Board of Directors
Rita CoxPresident
Prior to starting her own marketing firm, Cox Marketing Solutions, Rita served as the SVP of Marketing and External Affairs at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Rita also has an extensive resume in the not-for-profit and volunteer world, having been Director of Development at Special Olympics NY and serving on volunteer committees and boards for Saratoga Hospital Foundation and Ronald McDonald House. In addition to her work at To Life!, Rita is a SCORE mentor, providing guidance to start-up businesses. In her spare time, Rita can be found playing with her granddaughter, in her gardens, or at a concert. She lives with her family in Clifton Park, NY. |
Kathleen GodfreyTreasurer
Kathleen earned her BA and MBA from SUNY-Albany. She is a breast cancer survivor, and a long time resident of the Capital Region, where she raised her family. |
Barbara MacDowellSecretary, RN
Barbara has served on the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and is currently on the Board of Advisors for the American Cancer Society and involved in many fundraising ventures. She has successfully facilitated a Family Support Group for the LLS for an excess of 25 years. Since joining To Life!, she has co-chaired the Pink Ball with Rita Cox for several years and most recently partnered with Maureen DeRosa on the Pink Ball initiative. She has taken an avid interest in the needs, challenges, and support of those affected directly and indirectly with breast cancer, having family members and many friends affected with this disease. Barbara lives in Delmar with her husband, Dr. Richard MacDowell where they are sufficiently busy with 4 children and 5 grandchildren. |
Mara Ginsberg, Esq.Founder, Immediate Past President, Chair, Scientific and Education Advisory Council
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Mary BowenRN
She became involved in To Life! as a volunteer with the Support Group Program. She was awarded the "You're An Angel Award" at the 2013 A Toast To Life! event for her commitment to improving the lives of those facing a breast cancer diagnosis in the Capital Region. She lives in Albany with her husband and high school sweetheart, William. She enjoys traveling, exercising, and spending time with her adult children and grandchildren, all of whom live locally. |
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Douglas Conklin, Ph.D.
In addition to his research and teaching, Conklin is active with the American Cancer Society. He serves on the New York State Health Research Science Board, having been the chair since 2013. Dr. Conklin has often been a presenter at To Life! educational programs, exposing all to current research developments related to breast cancer. He joined the board in 2024. |
Kevin DubnerKevin joined the Board of Directors in 2012. He currently serves as a Financial Advisor in the Albany office of Steward Partners. For over 30 years, he has guided investors In addition to his work with To Life!, Kevin sits on the board of directors for Albany Center Gallery, serving as president since in 2018. Kevin volunteers his time and expertise in fundraising for numerous local charitable organizations. In 2007, Kevin was the recipient of the “You’re an Angel” award from To Life! for building the event management software program used by To Life! for many years. Kevin has shared his expertise with other local non-profit organizations including; The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America of Northeastern New York, The Center for Community Justice, and Albany Center Gallery. Kevin lends his expertise in finance to the To Life! organization. “It’s extremely rewarding to know you’re helping these great organizations make a difference in the community. It’s one of the best things I do.” Kevin studied at the University at Albany with a double concentration in accounting and economics and worked as an accountant before entering the investment business. Kevin holds his FINRA Series 7, and 63, as well as his State of New York Life & Health Insurance License and a CLTC (Certified in Long-Term Care) designation. He specializes in retirement planning, mutual funds, equities, and tax-free and taxable bonds. Kevin joined the Board of Albany Center Gallery (a non-profit art space in downtown Albany dedicated to exhibiting skillful contemporary art from artists of the Mohawk Hudson region, and building a strong, knowledgeable audience for the visual arts) in 2014 and was elected Vice-President of that Board in 2015. Originally from Brooklyn, Kevin made the Capital Region his home upon completion of college. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, travel, actively keeping up-to-date with his computer knowledge, wine tastings, and spending time with family and friends. Kevin and his wife, Cindi, currently reside in Glenmont, New York. |
Steven LernerSteven joined the Board of Directors in 2017. He is an Associate Real Estate Broker with Vanguard-Fine, LLC where he has been Steven has been a recognized and respected professional in the real estate and mortgage banking industries since he joined Roberts Real Estate in 1983. He quickly moved on to multi-family and commercial property sales and held several management positions until moving on to mortgage originations at National Savings Bank followed by Commercial Business Development at Cohoes Savings. In 2001 Steven co-founded the First Rate Funding Corporation where, as Executive Vice President, he built a staff of over 20 people, with offices in Albany and Saratoga. Steven has served on several boards and committees with organizations such as the Center for Disability Services, the Albany Jewish Community Center, and Congregation Beth Emeth. He was appointed to the Albany Convention Center Authority by County Executive Dan McCoy in September 2012 and was elected Treasurer in January 2014. In addition, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias Brotherhood, Albany Lodge #540. Steven resides in Albany with his wife Nancy. They have three children, daughter, Jennifer and son in Law Jason Siegal who reside in Hartford, CT, and son Matthew who resides in New York City. Steven and Nancy are strong advocates for breast cancer support and have been active volunteers with To Life! for many years. |
Holly is a breast cancer survivor who joined the board of Directors in 2019 after utilizing the To Life! support programs during and after her treatment. She appreciates the To Life! staff and the women she met in support group for their help and support during her breast cancer journey. She now helps other survivors along their journey through To Life!'s Young Survivor Coalition Group and the Passion and Purpose Healing Circle. Professionally, Holly spent more than two decades dedicated to curing Type 1 Diabetes in national fundraising and operations positions at JDRF, now known as Breakthrough T1D. She first led the national Signature Event program and later the organization’s digital transformation and fundraising operations. She also worked at a top P2P digital marketing agency where she partnered with industry-leading nonprofits on strategy for walks, DIY programs, endurance events and rides. She is skilled at inspiring teams and developing leaders, leveraging data and discovery to create high-impact strategies, and operationalizing plans into actionable elements to drive success. She has developed strategy and communications for some of the most highly recognizable P2P events in the country. Holly served as the President of Women in Development (WID), a local association of women in the field of development and advancement and as a State Advisory Board Member for the New York Lung Cancer Alliance (now GO2 for Lung Cancer). She was a ten-year volunteer for the Albany Chefs' Food & Wine Festival Wine & Dine for the Arts. She is an avid paper crafter and enjoys teaching others to make cards. She lives in Delmar, NY with her husband, Jeff. |
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