UMFF - Key Persons
Charles W. Beach established the C.W. Beach Co., Inc. in 1961, which represents manufacturers who design and market electrical components used for modifying original equipment in the computer and copier/duplicating fields. Mr. Beach is a Trustee at Syracuse University (elected 1991) and has been a Trustee at Manlius Pebble Hill School. His civic responsibilities include being a Trustee of Interfaith Works of Syracuse, present member of the Frontier Foundation and past President of the United Methodist Foundation Inc. He is also the past President of the Board at Elmcrest Children's Home and past President of the Board of Vera House Foundation. He is also past President of the Board of Folts Nursing Home (Herkimer, N.Y.) and past President of the Board of Folts Foundation, as well as Vice President of the local Syracuse Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Member of the New Paltz United Methodist Church
A resident of Tillson, New York, Mr. Ruback is a member of the New Paltz United Methodist Church. Among church offices he has held are Trustee Treasurer, Chair and founding member of the Planned Giving Committee, and member of the Church's Building Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee and Church Treasurer. A graduate of Clarkson College, Mr. Ruback has 30 years' experience in accounting and management and has been Chief Financial Officer of both profit and not-for-profit corporations. He is currently Controller of the YWCA of Ulster County in Kingston, New York. Mr. Ruback is Treasurer of the United Methodist Frontier Foundation and has been a member of the Board since its founding. He was previously on the Board of The New York Connecticut Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- President
For more than 21 years, Ellen Knudsen served The United Methodist Church in several positions at the General Board of Global Ministries. Starting as the executive assistant to the General Secretary of the international mission agency, she built relationships with church leaders around the world. She then moved to US-based work with the United Methodist Women's network of National Mission Institutions providing technical support to non-profit boards and executive directors for 26 organizations. In 2012, she became the Director of Advance Projects where she provided visionary and strategic leadership for the designated giving program of The United Methodist Church. Ellen is serving on the General Council on Finance and Administration's board committee for Fiduciary, Foundation and Property matters. Originally from a farming community in the West Ohio Annual Conference, she now resides with her husband in New York City where she is a member of the Church of the Village United Methodist Church.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Field Representative Coordinator
- Performance
Mr. Andreana brings extensive experience in business development and not-for-profit fundraising to the Foundation. He served as the Executive Director, CT Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, leading the lobbying of the Connecitcut Legislature to secure in excess of $8 million in state appropriations from 2006 to 2012 and successfully funded other initiatives to secure additional state funding. He also served as President & CEO of the Oxford Economic Development Corporation, a position responsible for directing a wide and varied number of economic development activities including the planning, development and implementation of Oxford's Plan of Development. He organizes the UMFF Field Representatives, scheduling them to meet with partner churches and others, developing materials, running district workshops and Clergy Finance Training and chairing the selection team for the UMFF Ministry grants. He is a member of the Great Hill United Methodist Church in Seymour, CT.
Mr. Salyer joined Grange League Federation (GLF) in February, 1957, as an internal auditor and continued with Agway Inc. after its formation through the merger of GLF, Eastern States Farmers Co-op and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, serving in a variety of accounting and control positions. In 1975, he was named CEO of Motor Transportation Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agway, that provided all of their trucks and off-road vehicles. Mr. Salyer retired from Agway in 1990 after 33 years of service. He assumed the position of Director of Administrative Services & Treasurer of the North Central New York Conference - United Methodist Church, including financial overview of the New York West Area Foundation. He implemented an across-the-board mandatory multi-peril insurance program with a single supplier for all the churches in the former North Central New York Conference that provided more and better coverage at a reduced cost. Mr. Salyer helped form and facilitate implementation of the United Methodist Frontier Foundation by joining together the New York Connecticut and New York West Area Foundations. He established investment relations with John G. Ullman & Associates for the UMFF portfolio. He is a member of the Penn Yan UMC.
Peter Owh has served on the board since 2016. He works in the financial services industry and brings his strong investment background to the board. Peter has recently moved to Webster, New York.
Ronald P. Brand brings corporate organizational experience to the board as a retiree after 38 years with Central Hudson, and left with the title of SVP. For the last 10 of those years, he was the officer responsible for Engineering, Environmental Affairs and Special Projects. He is also a lifelong United Methodist, a 30+ year member of the Hyde Park, NY, United Methodist Church and has served on or chaired numerous commissions and committees during that time including the Board of Trustees, Administrative Board/Church Council, Finance, Staff/Parish Relations and Men's Club. In October 2001, he became the Project Manager responsible for the successful financing and completion within budget of the $2.7 million expansion and renovation of the Church and Education Building. He currently chairs the Finance Committee and serves on the Church Council and Men's Club.
Susan Fulton joined the UMFF Board in 2008. She brings financial skills to the organization through her experience as a Claim Manager for CNA Insurance. She served on the Upper NY Conference Insurance Task Force. She is a member of the Chittenango United Methodist Church and serves on its Administrative Council.