Roosevelt Mareus, Ph.D
President | Email: rmareus@elevatehaiti.org
Roosevelt is the Dean/Executive Director of the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center, which is a SUNY institution that assists underserved and undereducated individuals. Roosevelt is a board member at East House, Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, Monroe County Workforce Development, ROC the Future, CEANY and Rochester Downtown Development Corporation.
Roosevelt is a Haitian who continues to give back to Haiti. In 1985, Roosevelt immigrated to the United States. As president and founder of Elevate Haiti Ministries, Inc. (EHM), Roosevelt is responsible for fiscal, programmatic goals, operating procedures and missions trip. Roosevelt takes pride in helping his people. Roosevelt appreciates the continued support from the Board, community and travelers.
Joel Piton, M.D., M.Ed.
Board Memmber |Email: jpiton@elevatehaiti.org
Dr. Joel Piton is the Program Manager for Project Smart: a STIs and HIV/AIDS prevention and education program at Youth & Family Enrichment Services (YoFES). This program is funded by the Boston Public Health Commission to conduct group, individual, and community level interventions addressing issues of HIV/AIDS, STIs, and Hepatitis B & C among youth of color particularly Haitian and Haitian-American youth between the ages of 15 to 25 years. Dr. Piton. Dr. Piton helps Haitian people all over the world.
Elder Alice Gissendanner
Board Chair |Email: giss@elevatehaiti.org
Elder Alice has joined EHM since 2010 after she traveled to Haiti, fell in love with the Haitian people and witnessed the impact of the 2010 earthquake. Elder Alice has been involved in missions ministry over 35 years. She retired from the Rochester City School District. As the Board Chair, she is committed to make a difference in Haiti. She has traveled to Haiti every year since the earth quake.
Abdur Stephens
Vice Chair | Email: arstephens@elevatehaiti.org
Abdur is a machinist at Accede Mold & Tool which is an organization that specializes in complex and precision state of the art mold making for the plastic injection molding industry. Abdur joined the Board in 2014 and has been instrumental in several key projects. He is a regular traveler to Haiti.
Barb Neary
Counselor | Email: bneary@elevatehaiti.org
Bab Neary is a counselor with the Rochester City School District. She has been providing personal, social, and academic support for Rochester’s at-risk individuals since 2000. Prior volunteer experience includes teaching doctrine to elementary school students at St. Joseph’s Church in rush from 1989-1995. Barbara is looking forward to traveling to Haiti in 2017 to help the Haitian people.
Minister Carthel Gissendanner
Treasurer | Email: carthel@elevatehaitiministries.org
Carthel retired from Wegmans. He has been an active member of New Life Fellowship for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister who is presently working in Finance and is head chef at “The Father’s Table.” He is a regular traveler to Haiti who brings hope to the Haitian people.
Chrisandra Mareus
Secretary/ Social Worker | Email: cmareus@elevatehaiti.org
What started out as a family vacation in 2009 to learn about her husband’s culture became her assignment. As one of the founding members of Elevate Haiti Ministries, Inc., she travels to Haiti several times a year to empower young women and help the Haitian people. Chrisandra is a License Social Worker, and current an employee at the Rochester City School district where she is a making a difference. Her desire is to help the young girls and ladies in Lathan reach their full potential.