Chapter Staff
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Northeast New York’s local staff is dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.
William C. Trigg, III, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
wtrigg@neny.wish.org
Bill is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a doctorate in criminal justice from the State University of New York at Albany. From 1984-2005, Bill served as CEO of the New York State Trooper Foundation, where he helped to establish and fund programs benefiting the New York State Police, including the NYSP Disaster Relief Fund, the Trooper Foundation Scholarship Fund, and the State Police Survivors Program. In February 2006, Bill became the Chief Executive Officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York.
Bill resides in Stillwater, NY with his two daughters, Genevieve and Amelia. When he is not involved in pastoral work with his local church, Bill enjoys running, downhill skiing, reading, and a good cigar.
Bill’s heartfelt wish is to meet Toby Keith (which was just recently fulfilled).
Dianne Bohanske-Ravella
Administrative Assistant
dbohanske-ravella@neny.wish.org
Dianne joined the chapter in July 2010 as Administrative Assistant. She brings with her over 20 years of experience in the administrative field, including 5 years with a large not-for-profit professional membership association.
Dianne is a veteran of the armed forces with over 14 years of combined total service with the US Army and the New York Army National Guard. Dianne is originally from Ohio, but has lived in the Capital Region since 1984. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and their two dogs, Bella and Mickey. She has two grown children ages 28 and 24, two step children ages 26 and 24 and two grandchildren ages 5 and 2, with a third on the way. Dianne’s wish would be to spend a day on the set of the soap opera “The Young and The Restless.”
Cindy Conley
Volunteer Coordinator
cconley@neny.wish.org
Cindy has been Volunteer Coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York since March of 2001. She served as an office volunteer for a year and a half before joining the Foundation in her current position. Prior to joining the chapter she was Supervisor of the Credit Card Department at Charter One Bank for 13 years.
Cindy is a life-long Capital Region resident, except for a brief period when she lived in San Diego. She currently resides in Glenmont with her husband, Kevin, and has three grown stepchildren. Cindy spends her free time reading, skating, cross country skiing, biking, kayaking and camping. She and her husband also love to ballroom dance.
Cindy’s fondest wish would be to spend a week dancing with a professional on “Dancing With The Stars.”
Eryn P. Foster
Finance and Operations Manager
efoster@neny.wish.org
Eryn joined the chapter in October 2008. He brings an extensive background in accounting and business practices to his role with the Foundation. Most recently, he served as Business Manager for the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society in Menands. In addition, he served as a Sergeant in the US Air Force.
He enjoys serving in the community and was a past School Board Member of the Mohonasen School District, past Member and Treasurer of the Knights of Columbus and former Treasurer of the Clifton Park Nursery School. He is an avid Cub Scout Leader and former T-Ball Coach. He also serves for various other charitable causes throughout the year.
Eryn holds a BBA in Accounting from Siena College. He resides in Clifton Park with his wife of 14 years, MaryBeth and their three children, Ellie - 11, Sarah - 9 and Jacob - 7.
Eryn’s heartfelt wish is to visit all of the historic sites in the world.
Mark Woroby
Director of Philanthropy
mworoby@neny.wish.org
Mark joined the chapter as Director of Philanthropy in January 2012. He works with individuals, as well as representatives of corporations and foundations, to help donors realize their philanthropic goals.
Mark began his professional fundraising career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and most recently, served as the Executive Director of the Wildwood Foundation. Before entering the fundraising profession, Mark worked in the financial services field, for firms such as Ayco Company, L.P. Prior to his work in financial services, Mark also gained professional marketing and sales experience in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries.
With a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Siena College, Mark is also a Certified Financial Planner®, and completed the Certified Specialist in Planned GivingCM program, through the California State University at Long Beach.
Born and raised in Upstate New York, Mark and his wife Elaine reside in Albany. The Worobys enjoy watching professional and college sports, especially Siena College basketball. Outside of work, Mark serves as a volunteer for Siena College. In addition to being a member of a number of professional associations, Mark is the current President of the board of the local council of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.
Mark’s dream is to someday live in a house on a lake.
Ellen Donovan
Manager of Annual Giving and Special Events
edonovan@neny.wish.org
Ellen Donovan is Manager of Annual Giving and Special Events, responsible for growing the chapter’s Annual Giving program, as well as coordinating events such as the annual Gala and the Night of Exquisite Tastes, managing the Adopt-An-Angel Campaign and assisting local groups and organizations with their own Make-A-Wish fundraisers. She grew up Delmar, New York, moved to Boston and came back to the Empire State just in time to see the Red Sox win the World Series.
Ellen has a Master’s Degree in Communications Management and a B.A. in English from Simmons College in Boston, and more than 15 years of experience in non-profit marketing and fundraising.
She enjoys spending time with her eight nieces and nephews, participating in 5k runs, and reading mystery novels.
Ellen’s heartfelt wish is to be backstage for a Bruce Springsteen/Peter Gabriel concert and hang with them after the show.
Jay Haas
Wish Coordinator
jhaas@neny.wish.org
Jay joined the chapter as Program Assistant in May 2008 and was named Wish Coordinator in April 2009. He brings with him a variety of skills, including auditing, customer service, database management, finance and sales. Most recently, he served as a Consumer Banker for HSBC USA, N.A., a large international bank.
Jay was raised in Clifton Park and has lived in the Capital District since 1986. He graduated cum laude from the University at Albany in 2001 with a BS in Business Administration. He has been involved in a multitude of volunteer community organizations since the age of 14.
Jay resides in Ballston Spa, with his wife, and two dogs. He enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and spending time with family and friends.
Cheryl Malone
Program Director
cmalone@neny.wish.org
Cheryl Malone is the Program Director for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York. An Albany area native, Cheryl is a registered nurse whose career has included both hands on and administrative nursing duties including those of a visiting nurse, nursing home supervisor, in-service instructor and 15 years as a Hospice nurse.
Cheryl has been with the Foundation for more than 10 years where she coordinates the granting of all the wishes, does the medical outreach, takes all new referrals, develops policy and trains the wish granting volunteers.
When not living vicariously through the kid’s wishes, Cheryl is active in many sports including golf and skiing. She loves to travel, work in the garden and spend time with her children and 2 grandchildren.
Cheryl’s heartfelt wish is to be a ‘non celebrity’ competing dancer on ‘Dancing With the Stars’, partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. Her second wish would be to have a romantic honeymoon in Bora Bora.
Timothy Riley
Manager, Marketing & Communications
triley@neny.wish.org
Tim Riley joined the chapter as Manager of Marketing and Communications in June 2011, bringing extensive experience in those fields. Tim is an Ohio native, has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and marketing, and has worked as a newspaper editor. His career has included senior roles in hospitals, health insurance, and technology firms in Toledo, Chicago, and New York City. After moving to the Capital region, he held senior posts at Kaiser Permanente, CDPHP, MapInfo, and Government Contracts USA.
In his role at the Foundation, Tim is responsible for media and public relations, and supporting the chapter’s mission through effective marketing and communications programs.
A Queensbury resident for the past 15 years, Tim lives with his wife Kathryn and daughter Erin, and has been active in professional groups as well as community organizations.
Outside of work, Tim is an avid photographer, a weekend auto racer, and a certified scuba diver. Tim’s wish would be to explore and photograph underwater shipwrecks in the Bahamas.
