.
He was also a teacher for 4 years and turned around 2 school’s math programs. After fulfilling his goal of being a teacher, he shifted industries and became a managing partner of a fine dining Japanese restaurant.
After completing that goal, Adam decided to sell residential real estate. He finally found his niche in the commercial real estate market and is the owner of Nova North Commercial, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage. Adam proudly uses a company logo designed by the Rockland Community College Street Team for Nova North. He excels in providing his clients with honesty, promptness, and aptitude. Adam treats his client’s properties as if they were his own. As one client writes, “Working with you was a trouble-free experience and you were very accommodating in all the tasks needed to the job done. Thank you for making out renting process smooth and helping us find the perfect tenants to fit our requirements.”-S Macchia
In his spare time Adam is the President of Habitat for Humanity of Rockland and is a member of the RCC Foundation Board of Directors where he chairs the Alumni sub-committee.
Board Members
Traci Schultz Brega
Traci runs Schultz Ford in Nanuet with her brother. She is a third-generation owner ad a life-long resident of Rockland County. Traci has been a local business leader her whole professional career. She is committed to the County and our RCC students.
Traci runs the RCC Ford ASSET Program, overseeing the student interns. She hires the students who want to continue with Ford and guides them into their careers. To learn more about the Ford ASSET Program, please refer to the following 2021 RCC press release where Traci is interviewed.
https://sunyrockland.edu/2022/05/02/students-begin-sixteen-week-program-to-become-ford-certified/
Sonia Burgos-Crannage, Esq.
Sonia is an Associate with Sichol & Hick, P.C. and practices Elder Law, Disabilities, Trusts and Estates, Guardianship, Medicare and Medicaid, Real Estate Closings & Wills.
Sonia is a graduate of Adelphi University and the Jacob D. Fuchsburg Law Center of Touro College where she received her Juris Doctor in 1987. She was admitted to the New York Bar in 1988.
Burgos-Crannage was the former New York State coordinator for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. She has lectured on issues concerning the elderly and the disabled at CUNY Law School, Suffolk Academy of Law, C. W. Post College, Hofstra University, various accounting associations, parent organizations, and Senior Citizen centers. She has spoken about Elder Law and issues concerning the disabled on various radio stations.
Angel L. Cardoza Jr.
Angel Cardoza is Vice President of Substation Operations at Con Edison, the energy company serving the nine million people of New York City and Westchester. Mr. Cardoza is responsible for the safety, construction, operation, maintenance, and reliability of 103 substations. Mr. Cardoza previously served as general manager of Substation Operations and Control Room Operations at Orange & Rockland Utilities. Mr. Cardoza served in a series of positions of increasing responsibility at Orange & Rockland Utilities and Con Edison including general manager of Electric Operations, general manager of Gas Engineering, and general manager of Protective Systems Testing in Substation Operations. He joined Con Edison in 1998 as a management intern. Mr. Cardoza holds a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University. He also holds a Master of Science in organization leadership from Mercy College and a Bachelor of Engineering from the City College of New York in electrical engineering.
Dr. Beth A. Coyle, Officer in Charge
Dr. Beth A. Coyle has more than 35 years of higher education experience, focusing on academic, administrative, operational, and auxiliary enterprises in both the public and private sectors. She has led academic and administrative teams at public and private universities and has served in consulting roles for a variety of higher education institutions, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Coyle is an experienced leader and educator with expertise in a variety of senior-level academic and administrative leadership posts. Her areas of proficiency encompass project planning and management; operations, including facilities and emergency management, business continuity, and planning; development and alumni affairs; auxiliary services; and academic affairs. In the academic realm, she has expertise as an MSCHE Peer Reviewer, in faculty affairs, online academic administration, online teaching and learning, records and registration, and academic success.
Dr. Coyle previously served as Vice President of Operations at Rockland Community College and resides with her family in Rockland County. She received her bachelor’s degree at The College of New Jersey and earned a master’s degree with distinction from Rider University. She was the recipient of a graduate fellowship from Nova Southeastern University’s Programs for Higher Education where she earned a doctoral degree.
Mitch Gusler, CPA
Senior Partner, Rifkin & Company, LLP, Certified Public Accountants
Mitch Gusler, a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Valuation Analyst, has been a Foundation board member for over 15 years, having served in various leadership positions. Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee as Past Chair of the Foundation. He has been practicing public accounting since 1980, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the New York State Society of CPAs, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
Mitch previously served on the board of directors of the New York State Society of CPA’s and is currently a member of the board of directors of Meals on Wheels.
Patricia Maloney-Titland
Distinguished Service Professor, Program Director – Visual and Performing Arts, and Faculty Representative to the RCC Foundation Board
Patricia Maloney-Titland is a dedicated professor and arts advocate who has received the SUNY Distinguished Professorship, the highest rank bestowed by the State University of New York. In addition to her role as professor, she is a professional actor and director, and has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the arts, including the Arts Council of Rockland Award for Arts Educator (which she has received twice), the Rockland Community College Foundation’s Leadership Award, and their Person of the Year. With her wealth of experience, creativity, and passion, Maloney-Titland has made a lasting impact on the lives and careers of her students, helping them achieve their goals and pursue their dreams in the arts.
In recognition of her dedication to education, and commitment to students and community, Maloney-Titland is the recipient of Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award, the ACCT Northeast Regional Faculty Excellence Award, two SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, one in Faculty Service and one in Scholarship and Creative Activities, as well as the “Champions of Education” Award.
Maloney-Titland is a driving force in the arts community, both as a professor and as the co-founder and co-artistic director of the award-winning, and long-running Rockland Shakespeare Company. The company has achieved great success under Maloney-Titland’s leadership. In addition to her work with the company, she has been continually engaged in a wide range of creative and academic pursuits, including the production of events and performances for Heritage Month celebrations, scholarship and philanthropic fundraisers, advocacy for students with disabilities, implementation and cultivation of professional Internship programs, and rigorous curriculum-based productions, for which she has been recognized by her peers, the College, and the Community.
John Piccininni
John is the President of Piccininni Development Corp., Real Estate Development & Management
Ms. Susan Oelkers-Ramos, Board of Trustees Representative
Susan, a Stony Point businesswoman, was appointed by Governor George E. Pataki in January 2004 to serve as a member of the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees for a term to expire on June 30, 2010, as successor to Mr. Isidro Cancel. She was reappointed in July 2010 for a term to expire in June 2017. Ms. Oelkers-Ramos is the sole proprietor of Environmental Construction of Stony Point, a position she has held since 1988. Originally from Manhattan, Ms. Oelkers-Ramos earned her General Education Diploma and attended classes at SUNY Rockland.
Ms. Ramos has served the community in many capacities. She recently donated time and equipment towards the restoration of Nyack’s Memorial Park, and was responsible for the renovations to Emanuel Welder Park in Monsey. She was a 2003 recipient of Partner for Growth award from Orange & Rockland Utilities and belongs to the Lions Club of Stony Point.
Harmina Valeris, Student Representative
Harmina Valeris is a second-year student at Rockland Community College with a passion for entrepreneurship. Guided by the belief that if you can dream it, you can do it, she aspires to run her own company in the future. Recently, she participated in the New Business Plan Competition.
Harmina works full-time as a direct support assistant and is an active member at her church. For the 2024-2025 academic year, she serves as a senator for the Student Government Board. Previously she was the Treasurer of the Accounting Club where she developed her financial management skills.