Schneps Connects

Ronald Richter, CEO of JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association), has over 35 years of experience in child welfare, law, and public service. His distinguished career spans roles as a Legal Aid attorney, Family Court judge, and Commissioner of NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services, giving him a unique perspective on the child welfare system.

Now leading JCCA, one of New York’s oldest and most impactful child and family service organizations, Richter oversees programs supporting more than 17,000 children and families each year. Under his leadership, JCCA has prioritized family preservation, racial equity, and community-based care to help children thrive.

Richter shares insights on what’s working in child welfare, where challenges remain, and how leadership and advocacy can create a more equitable system for children and families.

Matt Daus, Partner and Transportation Practice Chair at Windels Marx, LLP, has dedicated his career to advancing mobility and transportation innovation in New York City and beyond. A former NYC Taxi & Limousine Commissioner, President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators, and Transportation Technology Chair at CUNY, Matt has been at the forefront of policy, regulation, and modernization across the industry.

With decades of experience, he brings a unique perspective on how legislation, technology, and public policy intersect to shape how New Yorkers move through their city. In this episode, Daus discusses the impact of new transportation laws, upcoming infrastructure projects, congestion pricing, and the future of accessibility and efficiency across NYC’s extensive transit systems.

Daus also shares his insights on emerging trends, from mobility tech to new delivery innovations, and offers a forward-looking view on how city leaders can create a more connected and sustainable transportation network for all New Yorkers.

Dr. Curtis Palmore, CEO of United Charter High Schools (UCHS), leads a network of seven public charter high schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens serving nearly 3,000 students. Formerly known as New Visions Charter High Schools, the network rebranded as UCHS to reflect its deeper commitment to shared purpose and community empowerment.

With more than three decades in education, Dr. Palmore began his career as a New York City public school teacher through Teach For America and has since served as a principal and CEO, leading school turnarounds and launching new models across New York and New Jersey. Before joining UCHS, he was CEO of the Community Charter School of Paterson and Founding Principal of Exceed Charter School in Crown Heights, where he achieved significant gains in student outcomes.

Dr. Palmore shares his journey in education, UCHS’s vision for preparing students for college, careers, and civic life, and how strong leadership and community partnerships are shaping the future of public charter schools in New York City.

Kelly Gerber, Chief Risk Officer at Municipal Credit Union (MCU), has built her career on protecting people from evolving threats to their financial security. With fraud schemes growing more sophisticated, from identity theft and phishing to AI-driven impersonation scams, Gerber leads MCU’s efforts to stay ahead of criminals and safeguard members’ accounts.

In her role, she collaborates across teams to anticipate risks, deploy innovative tools, and educate consumers on how to protect themselves. Gerber shares her career journey, the latest scams consumers should be aware of, and the practical steps every New Yorker can take right now to secure their money and personal information.

Jonnel Doris, CEO of StartCare, leads the nation’s oldest and largest minority-led healthcare organization, with seven community-based locations across New York. StartCare is a leader in addiction recovery, mental health services, and pioneering biomedical research, serving thousands of New Yorkers each year. Doris brings a wealth of public service experience to this role: he served as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services during COVID, was the founding Executive Director of the city’s Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises, and became New York State’s first Chief Diversity Officer following Superstorm Sandy, overseeing a $4.4 billion recovery effort.

Today, he carries forward the legacy of StartCare’s founder, Dr. Beny Primm, expanding its mission beyond medicine to include housing, job training, and community empowerment. Under his leadership, StartCare is addressing urgent needs in mental health, HIV/AIDS research, and equitable healthcare access for Black and Brown communities. Doris shares his immigration story, his path from government to healthcare, and his vision for reimagining community health and building a stronger future for all New Yorkers.

Tia Morris, Executive Director of Teach For America (TFA) New York, has spent nearly three decades advancing opportunity and excellence in education. She began her journey as a corps member teaching in Harlem and went on to co-found a school network, lead Teach For America New Jersey, and serve in senior roles across major school systems. Today, she leads TFA New York, part of a national network of nearly 70,000 members and 7,000+ alumni in New York who are shaping classrooms and driving systemic change. Under her leadership, TFA New York is expanding statewide to address teacher shortages, training diverse educators, and supporting them well beyond the classroom. In this episode, Morris shares her path, the challenges facing today’s educators, and how Teach For America New York is preparing the next generation of students and leaders.

Dr. Jeremy Kohomban, President and CEO of The Children’s Village and Harlem Dowling, has dedicated his career to reimagining child welfare and strengthening families. Under his leadership, The Children’s Village serves more than 21,000 children and families each year, offering programs from foster care and family reunification to mentorship and youth outreach. A key architect of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act, Kohomban has been recognized for his innovative, family-centered approach and has received honors including the Angels in Adoption Award. In this episode, he shares his journey, the reforms shaping child welfare today, and how The Children’s Village is leading with purpose, expanding affordable housing, supporting immigrant families, and addressing youth mental health.

Michael Sedillo, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services, has built a career on cutting red tape, unlocking resources, and driving job creation. From his early days as a Teach For America corps member to senior leadership roles in city government, he has led with both strategy and heart. Sedillo has cleared a $6 billion contract backlog for nonprofits, championed the historic community hiring law, and launched JobsNYC to reduce unemployment and fill city vacancies. Now, as the head of the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services, he is pioneering a first-of-its-kind effort to bridge City Hall and the nonprofit sector, ensuring frontline providers have the tools they need to serve New Yorkers. In this episode, Sedillo shares the reforms, innovations, and vision shaping the future of nonprofit–city collaboration in New York City.