Leadership
Executive Officers
Maria Cristalli
President and Chief Executive Officer
Maria has held a variety of leadership positions since joining the agency in 1991. She is responsible for the overall leadership and administration of a team of nearly 2,000 individuals working for youth and families in New York and Maryland. Hillside is one of the largest family and children’s services agencies, and the most diversely funded and geographically diverse agency of its kind, in New York State.
Calista Amering
Chief Advancement Officer
Calista owns executive-level oversight of the Hillside Foundation, as well as the agency’s Program Development and Communications & Marketing teams. Her leadership ensures that philanthropy and community engagement remain vital contributors to Hillside’s ability to reinvent our services and change lives.
Elizabeth Nolan
Chief Operating Officer
Elizabeth provides leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that Hillside has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and systems in place to insure growth, financial strength and operational efficiency.
Christopher Peterson
Chief Financial Officer
Chris’ responsibilities include providing comprehensive fiscal analysis and oversight for Hillside. As a member of the Chief Executive Team, he plays a lead role in charting the organization’s future and fiscal wellbeing.
Darlene Ryan
Chief Performance Officer
Darlene’s responsibilities focus on the models, practices, supporting tools and processes that drive positive outcomes for youth and families served by Hillside. She also leads Hillside’s Practice and Performance Excellence Group, which includes the Research, Business Intelligence, Quality, Risk Management and Data Integration teams.
Mazie Tai
As a member of the Chief Executive Team, Mazie leads Hillside’s coordinated Human Resources and Organizational Development efforts, spanning the critical areas of recruitment and retention; employee relations; compensation and benefits; and our evolving work related to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Our Boards
Our Board members provide essential governance and input, informed by years of experience in leadership and community advocacy. We deeply appreciate their dedicated service.
HILLSIDE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
OFFICERS
James C. Haefner
Chair
Melissa N. Gardner
Vice Chair
Christopher B. Eckert
Treasurer
Anne L. Komanecky
Secretary
Jill Knittel
Past Chair
Maria E. Cristalli
President & CEO
GOVERNORS
Virginia Biesiada O’Neill
Caroline A. Critchlow, EdD
Richard A. Dougherty
Richard Feldman, PhD
Victoria G. Hines
Karen W. McDermott, PhD
Ann Montgomery
Christopher J. Richardson, DO, MBA, FACOS, FACS
Efrain Rivera
Michael F. Stapleton, Jr
Marlowe V.N. Washington, DMin, EdD
GOVERNORS EMERITI
Nancy L. Castro, EdD
Roger B. Friedlander
Monica L. Monte
Robert B. Stiles
HILLSIDE FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
Michael F. Stapleton, Jr
Chair and Treasurer
James C. Haefner
Vice Chair
Maria Cristalli
Secretary
Regional Advisory Councils
With Hillside’s broad geographic reach, community-based perspectives are essential. Our Advisory Council members help us remain responsive to the diverse needs of the communities we serve.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Kirk Blackman
Franklin Chambers, Ph. D
Verlinda Darden
Henry Davis
Ayana Douglas
Howard Stone, Jr
Kym Taylor.
SYRACUSE
Maddie DiGristina
Tim McDevitt
Pamela Odom
Virginia Biesiada O’Neill
Jonathan Stadin
Denise Valdes