Board of Directors
YWCA Greater Newburyport
Board of Directors
Our Board is composed of 20 Directors. In order to promote leadership in young women, High School Students are encouraged to participate on the Board of Directors. Students are permitted to serve one-year terms instead of three-year terms:
Julia McDonald, President
Deborah Rider, Vice President
Jessica Baylor, Treasurer
Sarah Joor, Secratary
Deidre Budzyna, Director
Viviana Cordero, Director
Charna Cummings, Director
Lieza Dagher, Director
Krista DeLuca, Director
Rebecca Fortado, Director
Claudia Runk, Director
Julia McDonald, President
Kathy Ruiz, Director
Penelope Fuentes, Director
Rachel Gilbert, Director
Allison Hamilton, Director
Anya Ibrahim, Student Representative
Amy Moran Lowe, Director
Rachel Person Candelora, Director
Deb Rosenbloom, Director
Kalina Vallardes, Director
Read more about Julia
Julia McDonald is a Senior Manager in the Risk & Financial Advisory practice at Deloitte. She helps her clients address their top IT risks and specializes in the Consumer industry. At Deloitte, Julia also is a member of the New England Women and Allies Group, which strives to empower allyship and change for women in the workforce. Aside from her experience at Deloitte, Julia loves to spend her free time baking for friends and family’s events and parties. 
Julia holds a B.S. in Accounting from Elon University. She grew up in Amesbury and now resides in Newburyport with her partner and dog Tinsley!
Deborah Rider, Vice President
Read more about Deborah
I am retired from a 30 year career in banking, primarily in the area of compliance and risk but also in community reinvestment. I serve on the Salisbury Affordable Housing Trust,Planning Board 
and on the AuditCommittee of the New Hampshire Fund. Affordable Housing, Gender Equality, and Racial Justice are important issues and its critical that we effectively find solutions. I believe that the YWCA is positioned to make impactful progress in these areas. I have two grown daughters and reside in Salisbury with my wife, Anne.
Jessica Baylor, Treasurer
Read more about Jessica
Bio to follow.
Sarah Joor, Secratary
Read more about Sarah
Bio to follow.
Kathy Ruiz
Read more about Kathy
Deputy Director of Youth Services, YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts
For the past 22 years, I have had the privilege of serving the YWCA in a variety of roles, and I am grateful to now serve as Deputy Director of Youth Services. I am passionate about supporting children, families, and staff, and I believe that building strong relationships and fostering inclusive, high-quality programs are the foundation of meaningful community impact.
Kalina Valladares
Read more about Kalina
SVP, Manager of Commercial Credit Review and Analysis at River Run MHC
Accomplished commercial banking executive with more than 20 years of experience in commercial credit, risk management, underwriting, portfolio management, and relationship management across regional and community banks. Proven leader with deep expertise in commercial real estate (CRE) and commercial and industrial (C&I) lending, credit policy development, loan structuring, and enterprise risk management. Recognized for building and leading high-performing credit teams, fostering a strong credit culture, and partnering with lending executives to deliver sound, strategic credit decisions while ensuring regulatory compliance. Brings a thoughtful, relationship-driven approach to evaluating complex credit opportunities beyond the financial statements, balancing prudent risk management with business growth and client success. Holds both an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance and is passionate about mentoring emerging banking professionals and developing high-performing teams.
Viviana Cordero Garcia
Read more about Viviana
Chief Alumni Success Officer, Esperanza Academy
Viviana Cordero Garcia is a mother, daughter, sister, and educational leader dedicated to expanding opportunity for young women. As Chief Alumni Success Officer at Esperanza Academy, she leads initiatives that support students and alum as they navigate high school, college, and early careers. She is passionate about educational equity, economic mobility, and creating spaces where women and girls can thrive.
Deirdre Budzyna
Read more about Deirdre
Deirdre Budzyna is the Coordinator of Early Childhood Education at Northern Essex Community College. She is also the owner of Acting Out productions in Newburyport where she teaches theater to children ag
es 4 to 16. She speaks at national conferences on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and Creative Arts in Learning. Deirdre lives in Newburyport with her husband John, her mom Sue, and her teacup Yorkie Princess. She and John have three grown children: Colin, Erin, and Maggie.
Charna Cummings
Read more about Charna
Bio to follow.
Lieza Dagher
Read more about Lieza
Bio to follow.
Krista DeLuca
Read more about Krista
Bio to follow.
Rebecca Fortado
Read more about Rebecca
Bio to follow.
Penelope Fuentes
Read more about Penelope
Bio to follow.
Rachel Gilbert
Read more about Rachel
Bio to follow.
Allison Hamilton
Read more about Allison
Bio to follow.
Anya Ibrahim, Student Representative
Read more about Anya
Bio to follow.
Amy Moran Lowe
Read more about Amy
Bio to follow.
Hannah MacVane
Read more about Hannah
Hannah MacVane is an Account Manager at Matter Communications, specializing in Public Relations and having worked with a variety of companies ranging from non-profit organizations to Fortune 5 corporations. In additio
n to her involvement with the YWCA of Newburyport, she also serves on the Marketing Committee for the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, which strives to empower individuals and engage communities to end domestic violence. Hannah holds a B.A. in Communications from the College of Charleston, as well as Minors in Spanish and Dance, and resides with her husband in Amesbury, MA.
Rachel Person Candelora
Read more about Rachel
Bio to follow.
Deb Rosenbloom
Read more about Deb
Bio to follow.
Claudia Runk
Read more about Claudia
Bio to follow.
The YWCA Greater Newburyport is a Massachusetts Charitable Corporate organized under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 180 and is also an exempt organization under IRS Section 501 (c)(3). As such, it has a volunteer Board of Directors who meet throughout the year to: ensure that the YWCA Greater Newburyport works to fulfill its mission, develop and implement a strategic plan, provide financial oversight, including conducting an annual audit, and serve as ambassadors of the YWCA throughout the community.
Committees
The YWCA Board of Directors conducts much of its work through committees. Several of these committees are open to non-Board Members including Affordable Housing, Development, and Racial Justice. People interested in supporting the work of the YWCA through one of these committees should contact the Executive Director.
Joining the Board
The YWCA Greater Newburyport is governed by its by-laws which allow the Board to select its own Directors at the annual board meeting or whenever a vacancy exists. Those who are interested in serving on the Board, should complete an application and submit it to the Executive Director. Because the Board is limited in size, not all who wish to serve on the Board will be considered.
Standards of Conduct
All Board Members and Committee Members are subject to the YWCA’s Standards of Conduct and must complete an annual Conflict of Interest form.
joining the board
Those interested in serving on the Board should complete an application and submit it to the nominating committee for consideration. Because the Board is limited in size, not all who wish to serve on the Board will be considered.
Contact
YWCA Main Campus: 978-465-YWCA (9922)
YWCA Childcare Center: (978) 225-6526
Email: frontdeskywca@ywcanewburyport.org
Hours
Mon-Fri: 6 am - 7:45 pm
Saturday/Sunday: 8 am - 1 pm