Denise Harlow joined NYSCAA in August 2006 as the CEO. She comes to NYSCAA with over 16 years experience in the nonprofit and governmental sectors and brings practical expertise in the areas of board governance, nonprofit management, public policy/advocacy, member services management, strategic planning, and executive succession to New York State's network. While having worked in Community Action earlier in her career as a social worker, Denise was most recently with the Council of Community Services of NYS, Inc. as Sr. Vice President of Nonprofit Capacity Building Services where she provided a wide range of training and technical assistance services to nonprofits of all types, including Community Action Agencies. She currently serves on the boards of the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society and the Capital District Community Gardens, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Valparaiso University and a Masters of Social Work degree from the University at Albany where she was also a fellow on Women and Public Policy at the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society

Lisa Allison joined the NYSCAA staff as Program Director in September 2007. Lisa is a certified grant writer and, most recently, attended graduate school at the Rockefeller College of Public Administration & Policy, SUNY Albany. She received her Masters degree with a focus on nonprofit management & policy and is currently working on her PhD. Prior to returning to graduate school, Lisa was the Child Nutrition Program Specialist at the Nutrition Consortium of NYS with her anti-hunger work bringing her into touch with many Community Action Agencies and other anti-poverty organizations throughout the state.

Ms. Barnes joined the NYSCAA staff in November 2007 and is responsible for fiscal oversight of the agency, including grant-related budgeting and vouchering, recording of revenue and expenses, and fiscal reporting. She has an Associates Degree in Accounting and over 20 years of fiscal experience.

Tom has many years of experience in all aspects of Information Technology. He has worked as a consultant, creating and maintaining many websites, databases and networks of varying sizes. His focus is on creating systems to automate day to day business functions and ease frustration in the employee use of I.T. Tom has also worked as a software instructor, teaching in both classroom and one-on-one settings. His achievements include automation that improved a function from 80 man-hours per week, to .25 man-minutes per week, and being part of the team that won the Inc, Magazine Web Award for 2001. Both while employeed as the Systems Administrator for the second largest Postal Center company in the world.

In an eighteen year career as an electronic pre-press professional, Liz gained practical experience in small network design, management, as well as training and support of others. Her technical studies continue to hone her skills, and keep her current with solutions for the challenges facing smaller network users. She is focused on meeting the I.T. needs of members

Kristine is a Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduate. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and has interned for the National Archives and Records. Kristine is excited to start her career at NYSCAA and is eager to contribute her skills to the community action team.