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, Board Member for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, member of the Association of Junior Leagues - Kingston, NY Chapter. Ashley has received numerous awards including the 2018 YWCA of Ulster County Tribute to Women.
Ali Abbruzzi, MA
Ali Abbruzzi is a certified NYS K-12 public school teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience. Additionally, she is a seasoned yoga instructor with specialty certifications in Adolescent Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and the Yoga of Dance. Currently, she is pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Health & Wellness and Health Education. She is deeply committed to bringing Yoga and Mindfulness into the schools and believes in making these transformative practices accessible to all. Ali serves on the RVCSD Health & Wellness Committee and is the creator of “Time to Relax,” a free Youtube video series. Her joyful classes are fundamental in nature, focusing on basic poses, proper alignment, and slow, flowing sequences harmonizing breath, body, and mind. Ali is a life-long seeker who has discovered that the greatest gifts of healing and peace lie within. With a light-filled and open-hearted approach, Ali’s ultimate aim is to connect her students to the divine birthright of joy, health, and balance inherent in all of us.
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.”
Tiana Figeroua
Ms. Figeroua is a senior college student attending the State University of New York at New Paltz. She focuses her studies in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and Black Studies. As she continues her education and commitment to serving the needs of others, she is working toward her dream of opening a non profit organization for low-income people of color. Ms. Figueroua is described by her peers as compassionate, altruistic, and hard-working. In an interview, she described GBG and what it means to her, “Go Beyond Greatness means doing more and seeing more for yourself than you thought possible. It provides you with amazing resources and access to countless opportunities you may not be able to get anywhere else.”
Sophie Rhind
Ms.Rhind is a senior college student at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her field of studies includes majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and minoring in both Psychology and women, gender, and sexuality studies. Her goal is to get her master’s degree and go on to open an inclusive daycare for children with both physical and mental disabilities. Her life-long compassion for children is best highlighted by her many years of volunteering across New York with the Kiwanis family. She is described by her peers as determined, kind, and creative. When asked what GBG means to her, she stated “ “To me going beyond greatness means when you reach for the stars keep going to find the galaxy. It means stretchers beyond our wildest dreams and becoming the best version of ourselves.”
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.
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
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.
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.