Christopher Harris, Chair

Chris joined the Safe Harbors board in 2020 and is a member of the Compliance Committee. Chris has over 19 years of experience providing financial statement assurance, tax return preparation, and other consulting services to a wide variety of not-for-profit organizations, most recently as the partner in charge of the not-for-profit division at RDG + Partners in Rochester, NY. He is currently a sole practitioner providing bookkeeping, Form 990 preparation, outsourced CFO, and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations.

Chris grew up in Auburn, NY and received his B.S. in Accounting from SUNY Geneseo in 2000. Chris was named to the 2013 Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list and is a member of both the AICPA and NYSSCPA. He currently lives in Victor with his wife, daughter, son, and goofy dog.

In addition to Safe Harbors, he serves on the Board of Directors of Ability Partners, Inc. (encompasses Cerebral Palsy of Rochester, Rochester Rehabilitation Services, and Happiness House), Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State, and Resolve of Greater Rochester. Chris previously served six-year terms each as a Board member of Bivona Child Advocacy Center (Treasurer), Court Appointed Special Advocates of Rochester/Monroe County (President), and Rochester Regional Chapter of Healthcare Financial Management Association (President).

Rebecca Rouland, Vice Chair

Rebecca Rouland joined the Safe Harbors Board of Directors in 2016. She lives in Clifton Springs, New York, a community she also grew up in. Rebecca is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Nazareth College. She is also a Primary Therapist at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, an affiliate of the Rochester Regional Health System. Rebecca is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) in the State of New York. Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She has her Master’s degree in Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College and her Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Welfare from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

Rebecca is a member of the Phi Alpha, Psi Chi, and Phi Theta Kappa national honor societies. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Council on Social Work Education, National Rural Social Work Caucus, and Geographic Health Equities Alliance. Rebecca also serves as a Councilor on the Council on Social Work Education's Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity. Rebecca actively engages in research and has several published journal articles. Her research interests include perinatal health, mental health, and well-being and health disparities with a focus on geographic disparities including rural social work. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and cats.

Cathy Powers, Secretary

Cathy Powers joined the Safe Harbors Board of Directors in September 2023.  As a Human Resources Professional with extensive compliance; employee management; employee relations; leadership coaching; talent management; recruiting; and learning and development experience she has worked as a strategic business partner for organizations in the Rochester area, and is honored to partner with the staff and board members on the Safe Harbors mission.

Cathy is a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill with an AAS in Business and BS degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in Organizational Management.  She was born and raised in Geneva, NY and has lived in Washington DC, Rochester, NY and settled in Fairport, NY.  She spends time in the Finger Lakes and Rochester area with family and friends enjoying live music, foodie fun, and is a season ticket holder at both JCC Centerstage and Broadway series at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester.

Kipp Goodman, Treasurer

Kipp Goodman joined the Safe Harbors Board of Directors in 2017.  Starting his career with the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office in 1992 he recently retired as Chief Deputy for that department.  Kipp started his career as a uniformed patrol officer.  In 1993 he was promoted to the position of Investigator, a position he held until being promoted Chief Deputy in 2016.  While serving as Investigator he specialized and received training in crimes against children, sexual assaults and domestic violence.  Kipp is a certified police instructor, DARE Officer, crime scene specialist, advanced juvenile officer, and hostage and crisis negotiator. Throughout his career he has received numerous awards.  In 2013 Kipp received special congressional recognition for his work apprehending child predators. 

Kipp was born and raised in Waterloo where he still resides with his wife of 27 years. Kipp and his wife raised two children who are now grown.  He attended Waterloo High School, Finger Lakes Community College and the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy.  In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, reading (especially forensic science and American History), exploring Civil War Battlefields with long- time friend, John Cleere, listening to music, a good game of cards and more recently traveling with his wife.

Working on crimes that typically fall under the umbrella of domestic violence, Kipp is dedicated to helping victims of domestic crimes, and believes we need to do a better job, and is committed to find funding and resources committed to that end.  He looks forward to working with Safe Harbors and community partners to make this happen.    

Regis McDonald

Regis G. McDonald joined the Safe Harbors Board of Directors in 2019.  He is an accomplished social service executive with decades of experience in managing and developing cutting edge programs and services for youth and families involved with the child welfare, juvenile justice, child mental health and immigration systems.

Mr. McDonald at the time of his retirement was the Senior Vice President for Programs at the Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, New York. The Children’s Village was founded in 1851 in Lower Manhattan as the New York Juvenile Asylum. Today, The Children’s Village is a nationally and internationally respected multi-service human service organization with a staff of over 1,500 and an annual budget exceeding $91M. Mr. McDonald’s work at CV positively impacted and enriched every aspect of the organization, including its work on Undoing Institutional Racism and providing shelter and staff secure care to unaccompanied immigrant children.

At the invitation of the First Lady of Guatemala, Mr. McDonald participated in two Central America Regional Child Migration Forums. One in 2013 in Antigua, Guatemala and the second in 2016 in Washington, DC. He served as a member of the United States Department of Justice Interagency Working Group on Separated & Unaccompanied Children in 2014.

Mr. McDonald earned an Associate in Arts degree from Wentworth Military Academy & College. He is the recipient of the Ted Messmore Honor Graduate Award, Wentworth’s highest award.  Mr. McDonald was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Missouri State College and a Master of Social Work degree from Adelphi University School of Social Work. He resides in Geneva, New York.

Kate Ferguson-Schmidl

Kate Ferguson-Schmidl joined the Safe Harbors Board of Directors in 2022.  She is a licensed Salesperson with Keller Williams Realty Gateway. She specializes in the Finger Lakes and Greater Rochester area, with a focus on Seneca and Keuka Lakes. In addition, Kate is also a Managing Partner of Legacy Quest Homes, LLC, a residential renovation company.  She finds the ability to assist her clients is a result of her work ethic and an attitude that ensures accomplishing their real estate goals. 

Kate’s interest in women’s rights and family systems has been long standing.  Volunteering for many organizations to provide support in these areas has been her focus.  She also is a member of the Penn Rotary Club and serves on the KW Cares and Cultural committee. An active and dedicated alumnus of Geneva High School, she chairs the Class of 1982 Scholarship committee, and is also an active member of the Up With People Alumni organization.  

With a degree in Music Education and Performance at Ithaca College, Kate was accepted in 1987 to the international group, Up With People, and performed and provided community service throughout eleven countries and 96 cities.  As a professional musician, Kate currently performs as a vocalist in numerous venues throughout the Finger Lakes area and teaches voice privately. 

Having lived all over the eastern United States, Kate returned to the Finger Lakes and met her husband, Todd, and relocated to Penn Yan. He has served his community for over 20 years as a Volunteer Fireman.  When she is not working, they enjoy sharing family time with Kate’s two children and grandchildren, Maya and Lucas.

Matthew Turetsky

Matthew Turetsky is an Assistant County Attorney with the Ontario County Attorney's Office. He joined the Board of Directors in 2023 and brings with him nearly a decade of experience in the local legal community.

Matthew received his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Legal Studies from the University at Buffalo in 2011, and his Juris Doctor from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 2014. 

Matthew grew up in Clifton Springs, NY and currently resides in Ontario County with his wife.

Rhonda Sheffield

Rhonda joined the Safe Harbors board in 2024.  She is a Senior Branch Manager at Five Star Bank for Central and Western NY, with a background in banking and human resources.  In addition to her work with Safe Harbors, Rhonda serves on the board of directors for The Living Well in Yates County.  Previously she was a member of the Auburn Rotary and has served on the Geneva Little League Board of Directors.

Rhonda was born and raised in Waterloo, NY and currently resides in Port Buron with her husband, John.  She is a proud mom of 4 and grandmother of 5.  In her free time, she enjoys working on old cars with her husband, attending car shows, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her kids and grandkids. 

Katie Pullano

Katie Pullano joined the board of Directors in June 2024.  She was born and raised in Geneva NY to Jim and Mary DeVaney, has lived there for 50 years, and loves our little piece of paradise in the Finger Lakes for three seasons out of the year.

Katie has operated her own private therapy practice for 12 years in Geneva and has also worked as a part time staff Counselor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges for 10 years.

Historically, she worked at Seneca County Mental Health for 10 years in various positions including psychiatric social worker, senior psychiatric social worker and clinical program director.  Additionally she has worked at Seneca Cayuga ARC ( now Mozaic) as both a direct care staff as well as a therapist.  She has also worked at Keuka College as a therapist and on the Finger Lakes CPEP as a crisis interventionist. She is licensed by the State of New York as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, initially licensed in 2006 and has had that license uninterrupted since that time. She is certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as well as a generalized Trauma Therapist through IATP. 

Katie earned her BSW from Delta College at SUNY Brockport in 1995 after graduating from Geneva High in 1992.  She earned her MSW from Syracuse University in 1996. Earning those two degrees in 4 years is an accomplishment of which she is proud, and she is also proud of her continuing education efforts and pursuits, establishing and maintaining a private practice as well as caring for her family and community

Katie has served on many committees at St Francis St Stephens School for the 9 years her daughter attended the school, such as the PTO,  fundraising, classroom volunteering, establishing the first walk a thon fundraiser and continuing that program for several years, and chairing and running the daily operations of the Scholastic Book Fair. She has also volunteered at the Geneva Free Library for the Childrens and Teens Basket Raffle for several years.  She has volunteered for Thrive to Survive's Middle Finger 5K, as well as for the Geneva Lunch Program through the Methodist Church. She says she truly enjoys helping others in whatever ways she can.

In her free time Katie loves to read, to listen to audiobooks, to spend time with her two English springer spaniels, to garden and to hike. Most of the time she can be found with husband, Jeff and  daughter, Madison, who are her daily inspirations and purpose.  Her daughter is her largest accomplishment and always will be.