Board of Directors
Denise
Doring VanBuren
Chair
Denise Doring VanBuren
Hon. President General,
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Led 190,000-member National Society to fulfill its enduring mission to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism through the work of 3,000 local chapters around the world for three-year term, 2019-2022. Despite global pandemic, inspired organization to donate 15.4 million hours of community service; completed $15 million restoration project; and welcomed 35,000 new members. In addition, launched nationwide high school essay contest focused on Patriots of the American Revolution; created “E Pluribus Unum” project to identify and recognize more African American, American Indian and female Patriots of the American Revolution; established America 250 historic markers to be placed across the nation; built first in-house DAR insignia operation, with proceeds benefitting mission-driven work of the Society; and traveled 166,670 miles to complete obligations in compressed timeframe.
Responsible for oversight of 140-member professional staff at Washington, D.C. headquarters containing 4,000-seat DAR Constitution Hall, the DAR Museum and the DAR Library, as well as oversight of more than $150 million in assets. Previously served NSDAR as First Vice President General (2016-2019), Organizing Secretary General (2013-2016), Chair of DAR Magazine (2004-2010) and Public Relations (2000-2004) committees, Editor American Spirit Magazine (2004-2019); New York State DAR: Regent (2010-2013), Vice Regent (2007-2010) and Historian (2004-2007); Melzingah Chapter DAR: Regent (1998–2001), Vice Regent (1995-1998) and Librarian (1992-1995).
Professional Experience:
Retired January 1, 2020, following 26-year career with Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Poughkeepsie, NY, as the longest-serving female executive in the history of the publicly traded utility, having joined as its spokesperson in 1993.
2000-2020 Vice President of Public Relations
Responsible for all facets of utility public relations; served as corporate spokesperson and administered community relations programs of corporate social responsibility. Led professional staff responsible for governmental affairs, marketing, advertising, employee communication, media relations, energy efficiency video production, speakers’ bureau, social media and website. Prepared comprehensive campaigns, news releases, speeches, policy papers, outreach programs, editorial submissions, white papers, emergency response, etc.
Prior Employment:
1992 – 1993 Beacon City Council Elected Ward Representative
1985 – 1990 News Anchor and News Director
NewsCenter 6 Television, Hudson Valley Region
1983 -1985 News Anchor and General Assignment Reporter
WGNY AM-FM Radio, Hudson Valley Region
Community Service:
Current: President, Beacon Historical Society; Trustee, Hudson River Valley Inst. at Marist College
Prior: Past President, Dutchess County Historical Society (2014-2016); Capital Campaign Co-Chair, Our Lady of Lourdes High School; Past President, Exchange Club of Southern Dutchess (2006 and 2016); Past Board Chair of the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce; Past Board Member and 2005 Dutchess County Campaign Chair for United Way of Dutchess County; Chairman of the Board, Craig House Center; Board Member, Putnam Hospital Inc.; Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation and chair of its Tourism Committee; Chair, City of Beacon’s 85th Anniversary Celebration (1998); Past President (five terms), Beacon Historical Society; V.P., Dutchess County Genealogical Society; Past Board Member: Howland Circulating Library, Fishkill Rural Cemetery, MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center, Stony Kill Environ-mental Center, Hudson Valley Unit of the American Cancer Society, Dutchess Community College, Locust Grove Historic Site, Dutchess Regional Chamber of Commerce, Elant Healthcare and Beacon Corps, Salvation Army.
Affiliations: DAR; Southern Dutchess Exchange Club; Beacon B.P.O.E.; Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Chelsea Yacht Club; Huguenot Society of America; Daughters of American Colonists; and Dutchess County and Beacon historical societies.
Honors: St. Bonaventure University Journalism Alumni of the Year, 2022
Bernardo de Galvez Award of the Bernardo de Galvez Association, 2022
Distinguished Citizen Award, Hudson Valley Boy Scouts Council, 2018
SUNY New Paltz Business Hall of Fame, 2018
United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region Leadership Award, 2018
Innovation in Philanthropy Award, HV Chapter Fundraising Professionals, 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Award, City/State Reports, 2016
Washington’s Headquarters Woman of History Award, 2016
NSDAR Women in American History Award, 2016
Our Lady of Lourdes High School Legion of Honor, 2016
Mount St. Mary College Joseph A. Bonura Leadership Award, 2015
Marist College President’s Award, 2014
GET Entrepreneur Woman of the Year, 2014
Junior League of Dutchess County Woman of the Year, 2012
Dutchess ARC Bessie Payne Humanitarian Award, 2012
Meritorious Service Award, Exchange Club of So. Dutchess, 2011
Dutchess Community Foundation Garden Party Honoree, 2007
Central Hudson Executive of the Year, 2005
Dutchess Award, Dutchess County Historical Society, 2005
City of Beacon Volunteer of the Year, 1999
NYS DAR Outstanding Chapter Regent, 1999-2000
YWCA Salute to Women and Industry Honoree, 1990 and 1997
Author: Historic Beacon (1998), Beacon Revisited (2003), Doorways to History: The Stories Behind the New York DAR Chapter Houses and the Women Who Saved Them (2006); and Daughters of the Empire State (2016). Editor of Beacon’s Memory Keeper and Storyteller: Robert J. Murphy (2020).
Personal: Chelsea resident; married to Christopher G. Barclay;
Three adult sons: Schuyler, Troy and Brett VanBuren; grandmother to James.
Education:
1997 Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, NY master’s in business administration
1983 St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY bachelor’s in mass communication/journalism
Russell
Orban
Secretary
Russell Orban
He worked for 33 years for the Federal Government, mostly with the United States Congress where he was Chief of Staff and Counsel to Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri on 3 different subcommittees as well as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Blanche Lincoln from Arkansas. He also served as General Counsel for the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Small Business. His specialties in Congressional work were legislative drafting as well as procurement, tax, federal budgeting and appropriations issues for federal programs. In addition, Russell also served for eight years in the Executive branch as Assistant Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
Russell volunteered to support the World War I Centennial Commission at its inception when his then-law partner, Ike Skelton, served as the organization’s first Chairman. He has continued to work with the Commission on federal compliance issues.
Mr. Orban has received awards for his work with small businesses in both Congress and the Small Business Administration. He is currently the Chairman of the Missouri Kansas Forum and has done extensive work over the years with the Tax Chairman group from the White House Conference on Small Business and the Security and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Forum.
Chris Christopher (USN, Ret.)
Treasurer
Chris Christopher
Over the past two decades, he has published numerous internal and external websites for the U.S. Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). He also directed numerous conferences for DHS S&T across the nation.
Previously, he led development of and then managed the Electronic Publishing System for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Finance Center. Before starting his 35-year career in the Federal government, Chris was an award-winning publisher, editor, and writer for a number of newspapers. He has edited and published a variety of newsletters for various organizations and won multi-year national awards for fraternal organization and other newsletters. He has also published multiple private sector websites.
Chris served for 30 years (Active and Reserve) in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Captain. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees from the University of New Orleans (UNO) and worked in a variety of Sports Information roles for the UNO Department of Athletics and its Athletic Association for over 20 years. A published poet, he has received local and national awards for his poetry.
Daniel S. Dayton (USN, Ret.)
Chair Emeritus
Daniel S. Dayton
Prior to his service in these roles, Mr. Dayton was engaged in special project work for the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the U.S Department of Homeland Security from 2012-2014. He was detailed from S&T to the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) from 2011 to 2012 to lead public affairs efforts in connection with the Navy’s Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner, a program which resulted in major public exposure for the Navy across 15 cities over 120 days.
Before the detail to NHHC, Mr. Dayton had served as the Director of the Corporate Communications Division of S&T from 2007 to 2011. Prior to DHS, Mr. Dayton served as Director of Communications for the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which manages the science and technology programs for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. Before joining ONR, he founded The Communications Center. LLC, a Center of The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies; previously he was Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for the Potomac Institute.
Mr. Dayton’s broad business background includes radio and television station ownership over a span of more than 20 years. He came to station ownership via the broadcast news business, having been a news producer for NBC, New York and WCBS. He also served as Director of the New England Region of United Press International. He built radio stations “from the ground up” in New York State, Delaware, and Florida, and managed a $30-million group operation, which encompassed independent TV stations in three states.
In addition to his civilian accomplishment, Dan was active as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring as a Captain in February of 2005. His final assignment was as Commanding Officer of the reserve public affairs unit providing key support to the U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.
He is a long-time member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the National Press Club and has served as a coordinating judge for the prestigious International Radio and Television Festival of New York. He served as an adjunct professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He graduated with honors from Emerson College, Boston.
Philip
Mazzara
President Emeritus
Philip Mazzara
He has led comprehensive advancement programs and capital campaigns for a wide range of non-profit organizations during his 40-year career. He has served as President of three hospital foundations and Chief Development Officer for two academic medical centers, a technology university and a liberal arts college.
Additionally, he has served as CDO for two Atlanta-based international NGOs. During his tenure with The Carter Center, he planned and implemented a $150 million capital campaign and traveled extensively with President and Mrs. Carter to raise funds to double the size of the Center’s endowment. While at CARE USA, he led the Private Support division responsible for raising approximately $65 million annually to support programs in 70 countries around the world.
He has also consulted with other NGOs, academic institutions and non-profits on board development, strategic planning, and fundraising effectiveness. He he has conducted or participated in numerous development program assessments, feasibility studies and capital campaign plans. He is the author of “Achieving Trustee Ownership,” a chapter in “The Trustee’s Role in Capital Campaigns,” published by the Association of Governing Boards.
While Chief Development Officer for the Medical Center at Emory University, he was selected for membership in The Unnamed Society. His alma mater, Lynchburg (VA) College awarded him its Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his leadership of a campus Blue Ribbon Task Force charged by the college president with transforming its alumni relations programming. His innovative, hospital-based “Grand Rounds for Community Leaders” program has been cited as a Best Practice by the Philanthropy Leadership Council of The Advisory Board.
He was recently elected chair of the board of the New Orchestra of Washington and continues to serve as an advisor in philanthropy to The United States World War One Centennial Commission.
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (Ret)
Board Member
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (Ret)
Carol Moseley Braun was one of the first black women to graduate from the law school at the University of Chicago. Previously, as an assistant United States Attorney, she was the first Black woman to win the Attorney General’s Special Achievement award. As an Illinois state legislator, she was the first Black woman to become an assistant majority leader and spokesperson for the Mayor of Chicago (the late Harold Washington.) Earlier on in her career, Ambassador Braun was the first woman elected to executive office in Cook County, Illinois.
Her fourth career is as an entrepreneur. She is currently the founder and President of a biodynamic organic food company, Good Food Organics®/Ambassador Organics™.
Kenneth
Grunley
Board Member
Kenneth Grunley
Kenneth Grunley is the Chief Executive Officer of Grunley Construction Company Inc., a $600-million full-service, award-winning construction firm with expertise in high-profile, complex projects for both public and private sector customers. Headquartered in the Washington metropolitan area, Grunley Construction specializes in building new facilities as well as renovations, restorations, and modernizations of large-scale commercial, institutional and government buildings. The company is nationally ranked No. 226 in the most recent ENR Top 400 General Contractors. As CEO, Ken leads the company as it plans for future growth from its present base of 320 employees. Some of the company’s most notable D.C. area projects include building both the National WWI Memorial and National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.; renovation of the National Archives Building including the Rotunda which houses the original founding documents of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights; modernization of the U.S. Supreme Court Building; and modernization of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the Executive Office of the United States President, including the Office of the Vice President of the United States.
Ken currently serves as a member of the U.S. General Services Administration’s National Registry of Peer Professionals and a board member of the Kent State University Foundation. He has also served as the past Treasurer of the National Building Museum Board of Trustees and member of the National Building Museum Executive Board; Past Vice President, Master Builders Association; Past President, Construction Contractors Council; Past Chairman, Federal Procedures Committee, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc; and Past Member of the Washington Building Congress Board of Governors.
Ken graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Real Estate. Ken resides in Potomac, Maryland.
Barbara
Pinto
Board Member
Barbara Pinto
Barbara Pinto is a communications strategist with a distinguished career in broadcast journalism and foundational ties to the mission of the Doughboy Foundation.
She developed, researched, produced, and moderated “One Century Later”, the multi-platform educational forum sponsored by the World War 1 Centennial Commission and History Channel highlighting the enduring geopolitical, cultural and technological impacts of WW1 on present-day life. That live webcast from the World War 1 Museum at Liberty Memorial, broadcast on C-Span, helped launch fundraising efforts around the globe for the National World War 1 Memorial that stands in the nation’s capital today.
In her current role as Practice Leader, Executive Communications at Real Chemistry, Barbara provides media and communications coaching, counsel on media strategy, narrative development, storytelling, and reputation management to C-suite executives, doctors, scientists, and corporate spokespeople, largely focused on the life sciences.
Barbara is a veteran journalist and former correspondent and anchor for CNBC, ABC Network News and PBS. She was previously at FleishmanHillard where she focused on strategic communication and executive coaching. Prior to that, Barbara spent more than a decade as a Correspondent for ABC Network News based in Washington, DC, and Chicago. She was a regular contributor to “World News Tonight”, “Good Morning America”, “Nightline”, BBC, YahooNews, ABC News Radio and other ABC News-affiliated platforms. Prior to joining ABC News, Barbara was a Correspondent at CNBC, reporting for “The Wall Street Journal Report”, and following breaking financial news. She also served as news anchor at CNBC and MSNBC. Barbara developed and co-hosted “In the Loop” for WYCC-PBS Chicago, a weekly program focused on news and politics. Her journalism work has earned recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Associated Press, and the NY Broadcaster’s Association.
In recent roles, Barbara has provided strategic counsel to a wide range of clients from start-ups to Fortune 100 Companies and major consumer brands including: Anheuser Busch, Bayer, Cancer Research Institute, City of Hope, General Motors, Elanco, Exact Sciences, Jetblue, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, NIKE, Merck, Olympus, Pfizer, Prudential, Samsung, Takeda, Vans, and others.
A native of New York, Barbara is a graduate of Houghton University and currently resides in Chicago.
The Honorable
Ted Poe
Board Member
The Honorable Ted Poe
He served as a Representative from Texas from 2005-2019. Born in Temple, Bell County, Texas, he earned his B.A. from Abilene Christian University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Houston in 1973. Judge Poe served in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1970-1976. Before being elected to Congress, he was a teacher, lawyer in private practice, District Attorney of Harris County, Texas (1973-1981) and then district judge (1981-2003.)
Judge Poe was elected as a Republican to the 109th and to the six succeeding Congresses (2005-2019), with over 60% of the vote in his last three elections. He did not seek re-election in 2018.
In 2012, Representative Poe co-sponsored the World War One Centennial Commission Act “To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, to provide for the designation of memorials to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, and for other purposes.” After the Act was signed into law in 2013, Poe was appointed as a Commissioner by the Speaker of the House, serving briefly in that capacity before joining the Foundation.
Colonel Gerald York (USA, Ret.)
Board Member
Colonel E. Gerald York (USA, Ret.)
Colonel (ret) Gerald E. York joined the US Army through the ROTC program at Vanderbilt University and reported for duty 7 November 1969, to Fort Knox, KY. He served in Vietnam, Korea, and various posts in the US and frequent duty overseas. He retired in December 2000 after 31 years of service.
Since 2005, he has been the Chairman of the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation. This Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Sgt York and assisting the Sgt Alvin C. York State Historic Park in providing Veteran’s Day activities and programs throughout the year to recognize Veterans and educate individuals on WW1.
Special Advisors
Admiral Mike Mullen USN (Ret.)
Special Advisor
Admiral Mike Mullen
Admiral Mullen also served as the 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations and as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations during his time with the US Navy.
General Barry McCaffrey USA (Ret.)
Special Advisor
General Barry McCaffrey
General McCaffrey served as the Bradley Distinguished Professor of International Security Studies from January 2001 to May 2005; and then as an Adjunct Professor of International Security Studies from May 2005 to December 2010 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. General McCaffrey graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He holds a Master of Arts degree in civil government from American University. He attended the Harvard University National Security Program as well as the Business School Executive Education Program. In May 2010, he was honored as a Distinguished Graduate by the West Point Association of Graduates at the United States Military Academy.
General McCaffrey has been elected to the Board of Directors of CRC Health Corporation and the Atlantic Council of the United States. He is also: a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; an Associate of the InterAmerican Dialogue; Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Center Advisory Board; and a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation, as well as the National Armor & Cavalry Heritage Foundation. General McCaffrey has had a long association with the Phoenix House Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to drug and alcohol abuse treatment, prevention and therapy.
Secretary
Leon E. Panetta
Special Advisor
Secretary Leon E. Panetta
Secretary Panetta began his public service career in 1964 as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, receiving the Army Commendation Medal, and then served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Tom Kuchel. In 1969, he was appointed Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where he was responsible for enforcing equal education laws.
Elected to Congress in 1976, Secretary Panetta represented the California Central Coast district for sixteen years and created the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In 1993, he was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for the Clinton administration and later was appointed White House chief of staff, working to achieve a balanced federal budget.
In 1997, Secretary Panetta returned to his home town of Monterey to establish and co-direct The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a non-partisan, not-for-profit study center that seeks to inspire men and women to lives of public service. He is currently Chairman of the institute.
He chronicles his life in public service in his best-selling memoir Worthy Fights, which was published by Penguin Press in the fall of 2014.
Vint
Cerf
Special Advisor
Vint Cerf
Vint Cerf served as chairman of the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) from 2000-2007 and has been a Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1998. Cerf served as founding president of the Internet Society (ISOC) from 1992-1995. Cerf is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Engineering Consortium, the Computer History Museum, the British Computer Society, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the Worshipful Company of Stationers and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He currently serves as Past President of the Association for Computing Machinery, chairman of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and completed a term as Chairman of the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology for the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. President Obama appointed him to the National Science Board in 2012.
Cerf is a recipient of numerous awards and commendations in connection with his work on the Internet, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, US National Medal of Technology, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, the Prince of Asturias Award, the Tunisian National Medal of Science, the Japan Prize, the Charles Stark Draper award, the ACM Turing Award, Officer of the Legion d’Honneur and 25 honorary degrees. In December 1994, People magazine identified Cerf as one of that year’s “25 Most Intriguing People.”
His personal interests include fine wine, gourmet cooking and science fiction. Cerf and his wife, Sigrid, were married in 1966 and have two sons, David and Bennett.
Ambassador
Craig R. Stapleton
Special Advisor
Ambassador Craig R. Stapleton
During the administration of George H. W. Bush, Ambassador Stapleton served on the Board of the Peace Corps. From 2005 to 2009, he served as Ambassador to France. In 2009, French President Nicolas Sarkozy named him Commandeur of the Legion of Honor. He was designated an honorary citizen of Deauville, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rocamadour, and Vienne. From 2001 to 2004, Stapleton served as Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He was given the Jan Masaryk Medal for service to the Czech Republic.
Ambassador Stapleton received his secondary school education at Phillips Exeter Academy. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School.
Stapleton serves on the boards of the Vaclav Havel Foundation, the American Friends of Compiegne, the United Way Tocqueville of France, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Trust for the National Mall. He is a Trustee of the American University in Paris and the Fishback Foundation. He has served on the Visiting Committee for Harvard College Athletics and the Committee on University Resources and Athletics.
In Remembrance
Sandra
Sinclair Pershing
Board Member
Sandra Sinclair Pershing
Sandra Sinclair Pershing was the granddaughter-in-law of General of the Armies John J. Pershing. She is Director Emeritus of the Pershing Rifles Group.
After a long career in the real estate field, Ms. Pershing did volunteer work in the New York area. She was a volunteer at Phoenix House, where she provided special support for the organization’s national Military Service Programs, which deal with PTSD and other military service-related experiences and injuries. She also worked with the Board of Women’s Prison Association.
Sandra passed away on August 14, 2023 at her home in Quogue, NY, surrounded by her loving family.
