Board Member Profiles

Yvette Rubio, President, Board of Directors

Serves on the Succession, Budget, Governance and Search Committees

Yvette is a native of New Orleans and comes to the Alternatives Board with an expansive background in German Literature, modern dance, Advertising and Public Relations.. She studied at Tulane University, Cornell, the University of Vienna and the Free University in Berlin. She was instrumental is founding the dance program at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island. and opened and ran the spa and fitness center at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel. With this background, Yvette began a consulting business and completed her Masters Degree in Organizational Development at the Fielding Graduate Institute in California. She also holds a Masters Degree from Cornell. Presently, she works at Cornell as an internal organizational effectiveness consultant, is a course specialist and instructor for eCornell; and continues her consulting practice in organizational development.
Yvette came to Alternatives because she sees it as a model of how organizations can be successful with a democratic mission at its core of existence.

Tom Terrizzi, Vice President, Board of Directors

Serves on the Development and Governance Committees

Tom practices law locally, and has for the past thirty years. His expertise is civil rights issues, with a focus in the area of prison conditions and prisoner's rights. Tom has been the Executive Director of a large legal services organization and has taught at a number of law schools.
His participation as a Board Member at Alternatives allows him to further his life's work, by assisting in building wealth and creating economic opportunity for underserved people and communities.

 

Brian Hunt, Treasurer, Board of Directors

Serves on Supervisory, Budget, Loan Policy and Search Committees

Brian's education and background includes extensive experience in finances and banking. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in economics and Kellogg Graduate School of Management with a degree in finance and accounting. His work history includes several investment firms where he was employed as a fixed income investment management professional. Brian has authored numerous research reports, studied specific industries, and monitored portfolio performance. Currently, he is an entrepreneur in the process of starting a business using Cornell technology. Brian serves on Alternatives' Board because he has a strong interest in community development. He believes that providing broad access to financial services and promoting financial education helps communities to control and build their neighborhoods in a manner that benefits all citizens.

Kenny Christianson, Secretary, Board of Directors

Serves on the Loan Policy, Budget and Public Relations Committees

Kenny holds a Masters of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration from Syracuse University. He is a lecturer of Economics at Binghamton University and Ithaca College and holds a position as Academic Consultant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Ithaca College.
Kenny has been a member of Alternatives since 1992 and is committed, through his work on the Board, to meeting the needs of the underserved population in our area.

Jim Fravil, Board Member

Serves on the Budget, Loan Policy, ALCO and Succession Committees

Jim has been a member of Alternatives for many years. He has been on the board since 1997.  Jim leads a quiet, private life.

Diana Drucker, Board Member

Serves on the Loan Policy and Public Relations Committees

Diana fell in love with Ithaca on a camping trip when she was eight years old. She told her family that her plan was to go to Cornell and live in Ithaca, and that's exactly what she has done. As a realtor for twenty-one years and a buyer-broker for ten years, Diana has been helping people find homes and have a stake in the local community for a long time. Diana joined the Board because she believes that Ithaca is a place that cares about social justice and economic opportunity, which is the heart of Alternatives' mission. Her work at Alternatives helps to make this belief a reality.

Karen Jamarusty, Board Member

Serves on the Public Relations and Development Committees

Karen holds a BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She has spent the majority of her professional life working in Medical Practice Management.
Karen believes her experience in healthcare as it evolved from a human service system into a profit driven corporate system has firmed her resolve to find ways to assist people who are in need. By serving on Alternatives' Board, Karen works to support Alternatives mission to serve people of modest means and provide services and programs to help the underserved community. In the Ithaca Community, Karen served on the steering committee of the Community Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Ithaca Health Alliance. She is currently working as a founding member on the Steering Committee of the Ithaca Free Clinic.

Alison Christie, Board Member

Serves on the Personnel, Development and Search Committees.

Alison joined the Alternatives' Board in 2001. She enjoys many training opportunities available to Board members. Alison brings Marketing and Cooperative experience to the Board. She worked at Greenstar Cooperative Market for twelve years, during which she became Marketing and Member Services Manager.
Alison is drawn to participate as a board member at Alternatives to support our vital and worthy mission and also because she is captivated by the cooperative movement and its capacity to transform peoples' lives and offer a democratic economic alternative in our capitalist economy. Alison is honored to be a steward for such a precious community asset.

Ian Schachner, Board Member

Serves on the Loan Policy and Human Resources Committees

Ian holds a BS in Management from Ithaca College and a Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. He is a strong supporter of Alternatives, not only because of its ability to help underserved people, but also because it is an example of how an organization can pay its employees a living wage, contribute to the community, serve a noble mission, and still be financially successful. Ian’s research interests include the effects of the rising cost of higher education, and examining effective and fair ways to support economic growth in small, unique communities like Ithaca. He currently works as an Admissions Counselor for Cornell.

Sharron Thrasher, Board Member

When I first went to Alternatives 13 years ago to obtain a mortgage, I was impressed by the personal service and the wonderful mission of the institution. I began serving on the Board in December of 2006 when there was an unexpected vacancy, and I have loved learning about and participating in the running of this impressive organization. Being a Board member allow me to work closely with others committed to equal opportunity and social justice in Ithaca. I am a clinical psychologist by training and currently work at Cornell as the Director for Student Affairs and Diversity in Campus Life. In addition to being a clinician, I have taught college level psychology, ethnic studies, and student affairs. At present I am most interested in figuring out how best to contribute to the development of engaged and responsible citizens at the university level. I bring my skills and knowledge in diversity education, young adult development, and fostering equity to the work of the Board.

Bill Goodman, Board Member

Bill joined Alternatives in 2001, even before he moved to the Ithaca area. Bill became involved in helping to develop the Second Neighborhood at EcoVillage (which is also set up as a cooperative) and decided he would join Alternatives and GreenStar so he could do his banking and shopping at cooperatives as well. Bill is an attorney with his own private practice, working mostly in the fields of Trusts & Estates, Real Estate and Not-for-Profit Corporation law. Bill served on a number of Boards for various community organizations in Buffalo, where he lived before moving to Ithaca, and he looks forward to bringing that experience to the Alternatives Board.