Mike was appointed Executive Director of CNYCN in April of 2008.  He was charged with creating and strengthening a network of nonprofit service providers working in coordination to assist those most at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure.  His work consists of crafting education, outreach, financial literacy and legal services interventions, and informing policy both locally and nationally alongside similar efforts around the United States.  For the prior ten years, Mike was Vice President of the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and Community Development Finance Group.  As a senior foundation program officer, Mike oversaw the $4.5 million annual community development budget, providing direct support for the development of affordable housing and housing for the formerly homeless, employment growth and training initiatives, and special projects utilizing the arts as a tool for local economic development.  He also managed the deployment of $2 million in relief and recovery funds in the city of New Orleans as part of the bank's commitment to the Gulf Coast region.  As a credit officer for the bank, he directed the placement of all program related investments, managing the $15 million New Initiatives Fund of the Foundation.  He also originated and maintained commercial community development assets in the bank's $350 million loan and investment portfolio.  He currently serves on the boards of Neighborhood Restore and Downtown Art.  Mike received his Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Christie Peale, Deputy Director

Christie has worked for public service organizations in NYC since 1994. She provided Community Case Management services for people living with HIV and AIDS for both the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Women's Prison Association. She then advocated for Medicare and Medicaid recipients enrolled in HMO plans with the Medicare Rights Center and Gay Men's Health Crisis. While working for the Building Services 32BJ Pension Fund, Christie worked on an employer assisted housing project, which led her to work for not-for-profit affordable housing developers in Bushwick and Washington Heights.  She joins CNYCN most recently from the New York State Housing Finance Agency, where she underwrote tax-exempt bond deals to preserve affordable housing.  Christie has a BA from Harvard and a MSW from the Hunter College School of Social Work in Community Organizing and Planning.

  Petra joined CNYCN in July 2009 as Policy and Communications Director with responsibility for communications, media and marketing strategy development and implementation. Prior to CNYCN, Petra was Managing Director, Marketing and Communications at TIGER 21, a peer-to-peer learning network for high net worth investors. Prior to TIGER 21, Petra was Director of Communications at Women's World Banking (WWB) and led the communication and marketing effort for the largest microfinance network worldwide. Prior to this position, Petra was Senior Associate Director of Public Affairs at Barnard College, Columbia University where she managed communications, media relations and events for six years. Before Barnard, Petra was Press Officer for the Consulate General of Finland and represented the Government of Finland with responsibility for all facets of public relations and marketing of Finnish culture, business and tourism in the U.S. She assisted in the development of the largest promotional campaign for Finland in the U.S. to-date with major cultural institutions, including MOMA, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Petra received her MBA in Marketing from the Fordham Graduate Business School and her BA in Economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Jennifer Murphy, Lender Servicer Relations Director

Amanda Insinga, Program Assistant

Amanda joined CNYCN in July of 2008 as an Administrative Assistant, and became Program Assistant in October of 2008.  She has six years experience in the mortgage and settlement industries, having worked as a closing underwriter for a mortgage lender.  She has also coordinated loan closings as a mortgage processor for a title company.  She obtained her B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Mount Holyoke College in 2001 and her Paralegal Certificate from Long Island University, C. W. Post in 2007.  She is also a commissioned Notary Public.

Brendan joined CNYCN as a Call Center Representative in February of 2009.  His work consists of receiving direct calls and referring homeowners to the appropriate non-profit Network Partners.   He has previous experience as a real estate salesperson and call center representative in several industries.  He obtained a B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz in 1998. 

Tadello Johnson, Call Center Representative