Our Team

Jessica Guberman - Executive Director

Jess comes to SCFU with over 17 years experience in the human service field. Jess was previously with Community Options where she was Vice President of Marketing and Development, a national not-for-profit agency that develops homes and employment for people with developmental disabilities. She has extensive experience in program development for community-based living, day habilitation, and supported employment. Program development includes site acquisition, financing of projects, budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, and sustainability. She has developed homes and programs in New Jersey and New York and supervised programs all over the United States. She founded the iMatter Surf Camp for Children with Autism, a one-day free camp for children and their families on Long Island, NY. It supports over 1,000 children and families every year. She established what has been the largest 5K Run in the country for the last five years. It has taken place simultaneously in 25 cities across ten states each year and has raised over $300,000.00 annually to develop new programming. Jess has wide experience in marketing and public relations with experience in placing stories in the national press. She even secured opening bell ceremonies at the New York Stock Exchange as well as NASDAQ. She was awarded the New Jersey Business Journal’s Top Forty under Forty Award. Jess holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women's Studies, Master of Science in Psychology and Doctorate in Psychology.

Bhupendra Shah - Chief Financial Officer

Bhupendra has over 20 years experience in accounting, auditing, internal control, financial analysis & financial reporting. Before joining SCFU, Bhupendra spent 5 years as Controller at Dresser Atlas Arabia Ltd., international division of Houston-USA based Dresser Industries Inc.in Saudi Arabia. Bhupendra has Bachelor's degree in Accounting, an Indian Chartered Accountant designation & Illinois-USA Certified Public Accountant.

Ken Hutton - Director of Human Resources

Ken has been Head of HR since joining Special Citizens in 2008. Prior to joining the agency, he held management and executive positions with major international corporations including Honeywell, Control Data and British Oxygen. Born and educated in England, he had early experience in computing, marketing and project management before moving to the USA to setup an American subsidiary for a fast growing UK consulting company. During this period he opened offices in New York, New Jersey and California, and oversaw Operations, Finance, and HR for all locations. Ken has a Masters in Computing. Areas of interest include skiing, history, flying, cooking, and running. He lives in Redding, Connecticut with his wife and son.

Margaret Buczynska - Director of Quality Assurance

Margaret has been working with Developmentally Disabled Children and Adults since 1985 in the capacity of School Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Behavioral Specialist and Administrator. Working with SCFU since 2002 – 2005 as an Applied Behavior Science Specialist (ABSS); From 2005 – 2007 as Quality Assurance Director; From 2007 – 2012 Westchester Regional Director and since October 2012 Director of Quality Assurance/Supervisor for Behavior Support Team, Training and Investigation Departments. When not working at SCFU Margaret is engaged in the SGI Buddhist Organization and Energy Work based on the Medicine Wheel and Shamanic Tradition of Native North and South Americans.

Dolores Reyes - Director of Operations

Dolores Reyes has been appointed as SCFU’s Director of Operations. With more than eight years in the human services field and previously the Medicaid Services Coordinator Supervisor for SCFU, Dolores brings vast knowledge to this new position. With a BA and MS in Organizational Leadership, Dolores will be overseeing the day habilitation programs, Medicaid Service Coordinator Department and Community Habilitation. Dolores started in the field as a Direct Support Professional and then advanced to different supervisory positions throughout her career. Dolores is bi-lingual, loves the outdoors and is always up for a challenge.

Kendall Johnson - Compliance Officer

Kendall A. Johnson, Esq. is our recently hired Compliance Officer here at SCFU. Kendall has a long and dedicated history of working for non-profit agencies providing services in the interest of human needs. Kendall graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1986 and graduated from CUNY Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1989. She is a seasoned attorney who has directed homeless prevention legal services in housing litigation and has managed the delivery of legal services provided to people living with HIV/AIDS. More recently, Kendall has been working as a Compliance Officer in another non-profit agency like ours that provides services to people with developmental disabilities. She has a vast understanding of public benefits and services that are essential to serving our population. She has extensive experience in advocating for individuals who cannot advocate for themselves, and has a driven allegiance to helping others actualize their full potential. She is a leader who promotes team building, strategic planning and quality assurance. She provides solutions to difficult problems and inspires others to achieve excellence through hard work and example.

Pravin Mascarenhas- Director of Independent Living

Pravin's area of expertise is in Business Management specializing in Health and Human Services. I have been employed with SCFU since 1999 and was promoted to management in the first year of employment. I graduated and earned my degree in Commerce from St. Andrews College / Mumbai University - in Mumbai, India. My education and background in business along with in-depth experience in the Non-Profit sector brings in a healthy combination for the growth of an organization. I share a personal relationship with the individuals I support and thrive to see them live a fulfilling life. I will be working on opening and operating more Independent / Supportive setting apartments for SCFU.

Shahab Hanoni - Director of Residential Services

Shahab has worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in group homes and day programs since 2002. Shahab has a great ability to connect with others and to achieve positive outcomes. Shahab has obtained a BA in Philosophy at Yeshiva University. Shahab lives based on the philosophical laws of attraction, think positive and you attract positive events and circumstances. Shahab is multilingual, fluent in Farsi, proficient in Hebrew and Arabic. Shahab enjoys nature photography and historical memorabilia. Shahab's favorite quote is from Albert Einstein who said “Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.” We all need to keep moving forward in life.

Michele Koch - Clinical Director

Michele Koch, LPC has been appointed as the Clinical Director for SCFU. In this newly created role, Michele will work to oversee the functions of our Nursing, Therapeutic and Dietary departments throughout the agency. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ramapo College, Master of Arts in Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Doctorate in progress, Michele brings over ten years of experience to SCFU having worked at New Horizons in Autism, The Discovery Institute and the Wellspring Center. Michele’s scope of practice has included the use of tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, relational and psychodynamic therapy along with motivational counseling.

Marilyn Thompson- Community Habilitation Director

Marilyn has a BA in Psychology from Hofstra University. Over the past ten years, Marilyn has worked as a case manager, daycare teacher, director and Medicaid Liaison for various organizations.

Latina Ferrer - Director of Recreation

Latina Ferrer has been with SCFU since 2007. Latina holds a Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy and is a Licensed Certified Recreational Specialist.

Leeat Perelmutter - Staff Training Coordinator

Leeat Perelmutter, LMSW brings an international understanding to SCFU having lived in Israel and Hong Kong prior to moving to America. While pursuing her Masters Degree in Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work she continued her work as head counselor at Project HAPPY supervising a staff of seven working with Developmentally Disabled adolescents. Leeat is now a licensed Social Worker who is the staff training coordinator for SCFU. Leeat provides trainings focusing on raising staff ability and proficiency so that our individuals will receive the highest quality of professional care.

Tatjana Obradovic - Behavioral Support Coordinator

Tatjana Obradovic has a BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College, a BA from University of Belgrade, Serbia with a major in Special Pedagogy, Prevention & Re-socialization and holds an Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate. Soon after Tatjana came to the United States, she became part of Special Citizens Futures Unlimited, implementing services, interventions and improving the quality of life and independence for people with Autism. It is Tatjana's hope to one day be able to share and transfer the knowledge about treatment, therapies and opportunities of people on the Spectrum from the US to the Balkans.

Boyd Sasuman - IT Specialist

Boyd Sasuman, has been the IT Specialist of SCFU since May 2011. An IT practitioner for more than 10 years, has earned his Computer Technologies from DeVry (Canada). He used to be in field of engineering (BS.Mechanical) before moving from the Philippines. Lives in Bergen NJ with his wife and two children.

James Deliago - IT and Payroll Manager

Jimmy Deliago’s hometown of Boston lost him ‘forever’ to Manhattan when he came here to finish his studies. Jimmy became a videographer who spent 25 years traveling the world shooting travel videos promoting tourism for many countries. When Jimmy finished his ‘world tour’ he came to Special Citizens in 1989. His first job was Data Input which required a computer something Special Citizens did not have. Jimmy introduced computers to Special Citizens eventually opening an IT department. Today Jimmy is still involved in IT and is our Paymaster. Jimmy has lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs eventually settling in Queens with his Shih Tzu, Lily.

Board of Directors

Bonnie Hiller
President

H. Robert Marcus
Vice-President

Arthur Yorkes
Treasurer

Victoria Berger-Gross
Secretary

Joseph Patuleia
Trustee

Rick Ritt
Trustee