Our Staff
Ken Wray
Executive Director
Ken has been active in affordable housing for several decades. He started his career in one of New York’s garment unions when labor was one the city’s major developers of cooperative middle-income housing and served as the Executive Director of the United Housing Foundation, a consortium of unions and financial institutions, for ten years. In the early 1990’s, he was one of the founding members of CATCH as we began our efforts to develop tenant-run mutual housing associations in distressed neighborhoods in Harlem, Washington Heights, Brooklyn and the South Bronx. More recently, he’s served as a Vice-President at Westhab, Inc., directing housing and social services operations for low- and very low-income households in Westchester County, NY. In that time he acquired extensive experience serving the needs of at-risk populations especially those with unique needs, including Veterans and the mentally disabled. Ken received his BA from Columbia University and his MS from Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Harold DeRienzo
General Counsel and Director of Compliance
Harold DeRienzo led the Parodneck Foundation from 1982 to 2006 as President. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. DeRienzo was the founding executive director of the nationally recognized Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, Inc. Mr. DeRienzo holds a JD from the New York Law School, and a B.S. in Economics from Manhattan College. He has authored numerous articles on housing and social justice issues for New York Affairs, City Limits the National Civic Review, and other publications.
George Cochran
Finance Director
Mr. Cochran graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in accounting. After working briefly in banking Mr. Cochran decided to study acting. It was while studying acting that Mr. Cochran worked freelance as a financial consultant. This experience has led to employment as chief financial officer for several arts related not-for profits such as Performance Space 122, the Bronx Museum and New York Theatre Workshop. Working at the Parodneck Foundation allows Mr. Cochran to use his expertise for a different group of individuals.
Thomasina White
SCHAP Director
Thomasina has worked within the not-for-profit sector over 19 years and has over 25 years experience in administration. She has been with the Foundation since 1998 and has served in a variety of programmatic and administrative positions. In her current role she is directs our senior homeowner loan program and is one of our Certified Foreclosure & Default Intervention Counselors as well as Financial Literacy.
Alvitta Petithomme
SCHAP Program Associate
Alvita Petithomme began working with Parodneck Foundation in August of 2020 as a Program Associate. Alvita comes with an extensive background in Social Services and Education. She holds a BA in Humans Services and MA in Educational Leadership.
Karol Montilla
Project Coordinator
Karol Montilla has been working with CATCH and The Parodneck Foundation since 2019, and holds the role of Project Coordinator. She previously interned at NYC's Department of City Planning, after attending Boston University where she majored in American Studies; While in college, she worked at BU's City Planning & Urban Affairs Department. Amongst other hobbies, she enjoyed cultivating seasonal fruits and veggies at the College of Arts & Sciences' rooftop garden and is currently on the lookout to join a local garden near her home in The Bronx. A native New Yorker, she is excited to be back to her roots and jump-start a career in city planning. She looks forward to especially contributing in areas pertaining to equitable housing, transportation, art engagement, sustainable urban food systems and urban spaces.