We are grateful for Robert Marchman's strong, engaged, and active leadership over the last three years! Robert has taken an active role in community life since moving to Maplewood in 1991. He is a founding member of the Coalition on Race, where he served as chair in 2004. In June 2010, Robert joined the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the premier securities industry regulator, as Executive Vice President and Head of the Market Regulation Department’s Legal Group (the Group prosecutes violations of market rules and federal securities laws).  He serves as the Executive Vice President/MRD Legal Section at FINRA. Prior to that time he was responsible for managing the New York Stock Exchange Regulation’s Enforcement Division and Regulatory Risk Group. Robert has had a long career in diversity and inclusion efforts in Corporate America and in nonprofits and has received numerous awards in recognition of his work to promote diversity management in the securities industry. Robert will continue as Immediate Past Chair on the
Executive Committee in 2020.

We welcome Kelly Quirk as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2020! Kelly joined the Coalition board in 2017, soon after which she started the board on an important investigation into future priorities. She also serves as chair of the Finance & Development Committee, and was instrumental in planning the annual dinner. Considering upcoming priorities for the Coalition, Kelly notes: "The next year will be critically important in our community, from ensuring the elementary school integration plan is completed successfully, to addressing the rising tide of hate that permeates this country and even our community. It is an honor and responsibility I take seriously, as the work of the Coalition is vital to ensuring we continue moving on journey towards integration, inclusion, equity and justice."

Kelly is the Vice President of Treatment Services at the Bowery Residents' Committee where she oversees a 7 licensed residential and outpatient mental health and substance use treatment programs aimed at serving homeless and formerly homeless New Yorkers. She is responsible for portfolio, developing systems, pursing new partnerships and ensuring compliance. She has 13 years’ worth of experience in her field and significant experience in outreach to funders. She is one of the founding members of SOMA Action, is on their Board. She participated in anti-racist and queer rights activism work when she lived in the South. In both her work and her volunteer history, Kelly has significant experience in development and grant-writing strategies, and is particularly interested in combining narrative and metrics-based strategies to support fundraising.  

Considering both her professional experience and her experience in grassroots organizing, Kelly says of the Coalition: "I have come to value to greatly not just the Coalition's longevity in the community, but the interracial, interfaith, and inter-generational group of active and engaged volunteers and members who commit themselves tirelessly to the ongoing creation of a beloved community."

We're excited to have four new trustees join us in 2020! We welcome South Orange resident and realtor, Allison Ziefert; South Orange resident Rev. Liz Testa who works in Women’s Transformation and Leadership for the Reformed Church in America; South Orange resident Martina Remy who is Head of Admissions at Manhattan Star Academy; and Maplewood resident Niv Miyasato who is a designer and event planner.