John Sanful
Executive Director
johns@careergear.org
John has been with Career Gear since 2004, starting as Director of Services, then promoted to Managing Director and, in January 2008, Executive Director. John has presided over Career Gear’s growth in size and scope. Since taking an executive position with the organization, direct services have grown over 20% annually and a fully realized retention program- The Professional Development Series- became a permanent part of services offered to participants. John has worked in the private and nonprofit sectors. In the nonprofit world, he was program director of New York Community Voice Mail program a the Coalition for the Homeless, providing voicemail numbers to individuals who were homeless and without a telephone so they could keep in touch with potential employers, case workers, and family members. He was program director of the Morningside Area Alliance’s Job Connections program. John developed programming that moved Job Connections from pilot status to a fully implemented program. Job Connections worked with local institutions to match Harlem residents with job opportunities at Morningside institutions. He was the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Common Ground Community. John is also an active member on the board for WHY Hunger, which fights hunger and poverty around the world at a grassroots level and the board of The Fortune Society, which supports successful reentry of formerly incarcerated men and women and promotes alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of communities.
Michael Obertacz
Program Director
mikeo@careergear.org
Mike is responsible for the daily operations of Career Gear New York. It is his responsibility to maintain the quality of Career Gear’s current programming, improve curriculum and reporting where applicable, develop new and engaging programs for participants as well as supervising staff, interns and volunteers. Originally hired in 2007 as Program Manager, he has increased program retention, developed partnerships with organizations and individuals for guest facilitation, provided guidance and counseling to every participant involved in the Professional Development Series and strengthened the brand of the organization. Mike is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a BS in English Education. He has applied his past experiences and strengths from working as a performer, theatrical set designer, manager, educator and mentor into the position he currently fills. Mike often speaks on behalf of the organization and the population of men Career Gear serves at various functions and events in New York. He recently completed the Junior Fellows program through the United Way of New York City’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute. His passion for the organization and its mission lies deeply in the belief that through quality and accountability we are creating an environment where participants feel comfortable to take risks and challenge themselves to become more than just men with jobs. We are creating a community of success, supporting one another, families and communities.
Leta Malloy
Director of Corporate Partnerships
letam@careergear.org
Leta is the liaison between Career Gear and its corporate partners. She is responsible for developing relationships with corporations around the country, bringing in financial and in-kind donations, as well as cause-marketing campaigns and specialized events for sponsors. Leta creates unique opportunities for each corporate partner. She also manages Career Gear's social media initiatives. Originally hired in the fall of 2006 as the Affiliate Director, under her guidance Career Gear has expanded to additional markets across the United States and improved the brand. Leta continues to introduce potential affiliates to the organization’s mission and programs. Leta's passion to work for Career Gear stems from the guidance she received in her youth from positive male mentors and role models. With a background as a professional performer, Leta has spent many years advocating self-esteem, confidence and the power of presentation to young performers. Leta has also worked in event management, planning conferences and anniversary celebrations for academic institutions, the arts and a labor union. Leta is a graduate of Brown University with a BA in History with Honors. She recently completed the Junior and Senior Fellows programs through the United Way of New York City’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute. Leta co-published an article, “Good Staff is Hard to Find: What Skills Do NYC Nonprofit Staff Need?” in the New York Nonprofit Press, along with a few of the Senior Fellows. Leta is currently working on her Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College's School of Public Affairs.
Gary Field, LCSW
Founder/Development Director
garyf@careergear.org
Fifteen years ago, Gary fit the profile of many of Career Gear's clients - unemployed, recovering substance abuser, having just completed a job readiness program. He scraped together $50, bought a used suit for his interviews, and successfully landed a job. Within five years, he completed his undergraduate studies, received a Master's degree in social work and set about the business of helping men in similar positions get and keep satisfying jobs. Prior to founding Career Gear, Gary worked as the Director of Services at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NYC, with formerly homeless mentally ill adults, and as a psychiatric social worker. Gary earned a B.A. with distinction and an M.S.W. from New York University and an L.C.S.W. from the state of New York.
Alison Nager
Development Officer
alison@careergear.org
Alison is responsible for raising money to support the general operating costs and the programs at Career Gear so that we can continue to provide our valuable services free of charge to those in need. She writes grant proposals for federal, state, city, corporate and foundation funds and is also responsible for researching new avenues of funding. Additionally, Alison works with current funders, keeping them up to date on Career Gear’s program achievements, statistics and current funding outlook in addition to all subsequent reporting requirements. She also cultivates relationships with individual donors, handles the annual appeal as well as various special promotions throughout the year including cause marketing campaigns aimed at increasing Career Gears profile in addition to raising funds. She manages Career Gears financial documents; handling all incoming contributions. Alison started her career at Amnesty International where she worked on fundraising and media coordination for the Human Rights Now! World tour. She later went to NBC and worked as a Production Coordinator in the news division. Alison went on to develop film and TV projects for a small LA based film company and ran the talent management company Ellin Management before becoming a professional actress herself. She is a member of both the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association. Alison hold a BA in American Studies from Brandeis University and a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio at the New School University.
Sarah Gordon
Executive Assistant & Events Manager
sarahg@careergear.org
Sarah has a background in public relations, including media outreach and event planning. She first worked on Career Gear doing pro-bono public relations programming and later as a member of the Career Gear Associate Board. Sarah currently oversees the planning and implementation of Career Gear events, as well as assisting the executive director in his day-to-day needs. Sarah, who was born and raised in Minnesota, holds a BS in strategic communications from the University of Kansas and spent a semester in Italy, which spurred her love of travel.
Christopher Straub
Direct Service Coordinator
chris@careergear.org
Volunteers and Interns
Timothy Frye
Professional Development Series Alumni Volunteer
Executive Director
johns@careergear.org
John has been with Career Gear since 2004, starting as Director of Services, then promoted to Managing Director and, in January 2008, Executive Director. John has presided over Career Gear’s growth in size and scope. Since taking an executive position with the organization, direct services have grown over 20% annually and a fully realized retention program- The Professional Development Series- became a permanent part of services offered to participants. John has worked in the private and nonprofit sectors. In the nonprofit world, he was program director of New York Community Voice Mail program a the Coalition for the Homeless, providing voicemail numbers to individuals who were homeless and without a telephone so they could keep in touch with potential employers, case workers, and family members. He was program director of the Morningside Area Alliance’s Job Connections program. John developed programming that moved Job Connections from pilot status to a fully implemented program. Job Connections worked with local institutions to match Harlem residents with job opportunities at Morningside institutions. He was the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Common Ground Community. John is also an active member on the board for WHY Hunger, which fights hunger and poverty around the world at a grassroots level and the board of The Fortune Society, which supports successful reentry of formerly incarcerated men and women and promotes alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of communities.
Michael Obertacz
Program Director
mikeo@careergear.org
Mike is responsible for the daily operations of Career Gear New York. It is his responsibility to maintain the quality of Career Gear’s current programming, improve curriculum and reporting where applicable, develop new and engaging programs for participants as well as supervising staff, interns and volunteers. Originally hired in 2007 as Program Manager, he has increased program retention, developed partnerships with organizations and individuals for guest facilitation, provided guidance and counseling to every participant involved in the Professional Development Series and strengthened the brand of the organization. Mike is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a BS in English Education. He has applied his past experiences and strengths from working as a performer, theatrical set designer, manager, educator and mentor into the position he currently fills. Mike often speaks on behalf of the organization and the population of men Career Gear serves at various functions and events in New York. He recently completed the Junior Fellows program through the United Way of New York City’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute. His passion for the organization and its mission lies deeply in the belief that through quality and accountability we are creating an environment where participants feel comfortable to take risks and challenge themselves to become more than just men with jobs. We are creating a community of success, supporting one another, families and communities.
Leta Malloy
Director of Corporate Partnerships
letam@careergear.org
Leta is the liaison between Career Gear and its corporate partners. She is responsible for developing relationships with corporations around the country, bringing in financial and in-kind donations, as well as cause-marketing campaigns and specialized events for sponsors. Leta creates unique opportunities for each corporate partner. She also manages Career Gear's social media initiatives. Originally hired in the fall of 2006 as the Affiliate Director, under her guidance Career Gear has expanded to additional markets across the United States and improved the brand. Leta continues to introduce potential affiliates to the organization’s mission and programs. Leta's passion to work for Career Gear stems from the guidance she received in her youth from positive male mentors and role models. With a background as a professional performer, Leta has spent many years advocating self-esteem, confidence and the power of presentation to young performers. Leta has also worked in event management, planning conferences and anniversary celebrations for academic institutions, the arts and a labor union. Leta is a graduate of Brown University with a BA in History with Honors. She recently completed the Junior and Senior Fellows programs through the United Way of New York City’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute. Leta co-published an article, “Good Staff is Hard to Find: What Skills Do NYC Nonprofit Staff Need?” in the New York Nonprofit Press, along with a few of the Senior Fellows. Leta is currently working on her Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College's School of Public Affairs.
Gary Field, LCSW
Founder/Development Director
garyf@careergear.org
Fifteen years ago, Gary fit the profile of many of Career Gear's clients - unemployed, recovering substance abuser, having just completed a job readiness program. He scraped together $50, bought a used suit for his interviews, and successfully landed a job. Within five years, he completed his undergraduate studies, received a Master's degree in social work and set about the business of helping men in similar positions get and keep satisfying jobs. Prior to founding Career Gear, Gary worked as the Director of Services at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NYC, with formerly homeless mentally ill adults, and as a psychiatric social worker. Gary earned a B.A. with distinction and an M.S.W. from New York University and an L.C.S.W. from the state of New York.
Alison Nager
Development Officer
alison@careergear.org
Alison is responsible for raising money to support the general operating costs and the programs at Career Gear so that we can continue to provide our valuable services free of charge to those in need. She writes grant proposals for federal, state, city, corporate and foundation funds and is also responsible for researching new avenues of funding. Additionally, Alison works with current funders, keeping them up to date on Career Gear’s program achievements, statistics and current funding outlook in addition to all subsequent reporting requirements. She also cultivates relationships with individual donors, handles the annual appeal as well as various special promotions throughout the year including cause marketing campaigns aimed at increasing Career Gears profile in addition to raising funds. She manages Career Gears financial documents; handling all incoming contributions. Alison started her career at Amnesty International where she worked on fundraising and media coordination for the Human Rights Now! World tour. She later went to NBC and worked as a Production Coordinator in the news division. Alison went on to develop film and TV projects for a small LA based film company and ran the talent management company Ellin Management before becoming a professional actress herself. She is a member of both the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association. Alison hold a BA in American Studies from Brandeis University and a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio at the New School University.
Sarah Gordon
Executive Assistant & Events Manager
sarahg@careergear.org
Sarah has a background in public relations, including media outreach and event planning. She first worked on Career Gear doing pro-bono public relations programming and later as a member of the Career Gear Associate Board. Sarah currently oversees the planning and implementation of Career Gear events, as well as assisting the executive director in his day-to-day needs. Sarah, who was born and raised in Minnesota, holds a BS in strategic communications from the University of Kansas and spent a semester in Italy, which spurred her love of travel.
Christopher Straub
Direct Service Coordinator
chris@careergear.org
Volunteers and Interns
Timothy Frye
Professional Development Series Alumni Volunteer
