Board of Directors

The Reason2Smile board of directors is made up of a group of highly passionate and qualified individuals who each have a heart for helping children all around the world.  Please read their biographies listed below to learn more about these very special people.

Mark Demers

Role(s) on the Reason2Smile Board of directors: Chairperson

Mark has a Degree in Music from the University of Vermont and a Masters in Divinty from Boston University School of Theology. Mark has been United Methodist Clergy from 1981 through the present.  He is currently serving as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Burlington, Vermont.  Mark is married with three grown children, one grandson, and one granddaughter.  He currently resides in Burlington, VT.

Mark is energized by people who have a clear vision, are creative in their thinking, and enjoy working as part of a team.  He rides a bicycle for exercise, loves to read (almost always have at least 3 books going ...), enjoys music and his family.  He believes when a local church is being faithful to its mission it has the capacity to change the world for the better.

Mark’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“’Reason2Smile’ – ‘Every life is valuable.’  The stated mission of Reason2Smile is large but focused.  Jambo Jipya School in Kenya makes people who may not feel at all valuable that they are, indeed, of great worth.  I have been given so very much.  Reason2Smile inspires me to give something back - a bridge connecting needs with resources, where love and compassion meet in the middle.”

John DiGiacomo

John is a retired financial executive. He spent most of his career with North Fork Bank where he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. During his tenure with North Fork he helped grow the organization from $500 million in assets and 9 branches to $60 billion in assets and 355 branches. John graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1983 from St. John’s University with a BS in Accounting and in 1985 became a Certified Public Accountant.

Today John is owner and operator of Placid Times Photography.

John’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board:“Due to a series of life changing events in 2009, I made a decision to leave the corporate world and pursue my passion for photography. I believe that things happen for a reason and that there is a plan for all of us. I would continually ask: What is the plan for me? I knew that I had these two unrelated talents; financial and artistic and that somehow I was supposed to use them to help others. OnNew Year’s Day 2012, I received my answer. While attending Sunday Service at the Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid I had the pleasure oflistening to Keela speak passionately about Reason2Smile and their amazing accomplishments at Jambo Jipya.

Steve Doxzon

Role(s) on the Reason2Smile Board of Directors: Vice Chairperson

Steve is the owner of Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters in Saranac Lake. This is primarily a paddle sport retail shop.  They also rent canoes and kayaks and offer guiding and other services.  Steve currently resides in Lake Placid, NY.

Steve’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“I have a keen interest in the people of Kenya.  I worked for the YMCA of Kenya for three years and am aware of the needs of the people of Kenya especially the children.  I believe Reason2Smile is a unique opportunity to do something tangible and lasting for the children and community of Mtwapa.”

Jackie Gilmore

Jackie lives in Lake Placid with her husband and 2 children. She and her husband moved to Lake Placid in 2002 giving themselves one year to “make it work”, and now they call the Adirondacks home with every intention to stay. Jackie works part time as videographer shooting weddings and freelancing for a local production company.

While her children were attending pre-school, there was a young woman who came in to share her story, her passion. It was Keela Dates. Jackie read a bit of information about Keela and Reason2Smile, but nothing clicked. A few years later in 2011, an African dance troupe that she was involved in was asked to perform at the Reason2Smile Arts night. That is where the connection began. Then while listening to Keela present at Paul Smiths College in the fall of 2011, Jackie was hooked. Jackie’s hope is to help with fundraising events and increasing venues for Keela to present her story. Jackie is thrilled to be on the Board for Reason2Smile and has a full heart knowing she is helping Keela fulfill her passion for helping children and giving them a chance to succeed.

Rita Griffin

Rita has taught for 24 years.  Five years in the inner city of Syracuse, at the Head Start Preschool Program.  In June 2009 she will have taught 19 years as a second grade teacher, in Cato-Meridian Elementary, a rural school between Rochester and Syracuse.  Rita loves to teach and feels she continues to grow each year. She believes it is amazing what you can learn from children. Rita believes children need a strong skill base in order to be successful in life but they also need to have an awareness of the different ways people live in their world.

Rita is married and has two grown children, a son and a daughter and five grandchildren. She lives on a small farm. In the summer she grows flowers and vegetables. She even has a little road side stand.  Rita currently resides in Marcellus, NY.

Rita’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“The first time I saw Keela, after her first stay in Kenya, I knew this was not going to be a short term ‘Fundraiser.’ This was going to be a lifetime commitment for her and to see her passion and feel her energy, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of. I have great ideas and lots of energy. I have always been drawn to the 'underdog' and I feel this is going to be the type of challenge I need and want.”

Jason Oakman

Jason has extensive marketing, product management and software development experience. He has also worked as an art director and graphic designer developing brand and corporate identity programs, print design, web development, retail space and software user interface design. Jason currently resides in Bellefonte, PA.

Jason’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“I have been a long time friend and creative cohort to Keela's uncle Nip. When Keela first launched Reason2Smile, Nip and I worked together to help her create some marketing communications tools. I have since seen the efforts and passion of Keela to achieve what I thought was a pretty ambitious goal. I am very proud to sit on the board and I will continue to help her in whatever way that I can.”

Steve Preston

Role(s) on the Reason2Smile Board of Directors: Treasurer

Steve was born and raised in Lake Placid in a large family with 6 siblings. He attended Lake Placid High School.  After 2 years at Clarkson University, he decided to work full time at Bank of Lake Placid.  After a 12 year healthy career there, a bank buyout and a decision to change careers, he took the job as Guest Service Manager at the Holiday Inn where he learned the hospitality business.  After 10 years Steve moved to the competitor, Hilton Lake Placid Resort to become the Director of Sales & Marketing.  After 6 years of 80 hour weeks and a lot of stress, he stepped down and is now the Senior Sales Manager, focusing on conference sales for Associations, Government and other groups.  Steve currently resides in Saranac Lake, NY.

Steve’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“My lifetime affiliation with the Adirondack Community Church led me to meet Keela.  Because she shares my daughter's birth date, my wife, Linda and I struck up an instant friendship with her and the more I see this young lady work and dream, the more I love her!  When someone has a passion as strong as Keela's about Reason2Smile and Jambo Jipya, I cannot help but want to share that with her.  I look forward to serving on this Board and seeing these kids smile more!”

Nip Rogers

Nip attended George Washington University from 1979-1987.  He received his BFA in 1983 and his MFA in 1987.  Nip has been a freelance illustrator since 1987.  He currently resides in Lake Placid, NY (his hometown) after being away for 30 years.

Nip’s reason for accepting the invite to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“Keela has started doing something I have always dreamed of doing.  I have been involved almost from the beginning of Reason2Smile and I am not about to stop now!”

Donna Rosenblum

In January of 2009 an article in New York Teacher Magazine (NYSUT) featured a story about a Middle School in Upstate New York that had fundraised through their musical productions for an organization called Reason2Smile.  The article jumped out at Donna for two reasons.  One because it is a wonderful human interest story and two because she had honeymooned in Kenya and had a soft spot for the country and people.  Donna clipped the article and filed it away in one of my charity folders to look at in the future.  She began to monitor Reason2Smile’s website and in March 2010 Donna emailed Keela that she was ready to get involved.  As a school librarian her first question was “Does the school have a library?” Finding out that Jambo Jipya had no real “library” (only about 150 books) she decided that that was her goal – to finance a school library for Jambo Jipya and plowed full steam ahead.

Donna's reason for accepting the invitation to be on the Reason2Smile's board of directors:

"My husband and I have always been involved in community organizations and volunteer work, raising our children to be active and caring citizens as well.  Whether it was gift-wrapping on Christmas Eve at the mall, shaving our hair for children’s cancer or unloading food for a Long Island hunger relief agency – taking action and getting involved is a necessary part of being a Rosenblum family member.  My children will tell you that Reason2Smile has brought us to a whole new level of community service and that I am just a little compulsive about it.  Jambo Jipya is now a household word and we share Keela’s and the Board’s commitment and passion in improving the lives of children and giving them the opportunity to get an education.

"I became an educator because I love working with students, making a difference in their lives and the reward that comes with knowing you helped them achieve their goals and dreams.  Now I get to do this on a global scale. For me Reason2Smile has filled a void that I was not cognizant existed.  I am so grateful to be apart of this organization and its members.  In the words of Muthami, a 14 year old orphan from the school 'Life is Good!'"

Susan Talbot

Role(s) on the Reason2Smile Board of Directors: Secretary

Susan received her BA in Elementary Education from SUNY Oswego and her MS in Emotional Disturbance from Syracuse University. She is a certified elementary and special education teacher. She has 18 years of classroom experience and served as Coordinator and Instructional Specialist at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES in Auburn, NY for 8 years. Susan is currently Director of Elementary and Secondary Education at Wells College.

Susan’s reason for accepting the invitation to be on the Reason2Smile board of directors:

“I agreed to serve on this board for some of the same reasons that I entered the field of teaching. I believe we make our professional choices, in part, to define our role in life. We seek answers to the question, ‘What can I do that will provide an outlet for my skills and enable me to act on my beliefs as I try to make sense of this world?’ I see my participation on the Reason2Smile Board as an incredible opportunity—a way to learn, connect to others, and make a difference.

“This is not a selfless act. As any good teacher knows, burn-out comes quickly if you are not fueled by the process. As corny as it sounds, my goal is to become, as Sonia Nieto says, ‘more fully human.’ We are living in troubled times. Now, more than ever, it is critical to develop profound empathy for those who are trying to navigate this world within challenging contexts. I am blessed and I know it. Many have to struggle far harder than I to find food, shelter, and a support system. In addition to understanding some of the uncomfortable issues that contribute to the struggle, it is critical to take action . . . to do something . . . ‘to be the change that you want to see.’ Reason2Smile is doing just that.

“Keela has provided us with an amazing model of what one person can do when he/she reaches out to those around. Her energy, commitment and positive attitude inspire all she encounters, including me. My answer to her invitation to serve on the Board came quickly and confidently. To support, in any way I can, her goal of creating a better life for the children of Jambo Jipya, is an honor.”