About Us
The New York Milk Bank is proud to be New York’s first comprehensive milk bank, serving families by connecting medically fragile babies with the critical nutrition they need when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient. Our top priority is providing safe, pasteurized donor milk to hospitalized premature infants. Through this work, we help give vulnerable babies the strongest possible start in life.
The NYMB Founders
Seated from left: Roseanne Motti, Julie Bouchet
Standing from left: Susan Vierczhalek, Boriana Parvez, Katie Kelter
Lizbeth Guijosa in The Julie Bouchet Lab Suite
Our Mission
The New York Milk Bank is dedicated to improving the health and survival of infants in need by providing them with safely pasteurized donor human milk when their mothers’ own milk is unavailable or insufficient. We are dedicated to ensuring the safety and quality of donor milk and to reducing health disparities in the use and distribution of donor milk.
Our Vision
Our vision is that all women are supported in their breastfeeding and lactation goals and that all babies have access to safely pasteurized and affordable donor milk in situations where their mothers can't or won't breastfeed. We support families and their babies throughout the life cycle by educating and supporting families on the benefits of human milk.
Claudia Reyes in our Donor Department
The NYMB Executive Directors - Past and Present
Rachel Granger (present), Julie Bouchet and Linda Harelick
Our History
The New York Milk Bank launched in 2016, born from the dedication of five visionary women who spent two years fundraising and building community support. Initially housed at Andrus on Hudson, a Senior Care Facility in Hastings, we quickly expanded and, by 2018, moved to a larger facility in Valhalla. Here, we’ve been able to triple our milk production, reaching more families and babies in need. With donor milk now a covered benefit under Medicaid for inpatients, we continue to work tirelessly to extend this coverage for outpatients, ensuring every baby has the chance to thrive.
Take A Tour Of NYMB
Meet Our Staff
Becca DeAngelis
Executive Assistant
Becca provides administrative support across departments, ensuring smooth daily operations. In their free time, they enjoy reading, aerial arts, and spending time in creative pursuits.
Blair Kaplan
Accounts Specialist
Blair manages our hospital and outpatient accounts and is also our bookkeeper. When not at work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, crocheting, and being with her husband, daughter and two dogs.
Candice Rock
Lab Technician Assistant
Candice assists with the processing of donor milk in the lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her beloved dog, Benji.
Claudia Reyes
Donor Coordinator
Claudia manages donor milk intake and maintains communication with both new and established donors. She’s also our resident coffee enthusiast and a dedicated yogi who enjoys her daily practice. As a certified life coach, Claudia is passionate about helping others and making a difference every day.
Daniel Hong
Lab Production Assistant
Daniel is a Lab Production Assistant in our pasteurization lab, bringing experience as a former Team Leader in food production. He’s passionate about all things food, especially cooking and trying new recipes. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, board games, and spending time with friends.
Genna Steinschneider
Director of Operations
Genna, one of our first employees, oversees our Milk Processing Lab and Dispensing activities. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, live music, organizing, and—most of all—spending time with her husband, two children, and friends.
Joselin Guijosa
Order Fulfillment Specialist
Joselin is our resident expert on packing and shipping pasteurized donor human milk to our hospital and outpatient community. She is also a licensed esthetician and enjoys spending time with her family.
Lizbeth Guijosa
Sr. Lab Technician
Liz works in our milk pasteurization lab and ensures the safe handling and processing of donor human milk. In her free time, she enjoys bike rides with her family, dancing and gaming.
Michael Blieberg
Operations Assistant
Michael, a former NYMB intern, returns as our Operations Assistant supporting Lab and Shipping. A SUNY Binghamton graduate with a BS in Biological Sciences, he most recently worked as a Technologist Trainee at LabCorp.
Nikkia Green
Marketing & Communications Manager
Nikkia manages social media, marketing, and communications, creating impactful content to share our mission. Outside of work, she enjoys writing, reading, and spending quality time with her family.
Rachel Granger
Executive Director
Rachel leads NYMB, with expertise in program and partnership development, particularly in non-profit and disaster recovery. She holds an MBA in International Development from Thunderbird School of Global Management. In her free time, Rachel enjoys hiking, reading and time with friends and family.
Roseanne Motti
Founder, Director of Community & Donor Relations
Roseanne overseas our activities supporting milk donors and community partnerships. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Susan Ciocci
Supervisor of Donor Relations
Susan works with donors, guiding them through the milk donation process. She enjoys outdoor activities, photography, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Wilca Capellan
Lab Supervisor
Wilca oversees our pasteurization lab operations. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor and enjoys supporting mothers, spending time with her son, and trying new foods.
NYMB Team
Meet Our Board
Teresa Marziano
Co-Chair
Teresa is a partner at Americas Capital Advisors Corp., specializing in real estate investment. With a background in investment analysis and portfolio management, she holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BS in Chemical Engineering. Teresa brings her financial expertise to support the mission of The New York Milk Bank.
Tim Reilly
Co-Chair
Tim is a senior talent leader with expertise in talent engagement, management, and culture change. He has held key roles at Empire Today, MedSpeed, and Trinity, and now works at BE Power Equipment. Tim holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. He lives in Richfield, Minnesota with his wife, 3 kids, and their 6lb Maltese, Ginger.
Scott Eisenberg
Secretary
Scott is Chief Legal Officer at DirectBooks LLC and has extensive experience in corporate law. Previously, he worked as General Counsel for Symphony Communications and ICAP. As a father of two, Scott values the impact of donor milk on infant nutrition and is committed to supporting NYMB’s mission.
Susan Walker
Treasurer
Susan owns Walker Bookstore, which supplies textbooks to K-12 schools nationwide. With a passion for children’s health and education, she joined the board to support NYMB. Susan lives in Arizona with her husband, children, and a variety of animals on their family farm.
Susan Vierczhalek, MD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC
Founder, Medical & Tissue Bank Director
Susan is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine and leads several breastfeeding and newborn programs at Bellevue Hospital. She serves as the Breastfeeding Coordinator for the American Academy of Pediatrics NY Chapter and Vice-Chair of the NYC Breastfeeding Leadership Council.
Thomas Gaipa
Director
Thomas is Director of Operations at PepsiCo’s Global Beverage R&D Center, responsible for operations, maintenance and construction for the site. With a degree in Resource Development, he brings years of expertise in operations management. Thomas lives in Connecticut with his wife, and has three children and three grandchildren.
Rachel Granger
Director
Rachel is a non-profit leader with a focus on public health and disaster recovery. She has led global recovery efforts and overseen health program partnerships in over 30 countries. Rachel holds an MBA in International Development and currently serves as the Executive Director of The New York Milk Bank.
Kara Venus
Director
Kara is the owner of Stella’s Way Marketing and a children’s book author. Her business specializes in helping small businesses grow and scale. Kara volunteers with Literacy Volunteers and the CT Humane Society and was inspired to join the board after becoming a new mom.
NYMB Emeritus Board
Julie Bouchet, FNP-BC, IBCLC
Founder
In addition to being one of The NYMB Founders, Julie is a former Executive Director and Tissue Bank Director of the organization. She is a board-certified nurse practitioner and lactation consultant, and the owner of Hudson Valley Breastfeeding. Julie’s passion for milk banking began when her youngest daughter received donor milk.
Boriana Parvez, MD, FAAP, FRCPC, IBCLC
Founder
Boriana is a neonatologist at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, specializing in the care of premature and critically ill infants. With over 20 years of experience in neonatology across Canada and the U.S., she has a longstanding interest in preterm infant nutrition.
Katie Golden Kelter, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, NABBLM-C
Founder
Katie is a pediatrician and breast-feeding medicine specialist at Ryan Health in Manhattan where she runs a lactation clinic. She is dedicated to educating healthcare providers and staff on how to promote and support breastfeeding.
NYMB Founders at the naming of The Julie Bouchet Lab Suite
