Senior Leadership Team

  • AnnMarie McDowell

    Chief Executive Officer

    AnnMarie was named CEO of CORA in July of 2015 after serving as Chief Operating Officer. Her visionary leadership and strong management have resulted in the expansion of services to thousands more children throughout the region. Since 2015, CORA’s budget has grown from less than $20 million annually, to nearly $30 million. Key accomplishments include expansion of related services to over 50 additional non-public and charter schools, securing a contract to provide early intervention services, and opening two additional Early Years Early Childhood Education Programs, one at LaSalle University  and one at Huntingdon Mills.

     

    AnnMarie’s career began in direct client service as an Educational Advisor with Communities in Schools of Philadelphia, Inc. She advanced within the organization, eventually managing the ELECT Teen Parent Program in 22 high schools. She joined CORA Services in 2002 as Director of the Beacon Center at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School. Through the years she has held several posts which have given her a broad perspective on the strengths and opportunities available to the organization. Prior positions include Division Director of Out of School Services, Director of Program Advancement and Marketing as well as COO.

    She received her B.A. in Family Studies from Messiah College

  • Christine Matulewicz

    Executive Vice President

    As Executive Vice President, Christine oversees all operations departments include Data, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Reception and Records.

    Christine came to CORA in 2015 as the Director of Operations, with extensive experience in non-profit management and operations in youth-serving organizations. Prior to joining our staff, Christine served as Director of Capacity Building at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education and as Operations and Development Manager at White-Williams Scholars.

    She earned her M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. in Economics from Williams College.

     

     

  • Mary K. Doherty

    Compliance Officer, Government Relations

    Mary began her 40-year career with CORA as a school counselor. She provided direct child and family services at CORA for twelve years prior to assuming a key management role in Community Services. She is a key leader in the social services field through her involvement in service advocacy activities in major City youth-serving systems.

    Mary received her B.A. in Psychology from Immaculata College.

     

     

  • Laura Schepps

    Chief Financial Officer

    Laura Schepps joined CORA Services in November 2023 as the Chief Financial Officer.  Prior to CORA, Laura has held prominent roles in various types of organizations including academic institutions, non-profits, and financial services corporations.  Immediately preceding CORA, she was the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Mercer County Community College.

    As Chief Financial Officer of CORA, she is responsible for all financial functions including accounting, financial planning and analysis, and treasury.

    She received her MBA in Finance and Management from New York University and her BS from Rutgers University.

  • Chuk Akaluka

    Vice President, Clinical Services

    Mr. Chuk Akaluka is the Vice President of Clinical Services at CORA Services, Inc.  He joined CORA in February of 2020 after spending more than a decade in leadership positions at Resources for Human Development (RHD), a non-profit human service agency. He is a visionary leader who brings exceptional analytical and process analysis skills to CORA. Driven by a passion to make the most impact, he left a successful career in the corporate sector, where he held several positions that include Chief Accountant, Group Accountant and Auditor, just to mention a few. He also helped start up a pioneer telecommunications corporation in Africa, which pioneered the Sim-Payphone technology.   Mr. Akaluka also served on the Board of African Immigrants Resources Center, a non-profit agency strategically positioned to help immigrants from Africa adjust to the American culture and mitigate the effect of culture-shock.

    Mr. Akaluka’s transition away from the corporate world to the non-profit Human Services field was motivated by a personal experience he had that changed his life and altered the trajectory of his career. Working with an individual who struggled with alcohol and other drug use, Mr. Akaluka was able to help this individual abstain, maintain sobriety and move into a stable housing after spending more than twenty years in several Mental Health residential treatment facilities.

    Mr. Akaluka holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and is a Temple University, Graduate School of Social Work alumni. He has over 15 years’ experience in audit, accounting and finance, and more than 15 years’ experience in the human services field. He is a husband and a proud father of three beautiful daughters.

  • Eric Smith

    Vice President, School Services

    As Vice President of School Services, Eric is responsible for program development and management of a variety of school-based auxiliary and related services.  These include: counseling, educational support, hearing support, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, speech/language therapy, and vision services delivered in nonpublic and public charter schools, as well as early intervention services provided to preschool age children, throughout the city of Philadelphia.

    Eric initially joined CORA as a speech-language pathologist in the early intervention program in 2012.  He then expanded his caseload to work with school-age students in various public charter schools for several years. He transitioned to Director of Speech and Language Services in 2020 and was appointed Vice President of the School Services Division in 2022.

    Eric received his M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Wayne State University in his hometown of Detroit, MI, and his B.A in English from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI.

  • Stacy Leonard

    Vice President, Community Services

    Stacy joined the CORA team in 2016.

    As Vice President of the Community Services Division, Stacy is responsible for the program development, implementation and accountability for the prevention and intervention programs which serve children and families within the community, helping to empower young people, keep them engaged in school and provide them with the critical tools for future success. These programs include Truancy Intervention and Prevention, Out-of-School Time Programs, 21st Century Learning Centers, the Lifeline Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Program, Prevention Education and career and work force development programs for Middle and High School Students.

    Stacy has worked in the non-profit sector for more than 20 years, beginning as an Elementary School Teacher in California and Social Worker in New York. Prior to joining CORA, Stacy worked for Lutheran Children and Family Service for 10 years as the BOOST Program Manager of BOOST – 15 Out-of-School Time Programs located throughout Philadelphia, as well as the Director of the Beacon Center at Shaw Middle School in Southwest Philadelphia. 

    Stacy earned her MSW from Columbia University with a concentration in program development, her MEd from National University with an emphasis on Crosscultural Teaching, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology from the University of California in Santa Cruz (home of the Fighting Banana Slugs). 

  • Joseph P. Yanchis

    Vice President of Operations

    Joseph P. Yanchis joined the CORA Services team in October of 2017.

    With experience governing all aspects of technology across various non-profit and for-profit industries, Joseph has been a respected leader of diverse teams.

    He brings proven abilities leveraging technology to improve outcomes, with a track record of project successes.

    Prior positions include IT Director for Ferreira Construction Company, IT Director for Noveda Technologies, and roles at The Devereux Foundation, Dorland Global Communications, and Primavera Systems.

    He earned his B.S. from Drexel University.

  • Lisa Radecke

    Director, Human Resources

    Lisa joined CORA Services in November of 2016.

    Prior to coming to CORA, Lisa was the Director of Human Resources at Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown, PA and has held various HR roles throughout her career including Skanska USA, The Rosen Group and Conrail. She brings with her a broad range of experience in all areas of Human Resources, with her most recent and longest position in a mission-driven, non-profit environment.

    Lisa, a SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), received her M.A. in Human Resources Administration from Temple University and her B. A. in English from Cabrini University.

     

  • Azeb Kinder, Ed.D.

    Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

    Azeb Kinder is an experienced educator, facilitator and trainer who works with individuals, communities and organizations to address and dismantle racially based inequities by transforming their beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors. Prior to coming to CORA, she was the Managing Partner and Principal Consultant at The Kinder Group, a consulting firm with a mission to increase the cultural competency of organizations by leading their stakeholders in developing cultural self-awareness, knowledge, and skills that empower them to effectively communicate and serve diverse populations.  Azeb has over 20 years of experience as a community organizer, educator, and dialogue group facilitator. Throughout her career, she has created and led engaging community outreach programs for a diverse group of parents and students, trained teachers, and facilitated numerous dynamic workshops.

    Azeb holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University, an MEd in Elementary Education from Temple University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.