Members of the Board
JOAN CUNNINGHAM, (PRESIDENT), a Chartered Life Underwriter and a former software specialist, Actuarial Assistant, construction expert, and hotel & restaurant operator, is the mother of three and grandmother of three. Working hard is in Joan's DNA, even though 8 years ago she was stricken by an undiagnosed neurological disorder the left her paralyzed. After spending years in hospitals and rehab centers and after more than 20 surgeries, Joan returned to her home in Schroon Lake determined to help others despite her own struggles. She & her husband of 45+ years now live in Elizabethtown, where Joan oversees the operations of Families from her bed or wheelchair, never losing her sense of humor or her passion for helping women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Contact:
DENISE POULIN (VICE PRESIDENT,) a Survivor, mother of 1 and grandmother of 3. She has been employed at the Glens Falls School District for the last 13 years working with special needs children. Denise is also a caregiver for folks that wish to remain in their home, despite an illness or disability. Denise will serve as an advisor to the the Board on Sisters’ Outreach to Children.
SHANNON WADSWORTH, (SECRETARY/TREASURER,) a single mother of two, 19 and 14, and a Survivor. Shannon has spent over a decade taking care of sick, disabled and the elderly. Shannon studied accounting at North Country Community College. Aside from her work for Families, Shannon volunteers in her community and assists in the day-to-day operations of Sisters. Contact:
DR. KRUPA PANDEY (Medical Advisor,) completed her MS fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center and was awarded the National Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Fellowship Award and the Brigham and Women's/Partners Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Fellowship Research Award. Since completing her fellowship, Dr. Pandey has exclusively worked as an MS specialist and has taken care of over 3,000 patients with MS. She serves on the NJ National MS Society - Healthcare Advisory Board and was asked to sit on the NJ State Governor's Multiple Sclerosis Task Force. She is an assistant professor of Seton Hall - Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Dr. Pandey is passionate about the care of patients with MS. She is determined to help patients stay as independent as they can and be knowledgeable about the resources they may need. She currently works at a newly established MS Center with a team of healthcare providers such as nurses, physical and occupational therapists, neuro- and counseling psychologists, dietiticians and other medical subspecialists to provide a holistic approach to a patient's MS care - the newest approach to great MS care.
The Board would like to thank Families Founder, Nancy Gutenberg. In 2015 she started out with a dream to help domestic violence survivors and their children make a new life. In 2017, she purchased a building in Elizabethtown specifically for that purpose before moving out of the area. Nancy’s wish is to dedicate this site to the memory of William Murphy’s violent actions, that we may all act – help the survivors and make the name of all adjudicated perpetrators known to their unwary spouse or partner.