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Board Members

Hope Jay, Esq. – Board Member – President

Hope has devoted her career to advocacy for women and children. Over the last 28 years, Hope has helped hundreds of families experiencing difficult challenges such as physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and mental health and substance abuse issues. Hope obtained her M.S.W. in 1992 and her J.D. in 2004 from the University at Buffalo. Working as a social worker over the first 10 years of her career, Hope developed clinical skills which has made her uniquely qualified to assist survivors of abuse in her legal practice.

Since 2011, Hope has been in private practice. Her law firm, The Law Office of Hope R. Jay, PLLC  has helped hundreds of clients who have sought her legal expertise in family law matters. Prior to 2011, Hope spent four years at the Erie County District Attorney’s office prosecuting domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. Over the last five years, she began to see a void in the legal system which has not caught up with the complex issues of emotional and psychological abuse and the effects on victims and children. Many of her clients have suffered from the consequences of an abusive relationship that often times is not physically abusive, yet when they are seeking to divorce, obtain custody, or file for civil Orders of protection from their abuser, encounter many roadblocks.

Hope understands that emotional and psychological abuse and manipulation is abuse; in fact, she has seen a surge in people seeking her legal help who are divorcing or in family court with narcissists. Leaving a narcissist and other Cluster B disordered people is often a nightmare. That is why Hope decided to create this Center, to provide people who want to leave their abuser with the legal advocacy, mental health support, financial advisement, and holistic healing that survivors need to help them down the path to freedom from their abuser. The Center for Hope provides all these services through our collaborative effort, and every provider at the Center has the experience and skill set necessary to assist our clients to move through the feeling of victimization to the newfound identity of survivor.

 

 

Lynn Catalano, Esq. – Board Member – Vice President and Chair of Fundraising Committee

Lynn Catalano has embraced change throughout her career. After achieving a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude, at Boston University, she continued her education at the University of Buffalo Law School.

Lynn is a licensed attorney in New York State but chose to lead non-profits as a professional fundraiser for the last 20 years.

Today, she has pivoted to speak to groups of all sizes to share experiences and help people rise above the chaos. Lynn loves to share stories about great leaders and toxic bosses. After learning a family member is a narcissist, Lynn learned how to reframe her thinking, retrain her mind and her reactions. Now Lynn helps others do the same. Lynn helps them reframe their thinking in every aspect of their lives; from the workplace to their personal life, becoming an agent of change. Lynn helps people identify the toxicity that’s standing between them and success and develop a plan to thrive.

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Roach, CFP® | CIMA®  – Board Member – Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee

Jessica joined Morgan Stanley after graduating from the University of New Mexico Robert O. Anderson School of Management over 24 years ago. She is passionate about helping clients at all stages of their lives reach their goals; and has found it both rewarding and reassuring to have worked her entire career for a company whose core values align with her own. Dedicated to providing a high level of experience, ethics and knowledge, Jessica completed the extensive training to achieve the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2005. Additionally, she also obtained the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation through the Wharton School of Business in 2009.

A resident of Grand Island, she lives with her husband and two high school aged daughters. They spend much of our free time on family activities, traveling, hiking and live music venues. Committed to the community, Jessica tries to give back as often as possible. She is actively involved in the Girl Scouts local leadership and has served as the Chi Omega alumnae delegate on Greater Buffalo Alumnae Panhellenic board for over 20 years. Additionally, she was recently nominated to join Morgan Stanley’s National Diversity and Inclusion board and The Center for Hope WNY Board of Directors.

 

Jennifer Mecozzi – Board Member – Chair of Volunteer Committee

Jennifer has spent most of her life as a proud resident of Buffalo, where she was raised. After high school, Jennifer returned to spend her adult life in the West Side. Her dedication to bring people together and raise a collective voice to raise awareness is an agenda that drives her every day. As a proven community leader, Jennifer is committed to be a positive and guiding example for others.⁠

As a member and key player in many community-based organizations, Jennifer is also recognized as a trainer on community issues and strategies and has been consistently asked to speak at National/state/and local levels about her leadership experience here in the City of Buffalo. These experiences have led her to starting her own consulting company called Next Level Consulting.⁠

Jennifer is a proud mother of 2 sons and 2 daughters, grandmother of twin girls and a grandson and is deeply dedicated to her family and their growth. As a result, Jennifer brings the community voice to the table. A survivor of domestic violence and her own life experience has only enhanced her drive to empower and work with others to show that there are avenues and ways to know you are not alone and will help others find these opportunities to overcome. ⁠

Jennifer is dedicated to a safer, healthier, and productive community for everyone!

 

Ray Guagliardi – Board Member

Ray Guagliardi is currently employed by Merchants Insurance Group as a Special Investigator. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the defunct Medaille College.  He certified as an Insurance Fraud Investigator. Ray serves as the Vice President of the Insurance Women of Buffalo He has serviced as past President of the Buffalo Claims Association, President of the Buffalo State Criminal Justice Alumni Association and the Buffalo State Alumni Association. Ray has helped in fundraising for the Donny Thiery Foundation and Western New York Heroes and the New York State Chapter of Special Investigation Units. Ray lives in Boston NY with his wife of 27 years Debby and their cat Sara. Ray is a loyal Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits fan. He enjoys working outside and cooking,

 

 

 

Maia Homsi – Board Member 

Maia Homsi was born and raised in Buffalo, NY where she attended City Honors High School. She is a neuroscience graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, awarded cum laude with distinction from the University of Rochester. Maia has since returned home where she continues to advance her scientific career by working in breast cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Maia is excited for the opportunity to join the board of directors of the Center For Hope, as she is committed to helping survivors of narcissistic abuse heal from their past and present traumas, and move onward with their lives. As the Education Committee co-Chair, Maia hopes to contribute meaningful ideas and expand the Center’s level of education and outreach within our community.