Board Members
Erica Gavin, Co-Founder and Co-President
Erica Gavin has lived in Hoboken since 2005, and has two sons who attend Hoboken Public Schools. She has nearly 20 years of experience in communications and event planning, which serves her well in her event-planning activities for Hoboken PEF. In 2004, Erica established Erica Berg & Associates LLC, consulting for agencies, corporations, and not-for-profits focused on arts and education. Erica currently serves as Regional Director for DukeNY, working for the Duke Alumni Association.
Jackie Dowd-Prince, Co-Founder and Co-President
Jackie and her husband moved from Manhattan to Hoboken in 2006 as expectant parents looking for more space in which to raise their son. They found a welcoming, tight-knit community and soon thereafter decided to make Hoboken their long-term home. As Jackie started attending school board meetings and learning more about statewide funding cuts, she wanted to proactively help support the district schools; she became one of the co-founders of Hoboken PEF, and now manages its operations. Jackie and her husband have one boy who attends Hoboken Middle School. Jackie is a Senior Director at Willis Towers Watson, a leading human-resource consulting firm.
Hannah Gordon, Vice President and Head of Fundraising and Events
Hannah Gordon has called Hoboken home since 2004, and has two boys in Hoboken Public Schools. Hannah joined the Hoboken PEF team to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Hoboken public school system. She particularly enjoys helping manage the foundation's events and fundraising. Hannah earned her doctorate in organizational psychology from Rutgers, and has nearly 10 years of experience in the area of talent management, a specialty human resources function.
Leslie Norwood, Endowments and Grants - Currently Inactive Board Member
Leslie Norwood resides in Hoboken with her husband and their two sons who are students at Hoboken Public Schools. She has lived in Hoboken since 1998, and has volunteered with the Brandt Parent Consortium and in her child's classroom. Her interest in joining the Hoboken PEF board includes establishing an endowment fund to support the foundation's long-term goals. Leslie is employed as a securities attorney in NYC focusing on infrastructure finance.
Amy Warshawsky, Event Planning
Amy Warshawsky moved to Hoboken in 2013 after living four years overseas. She has three children, one who graduated from Hoboken High School and one who is currently attending Hoboken Middle School after spending first through sixth grade at The Wallace School. Amy has nearly 20 years in event planning and close to 10 years as a professional business, health, wellness and life coach. Amy is dedicated to all Hoboken families realizing the excellent opportunities and education our children receive at Hoboken High School and all schools throughout the District.
Kate DeCock, Secretary and Community / Volunteer Outreach
Kate and her husband moved to Hoboken in 2007 and are the proud parents of 3 children in Hoboken Public Schools. Kate became involved with Hoboken PEF to help elevate the conversation around public schools in our community. Kate worked as a Project Manager for Accenture for 15 years and now is a yoga instructor in town. The Hoboken Public Schools are a reflection of our strong and diverse Hoboken community, and Kate is excited to dedicate time to its betterment.
Susan DeRise, Sponsorships
Susan and her family moved back to Hoboken after living overseas on an international assignment for three years. Prior to that, her and her husband met in Hoboken in 2005 after both having already lived in Hoboken for a few years. They are the proud parents of one son who is a student in Hoboken Public Schools. Susan has over 20 years of marketing and sales experience and a Masters Degree in Administrative Science. While living overseas, Susan served as a charity committee member working closely with a school for the hearing impaired, as well as a home for young adults with disabilities. Susan’s love for Hoboken and its Hoboken Public Schools drives her to dedicate her time to the foundation, she also serves as a chair member of the Wallace PTO, and is a class parent. Susan joins the Hoboken Public Education Foundation with a true desire to help continue the strong sense of community and growth of families who are committed to raise their children in Hoboken and its Public Schools.
Melinda Fried, Media & Communications
Melinda Fried moved to Hoboken in 2011, one month before her daughter was born, where she and her husband started their family. Today her two children attend Hoboken Public Schools. Melinda has nearly 20 years of experience in Corporate Communications and Public Relations. She is currently the head of Corporate Communications for e.l.f. Beauty. She is so proud to call Hoboken her home and truly believes that the power of the #HobokenStrong community is unmatched.
Nicole Jala, Fundraising & Communications
Nicole has lived in Hoboken since 2007, and enjoys spending time in our mile square city with her husband and 2 children. Nicole's oldest child attends T.G. Connors Elementary School, where Nicole serves as a member of the PTO. Nicole is a passionate supporter of the Hoboken Public School District and initially became involved with HPEF as a member of the fundraising team. Nicole is a Senior Contracts Manager at Google LLC.
Stan Zlotsky, Treasurer
Stan Zlotsky has been living in Hoboken since 2012, with his wife Tatyana their two sons. Stan attended public school after immigrating to the US from Ukraine. Now with both kids in Hoboken’s Public Schools, he is passionate about the HPEF mission of helping to elevate the district’s schools and the overall education system. Stan is a Chartered Financial Analyst, with over 20 years of financial experience across Wall Street equity research and the software industry.
Our extended team:
Communications and Outreach: Cynthia Smith (Graphics), Nicole Pearlman (Social Media), Mallory Comunale (Match Program), Rebekah Tessler, Kim Rems, Tatyana Zlotsky