About
Proficient Team of Go Beyond Greatness
Ashley Knox, MPS
A native of Ulster County, NY, Ms. Knox is a Public Speaker and Educator with over fifteen years of experience developing educational leadership programs for high schools and colleges across the globe. Her mission is to empower young people to become great leaders of tomorrow. Ms. Knox holds a Master's degree from SUNY New Paltz in Humanistic and Multicultural Education; a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Latin American and Africana Studies from SUNY New Paltz. Ashley is also an alumna of SUNY Ulster and Kingston High School. Ms.Knox presented as guest speaker for the 2020 NY Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), Youth Practitioner’s Conference with an inspired TED Talk entitled “BELIEVE: Empowering Youth in Times of COVID 19. ” NYS Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan recognized Ms. Knox and her work at the 2020 State of the County Address “building Ulster County for the next generation.” She serves as a Board of Trustee of the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley, Chairwoman of the Ulster Advisory Committee for the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley, Member of Rotary Club of Kingston, SRO Committee Member for the Kingston City School District's Board of Education. Ashley has received numerous awards including the 2018 YWCA of Ulster County Tribute to Women, 2022 SUNY New Paltz 40 under Forty Award, and the 2023 YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County Hometown Hero Award for Youth Development.
Amanda Norton
Amanda Norton (She/They) is the Program Manager at Go Beyond Greatness. She has a background in education, nonprofit management and program development spanning more than a decade. Amanda’s educational path includes dual Bachelor's Degrees in Childhood & Special Education with a Minor in Instructional Technology from St. John Fisher University, and a Masters Degree in Humanistic & Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz. Amanda is connected to the work of GBG because of the unique opportunities and skill-building it provides today’s youth to build towards a successful future!
Sophie Rhind
Sophie Rhind (She/Her/Hers) is one of the Program Coordinators at Go Beyond Greatness. She has a background in program conception/directing as well as 8 years in the k-12 childcare industry. She was also a Go Beyond Greatness Intern in her undergraduate studies. Sophie’s education path includes a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services.Sophie holds a Master's Degree in Social Justice Educational Studies at SUNY New Paltz. She is excited to return to Go Beyond Greatness and help students build a foundation on which they can grow and explore the world's infinite possibilities.
Jacqueline Lieske
Jacqueline Lieske (She, Her, Ella) is the Private Partnerships Consultant at Go Beyond Greatness. She has a background in nonprofit communications, fundraising, and management spanning more than a decade. Jacqueline's educational path includes graduating from Saugerties High School, and receiving dual Bachelor's Degrees in History and Latin American Studies. She is inspired by the holistic approach that GBG brings to youth empowerment.
Brenna Robinson
Brenna Robinson (She/Her/Hers) is the Organizational Development Consultant for Go Beyond Greatness. She grew up in Kingston, NY, and continues to live in the area. As the former Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Kingston, she honed her communication skills and acquired extensive experience in economic and community development activities supporting a wide array of businesses and non-profit organizations over the last fifteen years. Prior to that, Brenna earned her B.A. in Environmental and Organismal Biology from the State University of New York College at New Paltz and was a small-business owner herself. She is inspired and motivated by the philosophy of GBG and by seeing the faces and hearing the voices of its program participants when they gain the knowledge and confidence to explore opportunities that they did not know existed or thought were unavailable to them.
Victor Blinov
Mr. Blinov is a full-time college student at SUNY Old Westbury. Mr. Blinov became a member of Go Beyond Greatness his Junior year at Ellenville High School. When asked how GBG impacted his life after graduation, Mr. Blinov quotes, “I have not been the same since. I used skills that I learned in the GBG workshops to help increase my job opportunities while helping people. Since then, my opportunities increased. I worked as a Youth Counselor at Camp Ramapo in Rhinebeck, NY, and also landed a part-time job after school at a local pharmacy. Now that I am a graduate, I returned to GBG to give back and assist in the mission of turning young people into college and career-ready adults.”
Shayanne Guzman
Ms. Guzman is a college senior from the State University of New York at New Paltz, studying Sociology with a concentration in Human Services. Through the use of her communication and technological skills alongside her education she hopes to reach her aspirations of becoming a substance abuse counselor and a prison rehabilitation social worker. When asked about what Go Beyond Greatness means to her she stated, “Go Beyond Greatness means pushing yourself to do more, when you think you're not capable. It means to never limit yourself, and to go beyond your fullest potential.
Tiana Rodriguez
Tiana Rodriguez (She/Her/Hers) is the Intern at Go Beyond Greatness. She has a background in holistic youth development and academic coaching as she currently works as a Success/Academic Advisor at SUNY New Paltz. Tiana’s education path includes Bachelor’s of Art in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services from SUNY New Paltz. She is deeply connected to the work at GBG because of her passion for minimizing the gap for students without full access to tools that help them achieve their best selves personally, academically, and professionally
Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference.
– Mac Anderson
Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference.
– Mac Anderson
Go Beyond Greatness Inc. Advisory Board
Azriel Alleyne
Azriel Alleyne is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Go Beyond Greatness, Inc. He is a creative leader in business development and innovation. He comes with great knowledge and experience with start-up businesses that support the well-being of people and community. He has a passion for youth success specializing in research, apprenticeship, and organizational development. Azriel is the CEO and Founder of Freedom Solar Alliances, LLC. As an Army National Guard, 9-11 first responder, he believes we must inspire youth of tomorrow to find a life of purpose today. He is also a Campus to Congress Fellow at Bard College, and formerly served as one of the Commissioners to the City of Kingston Climate Smart Committee and adviser to the Ulster County Climate Smart Committee. Azriel’s determination has led to his commitment in sustainability with a focus on positive social and environmental change.
Maureen Bowers
Is a long time advocate in education serving on a variety of not-for-profit boards for over 25 years including Center for Creative Education, TMI Project, and a previous trustee of the Kingston City School District Board of Education. She is known for her collaboration between arts and education with a commitment to supporting new initiatives in public school education for higher achievement and student success.
Manna Jo Greene
Clearwater’s Environmental Action Director since 2000, was formerly the Recycling Coordinator/Educator for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency for more than 10 years and a registered Critical Care Nurse for 22 years. She holds an AAS in Nursing, a BA in biology (pre-med) from SUNY/New Paltz, and completed course work toward a Masters in Environmental Sciences at Bard College. A lifelong environmental professional and community activist, Manna got her start as an organizer as a teenager in the 1960s in the Civil Rights movement. She avidly supports collaborative land use planning and problem solving. Working to promote sustainability practices and climate solutions, she teaches communities how to integrate environmental preservation, economic prosperity (based on quality of life indicators), and social equity using effective communication. Manna also serves as Ulster County Legislator from District 19, Towns of Rosendale and Marbletown.
Frank Mulhearn
Nancy Plumer, MS
Is a former public school teacher and principal. She is a long time transformation trainer/teacher/author/healer who has spent more than 30 years in various holistic healing modalities. Nancy maintains a private practice of energy healing and spiritual counseling. She is a consultant and trainer for organizations, schools, and government agencies throughout the United States.
Helen Edelstein
Is a former teacher, educational administrator and Vice President of a community-based organization in Ulster County. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with over 30 years experience in developing and implementing vocational rehabilitation and psychiatric rehabilitation treatment services. Helen has served on County and Statewide advisory councils with a focus on mental health and workforce development and on not for profit boards including the YWCA and Raising Hope. Currently she is a Consultant specializing in workforce training, grant writing and policy development and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of NY StateWide Senior Action Council.
Eva Jackson
is a certified human resources professional with 35 years of experience in the manufacturing, human services, and higher education fields. For the past 20 years she has served as the director for employee and labor relations at Marist College. Eva possesses a bachelor’s degree in organizational development, a master’s degree in communication and is an American Bar Association certified paralegal. She is passionate about mentoring and is a founding committee member of the Marist Professional Women’s Mentor Program helping to prepare female administrators for advancement within and outside of the College. Eva is a lifelong resident of Ulster County and has served on the board of directors for other non-profit organizations in the past.
Dr. Latoya O'Gere
Dr. Latoya O’Gere DNP, MSN/Ed, RN, NE-BC is currently employed at UnitedHealth Group as Director, Advisory Services at Optum in the Advisory Services Provider division. In this role, she provides subject matter expertise to deliver positive quality and financial outcomes for healthcare systems. Prior to this, Dr. O’Gere served as the Associate Executive Director for Chronic Disease and Performance Improvement at NYC Health and Hospitals | Community Care from 2019-2022 and also provided strategic directions to improve quality as the Chief Quality Officer. Prior to her appointment at NYC Health and Hospitals, she worked as an Associate Nurse Manager and was promoted as the Director of Patient Care Services at Nuance Health | Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie NY where she was accountable for the 24/7 administrative and care delivery for patients on a Post-Cardiac Care Unit. She served as Vice President of Operations at O’Gere Professional Nursing LLC working with the United States military to provide vaccines, phlebotomy, and electrocardiography (EKG) to military service members throughout New York State.
Dr. O’Gere has been in the nursing profession for over 17 years. She pursued a formal education in nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) from Ulster BOCES in 2006, earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge NY, and became a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in 2008. She later continued her studies at St. Joseph’s University in Brooklyn NY where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011 and a Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2018. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus in Healthcare Systems Leadership from Chamberlain University and Board-Certified Nurse Executive (NE-BC) credentials from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 2021
Joe Phelan
is a retired 46-year public school career educator, with a variety of instructional, supervisory, and managerial experiences. He has served in New York State public schools from 1974-2020, as a middle school/high school English teacher, as a junior-senior high school principal, and as Superintendent of Schools, including as Superintendent of the Rhinebeck Central School District from 1998-2020. Joe is a successful and respected school leader, consensus-builder, and innovator. He also serves as a SHV Senior Fellow, addressing sustainability, climate change, and other current environmental concerns in collaboration with students, educators, community members, and business leaders, and also chairs the Village of Rhinebeck Autism Supportive Community Committee.