board of directors
Dr. Dominic J. Carbone
Dominic earned his B.S. degree in Psychology at Fordham University with a minor in Philosophy. He also earned an M.A. degree in Applied Developmental Psychology and Education at Teacher’s College-Columbia University in New York City. He earned an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies and a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Developmental Psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy with a concentration in Gender Studies and Sexuality from the Institute for Human Identity in New York City. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences faculty at Sussex County Community College in Newton, New Jersey.
He has served on the executive boards of several human service organizations as Chairman (9 years), and Secretary (4 years). He has published professionally and presented at both national and international conferences regarding a variety of topics in the fields of developmental psychology, clinical psychology, business psychology and organizational development. He has a fondness for both domestic and international travel and has chronicled his adventures using photography.
Jennifer Fiorentino
Jennifer is a consultant with more than 20 years' experience as a fundraiser and an executive working with various organizations. She has a proven track record in raising funds, providing leadership and managing numerous companies. She has multi-disciplinary experience across various industries, including real estate, and has extensive industry contacts. She received an MBA in Finance from Fordham University, a Certificate in Management from New York University and a B.S. from the State University of New York.
Kyle Gilroy
Kyle is a Director in the Real Estate Finance Group at CIBC World Markets, where he works on commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States. Prior to joining CIBC, Kyle worked at Merrill Lynch in the Global Commercial Real Estate Group where he was involved in real estate transactions of all property types ranging from $30 million to over $26 billion. Kyle attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.A. with a major in French from the College of Arts & Sciences and a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Real Estate from The Wharton School. He enjoys adventure sports and the outdoors and is an active volunteer for organizations including the Human Rights Campaign, NY Cares, and The LGBT Community Center.
Benet Hennessey
Benet is The Institute for Human Identity’s Executive Director and Director of Graduate Training, as well as a senior staff therapist at New York Behavioral Health. He is trained and experienced in Multicultural Counseling, LGBTQ issues, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Educated in London, with a BA Honors in History, Benet worked for 15 years in London, Paris, and New York and was formerly the president of an international fine art company based in London and New York, and a member of the Institute of Directors. Benet earned a Certificate in Counseling from City College, London, and a Postgraduate Certificate of Counseling and Communication from the Australian College of Applied Psychology. He returned to the U.S., graduating from Columbia University with a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling (M.A.) and a Master of Education in Psychology (Ed.M.). Benet is a Member of the American Psychological Association and the British Association of Counseling Professionals.
William Jennings
Will grew up in Greenwich, CT and attended The George Washington University graduating in 2002 with a degree in International Business. After college Will worked in the fine art world for James Mackinnon Fine Art, whilst also continuing to pursue his interest in travel. In 2006 Will became an independent luxury travel consultant. Will is currently an associate at Valerie Wilson Travel and is the recent recipient of the prestigious Virtuoso Rising Star Award 2012 for agents that have made the most important contribution to the industry. Will travels extensively, and divides his time between his homes in New York and Los Angeles.
Marc Kaadi
Marc was born in Portland, Oregon and has been living in New York for the past nine years. He attended New York University earning a Bachelor of Science from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business with a dual concentration in International Business and Finance, as well as a minor in Classical Civilization. He currently works as a product specialist for U.S. Trust, the Private Wealth Management division of Bank of America. He holds a CFA charter and is a member of both the New York Society of Securities Analysts and the CFA Institute. He is also a proud card-carrying member of the Archaeological Institute of America. He spends a great deal of his free time learning Latin, on archaeological tours, urban traveling and downhill skiing.
Daniel Leary
Daniel was born and raised in New York City before attending Connecticut College and defecting to the West Coast. There, he worked as an actor and comedian for LOGO and Atlantis cruises. He is a trained suicide prevention counselor for the Trevor Project, and in 2010 he joined the staff of The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a writer and producer.
Tara Lombardo
Tara is the Associate Director and Staff Therapist at the Institute for Human Identity. Her practice at IHI includes working from a Psychodynamic and Existential perspective with adults within the LGBTQ community. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and was the recipient of the Department of Psychology's Rasha Shamoon Memorial Scholarship. Ms. Lombardo also received an M.A. from New York University's Gallatin School for Individualized Study in 2006 and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001. She ran a quarterly panel discussion on issues related to the lesbian community in New York City from 2008 to 2010.
Matt Maggiacomo
Matt is a skilled reporter and producer for television and the web. He has established himself as the go-to resource for a range of subjects including pop culture, fitness and health, and issues affecting the LGBT community. Matt has reported for outlets such as OURsceneTV, NBC’s First Look, and NY Nonstop. In addition, Matt is an AFAA certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, catering to New York’s elite. He currently teaches at the popular Barry’s Bootcamp in Chelsea. Matt is a New York University graduate with a B.A. in Journalism, as well as Dramatic Literature.
Kyle Mammarella
Kyle works in Digital Sales at Sony Music Entertainment. He has a master's degree from New York University in Music & Entertainment Business, as well as a bachelor's degree from Temple University. His previous volunteer experience includes working with the Future Factory in Cape Town, South Africa, working in schools and weekend and after-school programs.
Artur Melentin
With over 8 years of multicultural and international marketing experience Artur is a co-owner of Gravity Media, Findr Interactive and Triumphant Communications. Prior to founding Gravity Media, he was a principal of the design boutique firm, Arkadesign, and one the driving forces of interactive services in global advertising strategies. Using a combination of strategic and graphic design skills and his technical knowledge, he was managing creative development, usability testing and information architecture for clients, including CMS Forex, Caesars Entertainment, Lufthansa, Thai Air, T-Mobile, DIRECTV, DISH, U.S. Army, Prudential, Nike. With his vast expertise in multicultural marketing, he was in charge of creating pioneering multilingual web platform for DIRECTV, communicating with Asian American, Russian and Brazilian audiences. Artur holds an MBA in Marketing from Kiev National Economic University.
Sarah Moon
Sarah Moon is a teacher, writer and translator. She is a graduate of Smith College and Columbia University. She teaches at Saint Ann's school in Brooklyn. Sarah is the co-author of the critically acclaimed The Letter Q -Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves.
Mark O’Connell, L.C.S.W., M.F.A.
Mark is a New-York-City-based psychotherapist in private practice. His writing has been published in Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, Psychology Today.com, The Huffington Post, Out.com, and Truthdig.com. He presents his paper "Don’t Act, Don’t Tell: Discrimination Based on Gender Nonconformity in the Entertainment Industry and Clinical Setting" all over the country. Mark is also co-founder of Lynx Ensemble Theater, creating performances that promote empathy and expand concepts of identity. His website is: www.markoconnelltherapist.com.
Dr. Charles Silverstein
Charles is the recipient of the 2011 Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in The Practice of Psychology from the American Psychological Foundation and the Distinguished Book Award from Division 44 of the American Psychological Association, 2009 Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement in Psychology from the American Psychological Association, 2006 Distinguished Professional Contribution Award from Division 44 of the American Psychological Association, and the 2002 Outstanding Contribution by the Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists of New York. Dr. Silverstein is best known for his presentation before the American Psychiatric Association that led to the deletion of homosexuality as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. He is currently a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, a member of the New York State Psychological Association, and a member of the Committee on Ethical Practice of the New York State Psychological Association. He was the founding director of New York City's Identity House, as well as the founding editor of the Journal of Homosexuality. As author of eight published books and many professional papers, he spends a good deal of time writing, particularly in the area of human sexuality. His most recent books are The Initial Psychotherapy Interview: A Gay Man Seeks Treatment and For the Ferryman. Dr. Charles Silverstein is also a licensed psychologist in private practice.
Tina Sernick Weinstein
Tina is an AVP at Montefiore and is its Claims and Risk Counsel. She is responsible for the oversight of Montefiore’s Risk Management and Insurance program. She has worked in the hospital environment since 2004 developing expertise in patient safety, risk management and quality infrastructure and programs. Prior to 2004 Tina worked for one of the big three international accounting/consulting firms where she focused on regulatory health care consulting. Prior to that, she was a litigation attorney representing clients in the health care arena since 1989. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Women’s Bar Association Foundation and is the past Chair of the United Hospital Fund’s New Leadership Group and currently serves on the Distributing Committee of The United Hospital Fund. She is a member of the New York Chapter of the Association of Health Care Risk Managers, New York City Bar Association, American Health Lawyers and the Association of Health Care Executives. Before practicing law, Ms. Sernick was a Registered Nurse at New England Medical Center. She is a 1982 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh (Nursing) and a 1988 graduate of Brooklyn Law School.
Tina lectures on patient safety, healthcare regulatory and medical malpractice issues and has lectured on HIPAA privacy for multiple HIPAA Summits throughout the United States. She has also taught courses in Healthcare Risk Management, as a guest lecturer at the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies and taught a legal nurse consulting course for Pace University. She co-authored, “An Integrated and Forward-looking Approach to Risk Management in Healthcare”, Risk Management Quarterly, Sernick, T. and Knight, A., Spring 2010 and “A Risk Manager’s Practical Guide To Bringing a Forward-Looking Approach to a Hospital Risk Management Program”, Sernick-Weinstein, Risk Management Quarterly, Winter 2011.
Tina enjoys spending time with her husband and two stepsons. She is an avid runner and loves skiing, golf, hiking and tennis.
Amelia Trumble
Amelia is an experienced Online Marketing strategist living and working in NYC. Having transplanted herself from her native Australia in 2008, Amelia quickly secured the role as Executive Director of Global Online for M.A.C Cosmetics - part of Estee Lauder Companies - focused on driving the brand's multi-million dollar e/m-commerce business around the globe. Previously, Amelia managed the online team at meccacosmetica.com.au & kitcosmetics.com.au. She also did a stint in London at Warners Bros, developing online experiences to promote their film and TV properties.
In addition to her passion for the beauty industry, Amelia loves cooking and entertaining at home, spin classes, movies and is an avid traveler. Recent trips cover five continents; not to mention visiting over 25 US states, with the aim to see every state before ever moving back to Australia! Having found volunteering for the M.A.C Aids Fund via work very rewarding, Amelia is excited about joining the ihi Board to support the LGBTQ community and raise the profile of its critical work.