Board of Directors

The Aurora House Board of Directors guides the organization and ensures the fulfillment of our Mission.

Marj Smith

Board President
Marj began her Social Work career in Mental Health after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and her Master’s Degree in Social Work, both from Roberts Wesleyan College.  After experiencing Hospice Care with a family member in 2008, she shifted her career focus to Hospice Social Work.  She was the Hospice Agency Social Worker for Aurora House from the time the House opened, and then served as Executive Director from 2019 to 2021.  She is now a psychotherapist in private practice.  Marj returned to Aurora House in December 2021 as a Board member and has taken on the role of Board President for 2022.  Feel free to contact Marj with any questions at president@aurorahousewmc.com.

Tony Pisa

Board Vice President
Since beginning his professional career thirty-six years ago, Tony has strived to develop a strong leadership skill set in his industry. Over his twenty-six years at Wegmans Food Markets, and in his current position as Manager of the Maintenance Department, he has honed those leadership skills by being focused on building a strong organization with caring, empowerment, and respect for others, and on making a difference in our community.  Tony has utilized these same values in his personal life, volunteering with Spencerport Jr. Baseball & Softball for the past ten years.  He was excited to join The Aurora House Board of Directors in 2019.  He has brought his professional knowledge to the Facility needs of the organization and currently serves as VP of the Board.  Tony welcomes any questions about Aurora House at facilities@aurorahousewmc.com.

Kathy Gleason

Treasurer
Kathy Gleason is relatively new to Aurora House but comes with over six years experience in comfort care and over 20 years in healthcare administration. She has gained insight into the administration and operations of comfort care homes and has been Treasurer for Aurora House for the past two years. Kathy is well aware of the challenges faced by small nonprofits, and most especially by our comfort care homes, and knows how fortunate our area is to have Aurora House serving the community. Her vision for Aurora House is to grow the number of supporters, both private and commercial, to become more known within our community, and to sustain the invaluable services we continue to offer the terminally ill. Kathy welcomes questions about Aurora House and invites interested parties to contact her at treasurer@aurorahousewmc.com.

Peg Meyers

Secretary
Peg Meyers is happily retired from a 26-year career as Coordinator of Staff Council at Rochester Institute of Technology. In this role, she worked with people elected from across the campus to advise the RIT president and administration on issues facing the university. She excelled in group organization, administration skills, and project and event development and implementation. The nature of her position required constant diplomacy, as she interacted with a wide variety of personalities. A lifelong Spencerport resident, Peg’s parents died around the time Aurora House was being created. Having experienced this loss without the benefit of nearby comfort care, she is especially grateful for and supportive of Aurora House. Using the skills she honed at RIT, Peg is excited to serve as a Board member with Aurora House and has been elected Board Secretary. Peg can be reached at secretary@aurorahousewmc.com

Susan Sullivan

Board Member

From her first position at Eastman Kodak, Susan built her career, gaining experience and formal education in marketing, fundraising and higher ed. With a 20+ year tenure at Roberts Wesleyan College in marketing and recruitment roles, she continued to broaden her expertise in marketing and fundraising at The Charles Finney School, Rochester Regional Health and Lifespan. Susan has been an adjunct faculty member at Roberts Wesleyan College since 2008 and is currently employed there as a full-time faculty member in the School of Business. Susan’s mom ended her life’s journey in the serenity and care of Aurora House in 2021.  Susan can be reached at ahboard3@aurorahousewmc.com

Stacy DeRooy

Board Member

Stacy has worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for nearly 27 years.  She spent 19 years in the Department of Public Safety in various roles, including Associate Director and Investigator.  Stacy has spent the last eight years in her current role at RIT as the Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance. She works diligently to help maintain a safe community while managing the university’s federal and state compliance requirements.  In addition, Stacy is an Adjunct Faculty member in Criminal Justice and Womens, Gender, and Sexuality studies and serves as a lead assessor for the International Association Of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators accreditation program. Stacy has been a volunteer caregiver at Aurora House for two years and looks forward to serving as a board member while staying on as a caregiver. Stacy can be reached at ahboard5@aurorahousewmc.com

Kathy Reger

Board Member

Since starting her professional career 38 years ago, Kathy has always strived to be a strong leader as well as driver of positive change. Kathy obtained a Computer Science Degree from Potsdam College and her MBA from St. John Fisher College. Kathy is also certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Kathy started her career at Eastman Kodak as a Systems Analyst and eventually moved over to the Supply Chain and Logistics organization. In 2007, Kathy transitioned from Kodak to Carestream Health when Kodak sold their Health Group to ONEX. Through the years with Kodak and Carestream, Kathy managed many different organizations and had the ability to travel the world. Kathy is most proud of the work she did to coach and mentor numerous employees and help them grow in their careers. Kathy retired from her position as Manager of World Wide Perfect Order Fulfillment at Carestream Health in July 2023 and is looking forward to using some of her time and talents on the Aurora House Board.  Kathy can be reached at ahboard6@aurorahousewmc.com

Dr. Adam Herman

Medical Consult

Dr. Herman began volunteering his time to Aurora House in a medical consulting role shortly after the House opened, joined the Board shortly thereafter, and stepped down from the Board in 2022.   He agreed to remain connected with the organization to offer medical support, guidance, and education going forward.  Dr. Herman is currently the Director of Palliative & Hospice Care for Rochester Regional Health System.  His dedication to End of Life care is invaluable to the organization.