Our Team

• Joseph DeGenova

  President and CEO

  Joseph DeGenova, LCSW, has over 30 years of nonprofit management experience. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, Joe served in a variety of leadership roles with CUCS…

  Joseph DeGenova

  President and CEO

  Joseph DeGenova, LCSW, has over 30 years of nonprofit management experience. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, Joe served in a variety of leadership roles with CUCS, starting as the Assistant Program Director in 1989 of CUCS’s shelter for homeless women with psychiatric disabilities. This shelter set housing placement records and became a model for city-wide replication.  DeGenova subsequently served in senior leadership positions in the organization, helping to build CUCS’s impact in the field through innovative programming and partnerships. As Associate Executive Director, DeGenova supervised senior staff overseeing 33 different service programs, its medical affiliate, and the organization’s staff training institute which reaches upwards of 15,000 individuals annually across the nation.  

  

• Jeffrey Halfpenny

  Chief Financial Officer

  Jeffrey Halfpenny, CPA, brings 28 years of experience in financial management to CUCS. Jeff oversees a staff of 13 financial professionals as well as the long-term…

  Jeffrey Halfpenny

  Chief Financial Officer

  Jeffrey Halfpenny, CPA, brings 28 years of experience in financial management to CUCS. Jeff oversees a staff of 13 financial professionals as well as the long-term and annual budget planning, audits, and cost-management.  Before assuming his position at CUCS in 2013, Jeff was an Audit Senior Manager in the Non-Profit Department at EisnerAmper LLP and Chief Financial Officer at Upper Manhattan Health Center, Inc.

  

• Julie Lorenzo

  Chief Program Officer

  Julie Lorenzo, LCSW, provides direct oversight for our programs. Julie began her career with CUCS as a student intern in 1986…

  Julie Lorenzo

  Chief Program Officer

  Julie Lorenzo, LCSW, provides direct oversight for our programs. Julie began her career with CUCS as a student intern in 1986. During her career, she has worked in all phases of services for homeless persons with severe mental illness and other special needs.  Julie spent 15 years at CUCS’ 350 TLC where she worked as a housing team leader, assistant director and finally, director. She subsequently worked as the agency’s Director of Quality assurance.

  

• Douglas James

  Chief Operating Officer

  Douglas James, Esq., provides oversight to CUCS’s human resources, property development and facilities management…

  Douglas James

  Chief Operating Officer

  Douglas James, Esq., provides oversight to CUCS’s human resources, property development and facilities management. Doug brings nearly 20 years of experience to CUCS, most recently serving as Senior Advisor to the Commissioner at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs and prior to that as Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Department of Homeless Services overseeing the single adult homeless shelter system.

  

• Mary Taylor

  Chief Development and Communications Officer

  Mary Taylor, M.S., brings over 20 years of experience building relationships that connect donors to causes through innovative approaches…

  Mary Taylor

  Chief Development and Communications Officer

  Mary Taylor, M.S., brings over 20 years of experience building relationships that connect donors to causes through innovative approaches. Mary has done extensive work in securing major donor gifts and board development, planning and executing special events, with a focus on large-scale galas, and building corporate and foundation partnerships. Prior to joining CUCS Mary was the Director of External Relations at Action Against Hunger, an international hunger relief agency, and Chief Development and Communications Officer at Jericho Project, a New York City homeless agency.

  

• Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  Van Yu, M.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry to our medical and psychiatric services program Janian Medical Care…

  Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  Van Yu, M.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry to our medical and psychiatric services program Janian Medical Care, P.C. Van joined CUCS in 2007, and he earned his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, completing a residency in psychiatry in 1999.  He was an Attending Psychiatrist in the Bellevue Hospital Center Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for two years before becoming Assistant Director in 2001.  Van is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the New York University School of Medicine and at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center.  

  

• Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Administrative Officer

  Abbey Nyamekye has over 20 years of experience with CUCS both in direct service and program oversight roles…

  Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Administrative Officer

  Abbey Nyamekye has over 20 years of experience with CUCS both in direct service and program oversight roles.  She has 15 years of experience supervising our healthcare programming, most recently in the role of Deputy Chief Program Officer for Janian Medical Care, P.C.  As Chief Administrative Officer Abbey provides oversight to the CUCS Institute and Information Technologies (IT) Department.  She is also the agency lead on community and constituent relations.