Board of Directors
Neil Sturomski, President Sturomski & Associates – Educational Consulting – Board President
Dr. Linda Alvarez Bemis, Vice President
David Lambert, Financial Advisor of the Pine Group at Morgan Stanley
Asrar Ahmed, Business Executive – Sales – Medical Equipment and Supplies
Daniel C. Olson, Early American Antiques Dealer, PhD, Cornell University, Insect Ecology, 1971-1973
Brenda Harburger, Retired – Former President of HARBURGER/SCOTT – Marketing & Advertising
Amanda Greene, K-12 Director of Social Studies – Newburgh Enlarged City School District
Deborah Sager
Neil Sturomski is the former Director of the National Adult Literacy and Learning Disabilities Center. With more than forty-five years of experience in education, including supporting individuals with disabilities and other special learning needs, he has worked in a variety of capacities including direct service, diagnostics, administration, curriculum design, research, information management, data collection, evaluation, and graduate-level teaching. In 1996 Mr. Sturomski formed Sturomski & Associates, a consulting firm whose primary mission is to help adult educators, literacy practitioners, employers, and job training program instructors better meet the needs of adults at-risk and those with various types of disabilities that more specifically relate to learning. He also wrote two professional development books one on reading and the reading process and the other on the use of advance organizers in adult education, along with many journal articles on the subjects of K-12 education, adult education, literacy, and disability issues. He continues to train and consult with various states and organizations. He also wrote the novel – SƆRAMBLƎD – and is working on his next novel Unscrambled. Neil graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. He also received Master’s degrees in Education and Special Education. In addition, he attended Syracuse University and did his post-graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. He now resides in St. Louis where he is on the Board of Directors for the Mid-County Family YMCA and also volunteers for a Y-Club elementary afterschool program. In addition, he volunteers at an organization for HIV/AIDS individuals called Doorways. He has, also, and will continue to provide support and consultation to and for WMN Unite, a non-profit organization supporting woman’s empowerment. He is truly honored to be involved in and on the Board of Directors of the Peace Bell Foundation and support its mission.
Dr. Linda Alvarez Bemis is the co-founder and CEO of Levelle Nutrition, a sports food CPG company empowering female athletes with fuel formulated for their physiology. Dr. Alvarez has more than 10 years of experience, including roles in national strategy campaigns, leadership development, clinical medicine and entrepreneurship. Through her education, practice experience, and management roles, Linda is sought after for her unique perspective on problem solving and organizational strategy.
Key Skills – Bilingual: Spanish/English, Experienced Public Speaker, Project Management, Practiced Lobbyist, Labor Organizer, Organizational Strategy, Budget Planning, Communications, Problem-solving, Acidified foods manufacturing, Urban Primary Care Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care and Complementary Medicine.
David Lambert is a former Executive Director for three non-profit organizations serving physicians. Since 2014 he has been the Financial Advisor of the well-respected Pine Group at Morgan Stanley. In 2018, he achieved the designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) which focuses on clients’ pre- and post-retirement needs, as well as asset management and estate planning strategies. David is actively involved in a number of local charities. For his philanthropic as well as professional efforts, David was selected by the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce as a “40 under 40” award recipient in 2018. His is also a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society where he has been dubbed a “Real Man” each of the last two years for his efforts. He is the Commander of the “Sons of the Legion” at his local Marlboro, NY post. In addition, he is a proud Rotarian in both the Highland and Newburgh chapters where their motto is “Service Above Self”. He also serves on various committees with Mount St. Mary College and the Dutchess Chamber of Commerce. David is a graduate from Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Psychology. David has spent half his life here in the Mid-Hudson and half upstate in Saratoga County. He currently resides in Highland, with a wife and two sons.
Asrar Ahmed is a business owner, business executive who sells medical equipment’s and supplies. Mr. Ahmed was born sixty-five years ago in Udaipur, India BE, where he initially attended school. He earned a mechanical engineering degree in Manipal, India and worked as an engineer in a steel mill for two years. He then moved to Iran and for four years, worked for an oil company. Eventually he moved to the USA to pursue MBA in Finance/Marketing. After graduation he was hired by an engineering consultancy company where he worked for ten years before starting his own business selling medical equipment and supplies. For the past ten years Mr. Ahmed has been a member of the Newburgh Rotary. He was the club’s president in 2012. In addition, he worked with the Rotary Foundation on IMRF (International Medical Relief Foundation). He continues to participate in charity work and events. Mr. Ahmed is an avid golfer and tennis player who enjoys international travel. He is married to Dr. Amina Ahmed, a practicing Obstetrics/Gynecologist, and they have two sons.
Daniel C. Olson is an Early American Antiques Dealer with a PhD from Cornell University in Insect Ecology. He was a material commander in the Army and then worked with Woodward-Clyde Consultants where he rose to Senior Biologist. He is currently an Early American Antiques Dealer starting in 1982 and assisted in founding the ADA (Antiques Dealers’ Association of America where he was the President from 1982-1984. He is active in his community and at Union Church, Newburgh, New York where he is a member of the choir. He is also a member of the Newburgh Rotary and he dedicated time to historic preservation, numerous environmental organizations and photography. He has been married for forty-eight years to Karen Ann (Olson). They have two married children and two grandchildren.
Brenda Harburger is the former president of HARBURGER/SCOTT Marketing & Advertising and recently retired. She has over thirty-five years of advertising and marketing experience at such firms as the legendary Mary Wells’ advertising agency, Wells, Rich Greene, Bristol Myers Clairol, Cheseborough Ponds’ Prince Matchebelli, and Squibb’s Charles of the Ritz. She developed and launched Enjoli perfume/bath products, for which she and her company won the FiFi “Best Popular Women’s Fragrance” award for the launch year. She also managed Bain de Soleil suncare products, guiding it to the number three sun care brand in the market. For fifteen years Brenda ran her own ad agency, Brenda’s clients included a wide range of consumer and business-to-business products/services including consumer goods, financial services, retail, non-profit and tourism/hospitality. Clients have included P&G’s Pert Shampoo, International Flavors & Fragrances, Givaudan-Roure Fragrances, Hercules Fragrances, Firmenich Fragrances, Brooks Brothers and Beach Boys Suncare for Cosmetic Essence Inc., Orange County Trust Company bank (now Orange Trust Bank), WGNY Radio, SOS Fuels, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Sullivan County Arts Council, Winding Hills Golf Club & Restaurant, Huff House Inn, NeatEateries.com and more. Brenda enjoys community service. She has been active in several Chamber of Commerce’s and community revitalization programs. She is past President of Warwick Valley Rotary Club and is presently on the Board of the SUNY Orange College Foundation. She originates from the West coast and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BFA and a self-determined “minor” in advertising/marketing and sociology.
Amanda Greene is the K-12 Director of Social Studies – Newburgh Enlarged City School District
Amanda was born and raised in the Catskills and attended SUNY Geneseo, graduating with the class of 2002. She began her career in public education in 2003 teaching 7-12 Social Studies in Nassau County, Long Island while earning her Masters and Educational Leadership Degrees at Queens Graduate College. Returning to her upstate roots in 2011, Amanda joined the administrative team at Red Hook Central School District in Dutchess County. With experience at both middle and high school levels, and as a mother of three, Amanda’s passion is empowering young people to actively engage in their world as change agents and social justice advocates. She is committed to the vision of Rotary and the education of our youngest global citizens.
Deborah Sager
Cigna Insurance, Newburgh NY benefit analyst/ claim specialist/ customer service
• 1980 to 1989
• Medical claims processing 1990 to 1993
• Podiatrist claims processing 1994 to 1996
• Chiropractic claims and development, New guidelines for processing 1997 to 1998
• Customer Service department
Doctors Moss Karnasiewicz and Track, Kingston, NY Billing Manager 1998 to 2000
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Hudson Valley 2016 to 2023
OCCC, Middletown, NY (Attended) 1968-1969
PROJECTS
COMMUNITY SERVICE
VFW 1982 to 1985 husband was a member and Vietnam Vet
Christian Circle 1982 to 1988 Kiwanis of greater Greenville North Carolina 20 02 to 2011
Carolina Girls Dance Group 20/08/2011
Instructor Water Aerobics and Line Dancing Classes 2008 t- 2012
Greater Newburgh Rotary Club:
2018 to 2020 President
2020 to 23 Treasure
2020 to 2022 Assistant Governor – Overseeing 6 Rotary Clubs in the Region
2023 Present: President
Skills: Leadership, Organizational, Prioritize.
Awards: Rotary District Governor Citation
Rotary Club Citation Greater Newburgh