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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Rev. Sohail Akhtar

Pastor, First English Lutheran Church, 
Lockport, NY

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Cecilia Aranzamendez, Esq.

Executive Director for Community Services, 
Lutheran Social Services of New York, NY

 

Lisa G. Baltazar, Esq. 

Deputy General Counsel and Chief of Staff, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, New York, NY

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Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew

Bishop, New Jersey Synod, ELCA

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Kay Bellor  (5)

Retired Vice President for Programs,

Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service),  Baltimore, MD 

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Stephen A. Bennett (3)

Vice President of Product & Research, CAIS,

New York, NY

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Conor Patrick Brooks, CFRE

Senior Director of Advancement, United Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia, PA 

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Rev. Ramon A. Collazo (5)

Pastor, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church and Ministry Elizabeth Detention Center, Elizabeth, NJ

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Rev. Paul Egensteiner

Bishop, Metropolitan New York Synod, ELCA

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Jordan Esopa

Business Representative,

Seafarers International Union (SIU), Jersey City, NJ

 

Emiko Furuya-Cortes, Esq.

Supervising Attorney, NYC Asylum Application Help Center, New York, NY

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Rev. Bradley D. Gow 

Pastor, St. Peter's  Evangelical Lutheran Church, 
Riegelsville PA

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Rev. Mark A. Grorud 

Retired Executive Director, Immanuel Vision Foundation, Omaha, NE

 

Mary B. Heller

Psychotherapist, Poughkeepsie , NY

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Raymond Henderson
Business Agent, NY/NJ Seafarers International Union (SIU) Hall, 
Jersey City, NJ

Capt. Tom Larkin

Vice President Atlantic Ports, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P), Jersey City, NJ

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Rev. Sara E. Lilja

Assistant to the Bishop for Advocacy and Justice Ministries, New Jersey Synod, ELCA

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Rev. Linda Manson (4)

Assistant to the Bishop, Southeastern Synod, ELCA, Atlanta, GA

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Blythe C. Miller, Esq. (2)

Senior Assistant District Attorney, 
Suffolk County, NY

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Leslie A. Neve  (5, 6)

Retired Social Work Educator, Brooklyn, NY

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Rev. Nathan Pipho

Bishop, New England Synod, ELCA

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Capt. Christopher J. Pitfick

Pilot, United New York & New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots

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Kurt B. Plankl, Esq.

Counsel, Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, NY

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Anthony Pruzinsky, Esq.

Semi-retired Managing Partner, Hill Rivkins LLP, New York, NY

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Rev. E. Roy Riley, Jr.

Retired Bishop, New Jersey Synod, ELCA

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Andrew G. Steele

Chief Development and Mobilization Officer,  Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration  and Refugee Service),  Baltimore, MD

 

Rev. Susan Tjornehoj (1)

Interim Pastor, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, MN

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1.    President

2.   Vice President

3.   Treasurer (only, not a board member)

4.   Secretary

5.   Member at Large

6.   Assistant Treasurer

†   Ex Officio

​Mark W. Barker

President, Interlake Maritime Services

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2023)

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Keith Billotti, Esq.

Partner, Seward & Kissel

Board Member, Seafarers International House

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Raymond J. Burke Jr., Esq.

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2016)

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Jason Callahan 

Atlantic Coast V.P., Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association; Former Board Member, Seafarers International House

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​Anthony Chiarello

Principal. Lighthouse Maritime Advisors

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2015)

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Randi Ciszewski

Government Fleet Representative. International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2024)

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Eric P. Ebeling

President & CEO, American Roll-on-Roll-off Carrier (ARC); Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2020)

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Enrico "Ricky" Esopa

ITF Coordinator for the US East Coast

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2019)

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Timothy J. Ferrie 

President, Marine Society of the City of New YorkSpecial Recognition for Service to Seafarers (2020)

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Philip W. J. Fisher

President (retired) Chas. Kurz & Co., Inc.

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2018)

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Edward F. Hanley 

Vice President of Labor, Maersk Line, Limited

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Katie Higginbottom

Head of ITF Seafarers' Trust

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2024)

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David W. Heindel

President, Seafarers International Union; Chairman, Seafarers Section at International Transport Workers Federation

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2003)

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Donald J. Marcus

International President, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2014)

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Robert K. Marzik, Esq.

Former Board Member, Seafarers International House

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​​Anthony Naccarato

President & Chairman, American Maritime Officers Service (AMOS)

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2022)

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C. James Patti

President, Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development (MIRAID)

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2022)

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Tim Nolan

President, The TOTE Group

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2024)

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Roland “Rex” Rexha

Secretary-Treasurer, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association

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Bethann Rooney

Port Director, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Special Recognition for Service to Seafarers (2022)

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Philip J. Shapiro

President & CEO, Liberty Maritime Corporation

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2010)

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Jacqueline Smith

Maritime Coordinator, International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2021)

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Bill Van Loo

Former Secretary-Treasurer, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2018)

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Adam Vokac

District and National President, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.)

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2023)

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Steven E. Werse

Retired International Secretary-Treasurer, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2020)

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Bill Woodhour

President & CEO, Maersk Line, Limited

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2019)

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Lois K. Zabrocky

President & CEO, International Seaways

Outstanding Friend of Seafarers (2019)

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