YWCA USA Announces New Board Members

For Immediate Release
July 2, 2014

Media Contacts:
Veronica Byrd (202-835-2361); vbyrd@ywca.org
James Grant (917-626-1300); james@jamesgrantpr.com

YWCA USA Announces New Board Members

New Members Comprised of Leaders from Business, Media, and Nonprofit Sectors

Washington, D.C. – The YWCA USA, one of the oldest and largest non-profit multicultural women’s organizations in the world, dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, announced today that after a nationwide recruiting process, six women joined the YWCA National Board of Directors, effective June 14, 2014. The appointment of the new board members was ratified at the YWCA’s National Business Meeting in Washington D.C. on Saturday, June 14, held at the organization’s 2014 Annual Conference. To view the full list of the YWCA National Board of Directors, click here.

YWCA USA Board Leadership:

YWCA USA Board Chair: Paula Penebaker, President & CEO, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
YWCA USA Vice Chair: Azuri Gonzalez, Director, Center for Civic Engagement, University of Texas at El Paso
YWCA USA Secretary: Paula Green Johnson, Community Volunteer & Advocate
YWCA USA Treasurer: Janet Marcotte, Southern Arizona Director, Fred DuVal for Governor Campaign

Newly-Elected YWCA USA Board Members:

Griselda Aldrete, Executive Director, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
Stephanie Cuskley, CEO, NPower
Sylvia Fields, Executive Director, Eden Hall Foundation
Vicky Free, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, BET
Terri Pensock, Director, WW Sales Enablement for Systems & Technology Group, IBM
Emily Tynes, Communications Director, ACLU

“We are delighted to add these incredible leaders to the YWCA USA Board of Directors,” said YWCA USA CEO Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D. “We are also deeply humbled and honored that these women have made a commitment to utilize their time, talents and resources to help us increase the visibility and impact of the YWCA and our National Movement. We are confident that in partnership with our current Board, our YWCA USA Team, Local Association Leadership, and other key supporters and stakeholders, we will achieve great success in advancing our iconic work.”

About the New YWCA USA Board Members:

Griselda Aldrete, Executive Director, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
Griselda Aldrete is the Executive Director of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee. Most recently she was the Executive Director at the Cream City Foundation, an organization she also serves on the Board of Directors. Aldrete was also the Director of Corporate Events at UMOS, a former criminal justice instructor at Bryant and Stratton College, and an investigative reporter and photographer for ¡Aquí! Milwaukee magazine.

Stephanie Cuskley, CEO, NPower
Stephanie Cuskley is the Chief Executive Officer of NPower, a national nonprofit mobilizing the tech community and providing individuals, nonprofits and schools access and opportunity to build tech skills and achieve their potential. Appointed in early 2009, Stephanie began her career as an investment banker, most recently with JPMorgan Chase, where she spent many years in leveraged finance. Stephanie also sits on the board of Aegion, Inc.

Sylvia Fields, Executive Director, Eden Hall Foundation
Sylvia Fields has served as manager and later executive director of the Eden Hall Foundation since May 1996. Mrs. Fields is responsible for the allocation of over $9 million annually. A veteran grant maker and administrator, she is the first and only African American woman to direct a major private foundation in the Pittsburgh region. Mrs. Fields is a member of the Council on Foundations and serves as a director of The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, the Ellis School, the Jewish Women’s Foundation and Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation.

Vicky Free, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, BET
Vicky Free is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for BET Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. A veteran with nearly two decades of brand marketing and media management experience, Free directs the consumer insights, brand management, consumer marketing, creative strategy and research for all businesses of BET Networks. Based in New York, she oversees brand strategy, on-air promotions, 360 off-channel marketing and media planning, affiliate and trade marketing and consumer insights and business analytics.

Terri Pensock, Director, WW Sales Enablement for Systems & Technology Group, IBM
Terri Pensock is an experienced corporate executive for IBM in Austin, Texas. She has served in a multitude of roles during her 32-year tenure at IBM including product planning, architecture, development, marketing and customer care and satisfaction. She is currently a global marketing executive in the Systems and Technology Group, helping sellers know how to have conversations with clients about IBM products throughout more than 130 countries.

Emily Tynes, Communications Director, ACLU
Emily Tynes is the Communications Director and one of the seven-person senior management team for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In this capacity, Emily oversees a staff of 33 communication professionals, and charts the strategic direction of media relations, marketing and other communications activities. In her capacity as a member of the organization’s management team, Emily shares responsibility for the programmatic and administrative direction of the ACLU. Emily has worked with advocacy-oriented non-governmental organizations in the U.S. and abroad for approximately 30 years.