Current Hours
(As of 9/11/2026)

Office/Phones:
Monday – Friday	8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Friday	8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Council Thrift & Donation Site:
Monday	10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday	10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday	10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday	10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Council offices and all programs are closed on most major holidays. We follow the Needham Public School weather closings.

Joan Halford

Joan has built a multifaceted career at the intersection of education, journalism, and social justice. During her 30 years in the Washington, D.C. area, she served as a social justice program director, education magazine editor, federal education policy analyst, and ESOL teacher and teacher educator. She also served on the board of Progreso Hispano Literacy and Citizenship Center in Alexandria, VA.

Since moving to Needham in 2018, Joan has worked as an independent writer, producing major reports on foster care reform and LGBTQ youth. She is also a licensed architectural color strategist with a holistic interior design firm focused on wellbeing. As a French speaker, Joan brings a strong multicultural perspective to all her work.

Joan first connected with the Needham Community Council as an ELL tutor. She and her husband, Shawn—a public television executive—love Needham’s natural beauty and vibrant culture. They enjoy gardening at the Needham Community Farm and spending time with their adult children.

Holiday Dinners

Christmas Dinners:

Temple Beth Shalom will once again join hands with the Needham Community Council to provide dinners on Christmas Day. Temple Beth Shalom will be preparing and delivering a Christmas dinner on December 25th to residents that might otherwise not have a special meal. Please call the Council to reserve your Holiday meal. Limit of two meals per household. Please phone early to make your reservation 781-444-2415.

Proof of Residency

To participate in the Holiday support from the Council this year, we will be requiring proof of residency. You will need to show one of the following documents to prove that you reside in Needham:

Valid driver’s license or Mass ID
Utility bill with your name and address
Copy of your lease agreement
This letter with your name and address

Myra Anderson

Myra has been a friend of the Council for many years and joined the Board in 2023. She has been an incredible asset to the Council through her work with community outreach, Party for the Pantry, and the Council Thrift.

Before Myra elected to stay home with her daughters, she practiced law in New York and London. Passionate about helping others, it was during this time, Myra began volunteering at her church, Needham schools, and after-school programs.

Myra currently supports and serves on the Leadership Council of the Bowdoin Street Community Health Center in Boston and also serves on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Leadership Board. She was a volunteer with the homeless ministry of the Cathedral Church of St Paul in Boston as well as a Circle of Hope founding board member and represented the Circle of Hope as a “star” in Dancing with the Needham Stars, which raised money for the Needham History Center.

Myra and her husband, John, have lived in Needham for over twenty years. Their daughters, Mimi and Claire, both graduated from Needham High School and currently live in New York City.

Myra holds a BA in economics from The University of Chicago and JD from NYU School of Law.

Jen English

Jen joined the board of directors in 2023. After a severe ankle break in 2008, Jen was introduced to the Council’s medical equipment closet through a neighbor and has been a supporter ever since. In addition to her board responsibilities, Jen greatly contributes to merchandising the Council Thrift and planning the spring fundraiser, Party for the Pantry.

Before Jen elected to stay home with her family full-time, she was a Certified Public Accountant employed at KPMG Peat Marwick and the Gillette Company. She currently is the Board Treasurer for the Needham Pool & Racquet Club, and previously served as Board Treasurer for the Carter Nursery School.

Jen and her husband Ted have lived in Needham for nearly 25 years, and have three children, Teddy, Remy and Addie.

Jen holds a B.S. in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting from Boston College.

Matthew Eckhouse

Matt is a business leader who most recently served as President of Professional Services at UNFI. Previously, he spent a decade at Staples including roles as Chief Sales Officer for Staples Advantage, President of Staples Promotional Products and Area Vice President of Print Ecommerce and Sales. He began his career as a consultant with Boston based Parthenon Group. Matt holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a BS in Economics from Harvard University.

Matt moved to Needham in 2014, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Passionate about ensuring the community actively supports all of its members, he is deeply committed to local civic engagement. Outside of his professional life, Matt enjoys woodworking, fishing, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Leigh McCloskey

Leigh, his wife and two young children have lived in Needham since 2019. Leigh graduated from Boston University with an MBA in Finance and was a dual Business and Environmental Studies major at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. He works as a wealth management advisor at The Bulfinch Group and previously spent over a decade helping run his family’s small business in Haverhill, MA.

Leigh was recruited by a current board member and was thrilled to find an opportunity to provide community service in the town he now calls home. He credits his mother with instilling in him the importance of giving back, and previously volunteered as a Big Brother for nearly 10 years, where he remains involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA today.

When not working or volunteering, Leigh enjoys spending time with his young family at Perry Park and likes to cook, travel and root for the local sports teams.

Deb Tormey

Deb has been a member of the Needham community for over 25 years. She and her husband raised their two daughters here, both graduates of the Needham Public Schools.

A longtime supporter of the Community Council, Deb values active involvement in local organizations. She has served as President and Treasurer of the Broadmeadow PTC and as Treasurer of the Needham High School HS Athletics Boosters.

Deb currently works for Needham Community Education, a department of the Needham Public Schools, focused on providing enrichment classes to the local community.

Linda Farley

President

Linda Farley has a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Northeastern University. She has 30+ years of professional experience in human resources in a variety of industries. Since 2018, she has led Human Resources & Learning and Development team for Needham Bank.

A Needham native, Linda returned to Needham in 2000 where she and her husband raised their three children.

Linda has been a NCC Board and Executive Committee member since 2019. She has played an active role on the Leadership Committee recruiting new Board members. In addition to supporting the NCC, she serves on the Board of the Greater New England Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Rajesh Thomas

Rajesh joined the Needham Community Council Board in 2025. He first connected with the Council in 2015, shortly after moving to Needham with his family from Chicago, eager to give back and build connections in his new community. He has been deeply involved with the Council, contributing in a variety of ways—from office support and database work to teaching seniors how to use iPads to delivering groceries to homebound food pantry families.

Rajesh is an medical technology executive specializing in innovation, commercialization and product strategy. He has worked in several medical device companies including Boston Scientific, Baxter Health Care, Sanofi Biosurgery and Fresenius Medical Care. He holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

Music is also central to Rajesh’s life. He is a drummer and a member of the Indian Community of Needham (ICON). He performs with a band – ICONix – that performed at Music on the Lawn, sharing his love of music with the local community.

Rajesh and his wife Preethy have two children who graduated from Needham High School.

Carol Oberle

Treasurer

Carol has called Needham home for over 20 years, raising her three daughters here and staying actively involved in their schools and community activities through the PTCs. Now semi-retired, Carol spent her career as a CPA working as a controller in the software industry. She is a former board member at the Needham Congregational Church and currently teaches yoga locally through Needham’s Adult Education and Parks & Recreation programs. Staying connected to the community has always been important to her—whether in the classroom, on the mat, or around town.

Susan Mitchell

Susan is a geriatrician and health services researcher at the Hebrew SeniorLife Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Susan is originally from Montreal. She is a graduate of the University of Ottawa medical school and has a Master’s of Public Health from Harvard University. Her career has largely focused on conducting research to improve the quality of life of older persons with serious illness, particularly dementia.

She moved to the Needham from Canada in 2000. She lives with her partner, has two step-children, and enjoys hiking with her beloved labradoodle through the Town Forest. Susan loves living in Needham and looks forward to contributing to the community.

David Carter

Secretary

David is a Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Fidelity Investments providing legal counsel to the firm’s asset management and operations businesses. David specializes in mutual fund corporate governance matters, including substantial involvement with mutual fund boards of directors, as well as SEC rulemaking processes.

David has held a variety of roles in Fidelity’s legal department since joining Fidelity in 2005. From 2010 to 2014, David led a team of lawyers and project managers who coordinated Fidelity’s response to rulemaking following the financial crisis. Prior to joining Fidelity, David spent five years as associate at Ropes & Gray, where he worked on a broad range of corporate and securities law matters.

David received his A.B. in Economics from the University of Michigan and his JD from Harvard Law School. He has lived in Needham since 2008 with his wife and their two sons

Avery Newton

Avery joined the Needham Community Council Board in 2025 after first learning about the Council through a neighbor and a food drive. She has also served on various town committees, sits on the Board of her alma mater’s Washington, DC Center, volunteers with her hometown’s community foundation, and enjoys playing with local music groups when time allows. Avery is deeply committed to making a positive difference through service, inspired by the tireless example of her late mother.

By day, Avery is Senior Director of Learning & Evaluation for Propel America, a national workforce development nonprofit. She also runs a consultancy supporting school districts and nonprofit organizations with program evaluation, analytics, and data governance. She earned a B.A. in Education Policy from the College of William & Mary and a Ph.D. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, & Assessment from Boston College.

Avery lives in Needham with her husband and three young children. On nice mornings, you can usually find them and their overloaded wagon at French Press.

Rob Ticktin

Rob joined the Needham Community Council board in 2025 and has called Needham home for 20 years. He is an owner of Hawthorn Properties, a Needham-based real estate brokerage firm. A former home builder, Rob brings a deep understanding of real estate and a hands-on approach to helping families buy and sell their homes.

Beyond his professional work, Rob is actively engaged in the community, contributing his time to organizations such as Circle of Hope, the Needham Exchange Club and Needham High School Boosters. Prior to his career in real estate, Rob was a sports anchor with CNN Headline News.

Alrie McNiff Daniels

Alrie has more than two decades of nonprofit experience. Currently director of communications and stakeholder engagement at Point32Health Foundation, she previously worked at FSG, a mission-driven consulting firm; the American Cancer Society; and as a strategic communications consultant. A certified Reframing Aging facilitator, Alrie works locally, regionally and nationally to help organizations communicate more effectively on aging, ageism and issues important to older people.

Alrie’s community and volunteer service includes fundraising for established nonprofit organizations, board roles on neighborhood associations, pro bono support for emerging nonprofits and numerous roles at her children’s schools. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Library Foundation of Needham.

A native New Yorker, Alrie spent time in Washington, DC, California, North Carolina and Virginia during her husband’s Coast Guard career. She and her family moved to Needham in 2003.

Jonathan Kappel

Jonathan is the Executive Director of Principal Gifts for Clark University.

Previous to working at Clark, Jonathan worked as a fundraising professional at the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee and Clark University where he has returned after 10 years. Jonathan received the Senn-Greenberg award for excellence in staff leadership from the Anti-Defamation League.

Jonathan and his wife, Carol, co-created the Ultimate Pink Drink fundraiser benefiting breast cancer research. He is also a past board member of the Needham Educational Foundation (NEF).

Lynn Gotwals

Lynn Gotwals has been a resident of Needham for nearly 30 years, where she and her husband raised their two daughters.

A retired Needham educator, Lynn has dedicated extensive time to local community organizations. Her volunteer work includes serving as President of the Broadmeadow PTC and holding board positions with the Needham Education Foundation, Needham Steps Up, and the Congregational Church of Needham.

Lynn’s involvement with the Needham Community Council began as a team captain for the Ride for Food, followed by leading Mitchell School’s monthly food drives. She became a Board Member in 2020. Deeply committed to the Council’s values and impact, she is honored to support its ongoing mission.

John Frantz

Treasurer

Currently retired, John was previously employed by The Boston Consulting Group. There he provided consulting services to major corporations, held a senior internal financial management position, and led an Investment Committee with oversight responsibility for the firm’s U.S. retirement plans.

2022 marks John’s seventh year on the Needham Community Council Board. He is also on the Board of the Charles River School, a preK-8 school in Dover, and New England Justice for Our Neighbors, a non-profit that welcomes and supports immigrants. He is active in service and outreach activities with Carter Memorial United Methodist Church in Needham, and serves as the chair of the church’s endowment team, which oversees the church’s endowment funds.

Kathleen Berner

Kathleen is currently the Marketing Lead for Accenture in Boston & Hartford — a role she has held since May 2019.

Previously, Kathleen was the Senior Director of Services Marketing at Staples. She joined Staples in 2010 and held various leadership roles in marketing–driving stores, staples.com and salesforce performance. Prior to Staples, Kathleen started an in-house agency; managed customer service; and implemented an email program for the Upromise College Savings and Loyalty program. She also supported clients at Digitas in the online education, automotive and wireless industries.

Kathleen and her husband live in Needham with their three children. She has volunteered at The Council since 2016 as co-chair of the Annual Holiday Boutique.

In 2010, Kathleen managed fundraising for City of Hope’s Spirit of Life nominee. She currently serves on several committees for the Needham High School PTC and serves on the board of advisors at Research Institute for Learning & Development in Lexington.

Kathleen is a graduate of Tufts University and holds a master’s degree from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.

Lynn Alberding

Past President

Lynn joined the Board of the Needham Community Council in 2015. Prior to joining the Board, Lynn participated in the Council’s English Language Learners tutor training program and volunteered as a tutor with that program for several years. She worked as a one-on-one tutor, a leader of group classes, and as a program administrator. Lynn developed and taught several literature-based classes for Advanced English learners as well as a Beginners English class for Russian speakers, and formalized a process for matching students and tutors that resulted in hundreds of successful partnerships.

Lynn is the Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at William James College in Newton, MA. Prior to joining William James College, Lynn was the Director of Development at Wondermore, Inc., also in Newton, MA.

Lynn and her husband, Peter, raised three children who attended Needham Public Schools. From 2010 – 2020, Lynn was active volunteer in the Needham Public Schools, most notably with the Mitchell and Pollard PTCs and with the Needham High School Athletic Boosters and the Friends of Music.

Lynn holds a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University, and an M.S. in Accounting and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Community Volunteer Resources

We are in the process of creating a community wide volunteer resource guide that will allow you and your family to find opportunities to help in Needham. Please check back again soon.

Staff

Sandra Robinson

Executive Director

Sandra is the fourth Executive Director of the Needham Community Council since its inception in 1930. She was raised in Needham and is a Needham High School graduate.

Before becoming the Council’s Executive Director she worked for many years in the social service industry. Her work has served a variety of people in need, including women who were incarcerated, survivors of Domestic Violence, immigrants to the United States, and teens dealing with every day life issues. Her goals are always the same: to empower whomever she is working with to make the best choices they can make, and help them move forward in their lives.

Contact: srobinson@needhamcouncil.org

Maureen Callahan

Director of Development & Public Relations

Maureen began working at the Council in July 2024.

She has worked in various capacities and industries for over 30 years, including corporate community relations, human resources, and state government. Maureen’s most recent positions include serving as District Director for State Representative Denise Garlick and Administrative Director of the Needham Education Foundation.

Giving back to her community has always been important to Maureen, and she has volunteered for many organizations, including Needham’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), Broadmeadow PTC, the Charles River Center, Needham’s Community Preservation Committee, and the Needham Commission on Disabilities.

Maureen and her husband have two sons and have proudly called Needham home for the past 22 years. When not working or volunteering, she spends her time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, taking Spin or Zumba classes at the Y, and heading to the beach whenever she can.

Contact: mcallahan@needhamcouncil.org

Stacey Fallon

Director of Volunteers

Stacey started working at the Council in October 2020 to run the Tech & Tutors Program, and brings over 30 years of corporate training, computer technology, and client service management experience to the Council. She is currently applying her technology, management, and people skills to oversee our extensive Volunteer Program.

Passionate for helping others, Stacey volunteered at both City Year and Pine Street Inn while working at Bain & Co and Ropes & Gray. During Covid, the Council of Aging and The Needham Community Council realized that there was an overwhelming need to help aging adults access technology to avoid isolation. Stacey was instrumental in forming and managing the Tech & Tutors program, not only providing aging adults with access to tablets, but helping them use technology to connect with family and friends, manage medical appointments and prescriptions, and help them discover additional benefits when connected online.

Stacey and her husband, David, have two daughters and a dog and have called Needham home for nearly 25 years. When not working and making her colleagues and students laugh, Stacey enjoys playing tennis, travelling, walking in the neighborhood, and worming her way into the pickleball craze.

Contact: sfallon@needhamcouncil.org

Maria Albanese

Thrift Store Manager

Maria started working at the Council in August 2021. She brings a wealth of retail and financial experience to the Council Thrift. After taking time off to raise her family, Maria love for fashion brought her to the retail industry working as a wardrobe stylist and retail representative. When Maria is not at the Council, you can find her whipping up a delicious meal, playing golf, and practicing yoga.

Contact: malbanese@needhamcouncil.org

Lyndsey Bedor

Asst. Food Pantry Manager

Lyndsey joined the Council staff in August 2026, although she is already a familiar face around the organization, having previously served as a dedicated volunteer in both the Food Pantry and the English Language Learners (ELL) program. In her new role, she is eager to serve her local community with deep empathy, helping ease the daily stress faced by neighbors dealing with food insecurity.

For over twenty-five years, Lyndsey worked as a registered dental hygienist, and credits that career with teaching her to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. Through school and practice, she learned that truly caring for people means caring for the whole person.

After moving to Needham with her family in 2018, Lyndsey was grateful to find that the Council would let her continue caring for others through one of her greatest loves: food. Preparing and sharing healthy food as an act of care for relatives, friends, neighbors, and strangers has been a tradition in her family for generations, and she is delighted to carry it on through the Food Pantry.

When not working, Lyndsey can be found spending time with her family, hiking with her dog, working in her yard, and, of course, enjoying food with friends and family.

Contact: lbedor@needhamcouncil.org

Cory Fanelli

Client Services / Office Support

Cory joined the Council in May 2026, bringing a robust professional background that includes running her own design firm and serving as a creative director and graphic designer for companies within the financial sector. Ready for a purposeful career change, she found that the opportunity at the Council provided the perfect way to give back to the community that supported her and her family when they needed it most.

Driven by her belief that kindness transforms lives, Cory is a dedicated community volunteer. Following the loss of her husband, Chip, to ALS in 2017, she focuses her efforts on ALS research and fundraising through ALS TDI and NEALS. Her diverse service background also includes co-chairing the Chemo Caps for Kids program, the Reading to a Child lunch program, the Newman PTC, and the Needham Elementary School Arts programs, and co-curating the 22p art gallery.

Originally from California, Cory has called Needham home since 1993, where she and Chip raised their two sons. Today, she is a proud grandmother of two, with a third grandchild on the way. Outside of work, she is an avid crafter who loves knitting, Pilates, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Contact: cfanelli@needhamcouncil.org

Sue Gilbert

Office Support

Sue joined the Council in February 2025. She has a background in public health, nutrition science, and education. She has worked primarily in academia and NGOs in research, and program leadership and management. Sue’s interests are “food is medicine”, sustainability, and helping to make healthy meals more accessible for families with young children. She loves problem solving, working with data, connecting with people, and helping to build strong and resilient communities.

Sue is an avid dancer and has performed with various dance companies at venues across the greater Boston area. She is a volunteer with the Newman Elementary School and Community Servings. Sue moved to Needham in 2021 and she and her husband have two kids (twins!) who keep them on their toes. When not working, you can find Sue spending time with family and friends, visiting the ocean or the mountains, going for walks, dancing and doing yoga or barre.

Contact: sgilbert@needhamcouncil.org

Mindy Kalish

Asst. Director of Development & PR

Mindy started volunteering at the Council in May 2021 in a variety of roles. From spearheading development projects, working at the Council Thrift or styling for Project Karma, making sure neighbors had access to healthy food was her motivator. She and her husband, Doug, have two sons and have called Needham home for nearly 15 years.

Before taking time off to raise her family, Mindy was a successful marketer with responsibilities ranging from account management to client service management. She is excited to combine her marketing experience with an organization that is near and dear to her.

Contact: mkalish@needhamcouncil.org

Stephanie Knoch, MSW

Program Manager Dementia Care Partner Support

Stephanie joined the Council in June 2025, bringing more than two decades of experience across diverse roles and industries. She recently earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from Simmons University. Her professional background includes a two-year internship at the Needham Senior Center, where she provided weekly counseling sessions, case management, and social service referrals.

Committed to community service, Stephanie has volunteered with several organizations, including the Norfolk Senior Center, where she serves as a board member, as well as the Norfolk Food Pantry and the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library.

Stephanie and her husband have made Norfolk their home for the past decade, sharing it with their two beloved Labrador retrievers. Before settling in Massachusetts, they lived in Philadelphia. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Stephanie enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading, trying new recipes, and tackling home improvement projects.

Contact: sknoch@needhamcouncil.org

Dan McMann

Council “Go-To Guy”

Dan joined the Council in November, 2006 as the Facilities and Maintenance Specialist. He is in charge of picking up and delivering surplus to the Council from companies such as Roche Brothers, Target and Sudbury Farms. Dan also manages incoming donations as well as the Council’s waste removal services and a variety of building projects.

Dan has his BA in Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Before coming to the Council he worked as a Shift Supervisor at CVS in Needham.

Gretchen Plotner

Assistant Thrift Manager

For the past 17 years, Gretchen has called Needham home, where she and her husband have raised three kids, tended to some fish, and cherished a couple of dogs. During this time, she has actively participated in several community organizations, including Parent Talk, Community Center Needham, The Fringe Theatre, and Needham Public Schools, as well as the Needham Community Council, where she organized monthly food drives and field trips for Needham elementary students.

In previous chapters of her life, she has worked in hospitality, finance, and recruiting, but she is most thrilled to now be able to tell people she’s working in fashion! When she’s not styling mannequins at the Council Thrift, you might find Gretchen playing the guitar, knitting, or cheering on her kids from the sidelines of various fields and rinks around New England.

Contact: gplotner@needhamcouncil.org

Katerina Posadskova

Food Pantry Manager

Katerina started volunteering at the Council in 2006 before accepting her role at the Council as Food Pantry Manager in 2020. She and her family have called Needham their home since 2001, and her son is a Needham High School graduate.

Katerina has lived all over the world. Her diverse background is a huge asset to the Needham Community Council Food Pantry. Her multilingual proficiency and cultural insights, combined with a wealth of experience in marketing, finance, and operations, has been instrumental in running the day-to-day operations of the Food Pantry, ensuring the Council’s customers always have access to healthy food that specifically meets their dietary needs.

Katerina is known as our in-house “Jewelry Aficionado,” appraising all the high-end jewelry in our thrift store. When Katerina is not at the Council, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and taking a variety of classes at Mass Bay to further her education.

Contact: yposadskova@needhamcouncil.org

Sheila Roberts

English Language Learning Program Manager

Sheila’s interest in the Council’s ELL program started when she became a volunteer tutor in 2019. She loved helping her learners improve their English while learning about their cultures, and enjoyed connecting with new people in the Needham community. Recently, Sheila worked as a career advisor for Northeastern University and Boston University’s Questrom School of Business where she counseled many international students about their career paths. Locally, Sheila managed a successful 2023 Needham Select Board campaign and was a founding board member of the Needham High School Diamond Club.

Sheila has lived in Needham for more than 25 years and her three children are all graduates of Needham Public Schools. In her free time, she enjoys studying languages, cooking, reading, walking her dogs, and talking about the Red Sox and Friars basketball.

Contact: sroberts@needhamcouncil.org

Stacie Shapiro

Development Associate

Stacie began volunteering with the Council in the spring of 2023, taking on various roles at the Council Thrift. While still volunteering on Fridays, in December 2024, she officially joined the team as a part-time Development Associate.

Alongside her work at the Council, Stacie is a seasoned bookkeeper with over 30 years of experience.

Outside of work, she is a guitarist—and occasional vocalist—for “Some Assembly Required,” an all-female band composed of members over 60. Stacie is also politically active and enjoys lobbying for causes she’s passionate about.

Stacie and her husband, Alan, have lived in Needham for about 28 years. They have two adult daughters who both reside in the Boston area.

Contact: shapiro@needhamcouncil.org

Kate Tedoldi

Council Bookkeeper

Kate began volunteering with the Council’s Food Pantry in Spring 2022 and has been a steady presence every Monday since. In May 2025, she officially joined the team as a part-time Bookkeeper, while continuing her volunteer work at the Pantry.

With more than 30 years of experience as an independent bookkeeper, Kate brings deep knowledge and care to her role. She loves working and volunteering for an organization that shares her values.

Outside of the Council, Kate holds a black belt in martial arts but these days spends more time tending her garden. She also enjoys traveling and discovering new places.

Born at Glover Hospital and raised in Needham, Kate is a proud Needham High School graduate.

Contact: treasurer@needhamcouncil.org

Cathy Wong

Outreach Director for Community Awareness on Mental Health

Cathy is dedicated to community service and mental health awareness. She joined the Needham Community Council in 2019 to lead the Child Assault Prevention (CAP) program after volunteering for 12 years. Currently, she runs the Mindful Community program, focusing on mental health awareness and support.

Before her community service career, Cathy spent over 25 years at Microsoft as a business manager specializing in business, finance, and operations. She holds a B.S. in Accounting, Finance, and Mathematics from Simmons University.

Cathy is also actively involved in her community, serving as the Chair for the Board of the Boston Latin School Association and as the Secretary on the Domestic Violence Action Committee (DVAC) of Needham. In her free time, she enjoys Zumba and loves the color lavender.

contact: cwong@needhamcouncil.org

Karen Zarrow

Tech & Tutors Program Manager

Karen joined the Council in April 2024 to take the Tech & Tutors Program baton from Stacey Fallon. She has more than thirty years of experience in the areas of high-tech, consulting, and startups. She brings her extensive experience in technology, training, and building client-relationships to the Council’s Tech & Tutors Program.

Before joining the Council, Karen was in the security industry. Most notably, she was part of a three-person team who turned around the visitor management software company, EasyLobby, which was then sold to HID Global.

Karen earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a Masters of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management (now part of Arizona State University). While at UMASS, she studied International Business at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Karen was born in Needham at Glover Hospital – now BID Needham – and attended Broadmeadow Elementary, Pollard Junior High School, and graduated from Needham High School. Her parents moved to Needham in 1960, two weeks after their second baby was born. Karen found herself always returning to Needham after each adventure. Needham is home.

When Karen is not at the Council, you can find her volunteering, practicing yoga, reading, puppysitting friend’s dogs, gardening, or traveling. She has been the Treasurer for the League of Women Voter’s-Needham since 2022, and is the LWV-Needham representative on Cohort 2 of the Needham Resilience Network.

contact: kzarrow@needhamcouncil.org

General Office Mailbox

For all other matters, please contact us at: office@needhamcouncil.org

Current Hours(As of 9/11/2026)

Joan Halford

Holiday Dinners

Myra Anderson

Jen English

Matthew Eckhouse

Leigh McCloskey

Deb Tormey

Linda Farley

President

Rajesh Thomas

Carol Oberle

Treasurer

Susan Mitchell

David Carter

Secretary

Avery Newton

Rob Ticktin

Alrie McNiff Daniels

Jonathan Kappel

Lynn Gotwals

John Frantz

Treasurer

Kathleen Berner

Lynn Alberding

Past President

Community Volunteer Resources

Staff

Sandra Robinson

Executive Director

Maureen Callahan

Director of Development & Public Relations

Stacey Fallon

Director of Volunteers

Maria Albanese

Thrift Store Manager

Lyndsey Bedor

Asst. Food Pantry Manager

Cory Fanelli

Client Services / Office Support

Sue Gilbert

Office Support

Mindy Kalish

Asst. Director of Development & PR

Stephanie Knoch, MSW

Program Manager Dementia Care Partner Support

Dan McMann

Council “Go-To Guy”

Gretchen Plotner

Assistant Thrift Manager

Katerina Posadskova

Food Pantry Manager

Sheila Roberts

English Language Learning Program Manager

Stacie Shapiro

Development Associate

Kate Tedoldi

Council Bookkeeper

Cathy Wong

Outreach Director for Community Awareness on Mental Health

Karen Zarrow

Tech & Tutors Program Manager

General Office Mailbox

Current Hours
(As of 9/11/2026)