SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central New York (AFP-CNY) recently named five new members of its board of directors: Sara Groh, Joanna Jewett, Susan LaPlaca, Carli Rightmier, and Steffani Williams.

Groh joins the AFP-CNY board after being a member of AFP for almost 20 years. She is the director of relationship development and director of strategy and analytics at Colgate University. In her role, she helps Colgate better understand its base of support through research and analytics and offers strategic support to frontline fundraisers. 

Jewett is known as a “marketing goddess,” who specializes in fundraising and event planning, AFP-CNY said. After years of working in media sales, she entered the nonprofit world several years ago. She is the director of development and public relations at Arc of Onondaga.

LaPlaca serves as the development director for Helio Health and the Helio Health Foundation which supports the work of Helio Health. Her focus is on fundraising, event planning, and relationship building, with the goal of using compelling stories to communicate the agency’s mission. Previously, she was the marketing and outreach director for Central New York Services and the executive director of The Drug Quiz Show. 

Rightmier joins the AFP-CNY board as an accomplished fundraising professional with nine years’ experience in the nonprofit sector. She currently holds a position at United Way of the Mohawk Valley (UWMV), leading its Development Department as director of philanthropy. Since joining United Way in 2016, Rightmier has worked with corporate and individual donors, volunteers, and supporters to cultivate positive relationships with UWMV and further the organization’s mission to create a better life for all that live in the Mohawk Valley. 

Williams’ passion lies in enriching the lives of others. She has spent her 20-plus year career working in higher education, international business, human resources, and fundraising. She has been with Onondaga Community College (OCC) for 15 years and has worked in different positions including assistant director of financial aid and assistant to the VP of enrollment development & communications. For the past four years, she has served as director of development & annual giving for the OCC Foundation.