Board of Directors

2025-26 Board of Directors

Chair – Dawn Columbare, DNP, retired from Jamestown Community College after a career in which she served as Professor and Director of Nursing. Following retirement, she was a national nursing education consultant.  Active in the community, Dawn serves on the Chautauqua County Board of Health. She co-chairs the Health Care Promotion Committee of The Creche, Inc., where she also has served as President of the Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Service Committee of the Zonta Club of Jamestown, co-chairing the Lily’s Hope and Birthing Kits initiatives. She is a longtime member of Zion Covenant Church, where she has served in many roles including Chair of the Leadership Team. She was elected to TRC’s Board in 2017.

Vice Chair – Todd Jacobson, M.D., is the retired Medical Director for Occupational Health at UPMC Chautauqua. He helped start TRC’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. Todd is a member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the New York College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Locally, he is a past Board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown and the Jamestown Safety Council, and he plays trumpet with the Jamestown Municipal Band and the Pearl City Big Jazz Band. Todd has been a member of TRC’s Board since 2003, serving as Chair from 2012 to 2015. He has a daughter who receives supports from The Resource Center.

Secretary – Lisa Goodell is the retired Executive Director of the Chautauqua Blind Association. She is the Secretary of the Rotary Club of Jamestown and Secretary of the Rotary Club’s Community Service Fund. Lisa also is the Treasurer on the Creche Board of Directors; is a member of the Chautauqua Striders Board of Directors; and serves on the Finance Committee of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Chautauqua County. She was elected to TRC’s Board in 2019 and serves on our Special Incident Review Committee.

Treasurer – Marie Carrubba, Esq., is the Executive Director of the Southwestern Independent Living Center. Long an active community volunteer, Marie is a member of the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees; serves on the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board; chairs the Board of Community Services; serves on the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities; and is a Board member of the Fenton History Center. Marie first served on TRC’s Board from 1989 to 2000 and was Chair from 1997 to 2000. She also has served as Secretary and Vice Chair. She was reelected to the Board in 2010. She has been involved with TRC since 1983. Marie received our Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, our Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2000 and our Advocate of the Year Award in 1993.

Mary Alison Burt has worked for 35 years as a special education teacher in the Jamestown School District. She currently serves on the planning committee for the annual Chautauqua Area Buddy Walk for Down syndrome awareness. Alison also has volunteered with Special Olympics, Girl Scouts and New Hope Assistance Dogs. Professionally, she became familiar with The Resource Center when students transitioned out of high school. Alison has a brother who has received supports from The Resource Center for many years, and her late sister-in-law also received supports from TRC. She was first elected to TRC’s Board in 2025.

Richard Erickson, is the Director of Accounting for Chautauqua Institution and the Athenaeum Hotel. Professionally, Dick is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. He has served on the advisory committee of the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has served on TRC’s Board since 2015, and was Board Chair from 2022-25.

John Felton is the Chief Executive Officer of Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union. Active in community service, John is the Treasurer of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He volunteers with the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and has served on the Chautauqua County Education Coalition. He also is the Treasurer of the New York State Coalition of CDFIs and is a past Chair of the New York Credit Union Foundation. John became involved with The Resource Center through our INVESTU anti-poverty program and decided to take an active role with our organization. In part because of his efforts with INVESTU, John received our 2023 Bruce Walford Community Service Award. He was first elected to the Board in 2024.

Robert Goold is a retired teacher, coach and athletic director with Frewsburg High School. Bob serves on the Board of the Jamestown Area YMCA. He is an Emergency Medical Technician with the Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department and teaches first-aid skills to coaches. Bob volunteers at St. Susan Center and the National Comedy Center. He has a son who receives supports from TRC. Bob was served on the Board since 2022.

Scott James has been involved with The Resource Center for many years. He was one of our most dedicated volunteers when we used to hold our annual basketball festival on the streets of Jamestown. He is a huge supporter of area sports teams, having helped Jamestown Community College’s basketball team for 20 years and the Jamestown Tarp Skunks baseball team. Scott received the 2025 “Be the Change” award from the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association for his contributions as a coach and supporter of Falconer High School’s sports teams, and for his ability to recover from a major health issue. He is a member of the Falconer Moose Lodge. Scott cares about people, and he supports The Resource Center’s mission because he wants people with disabling conditions to receive the supports and services they need. He was appointed to TRC’s Board in 2024.

Gwen Loomis is the retired Controller at People Inc., where she worked for 38 years. Gwen was a member of the Financial Managers Association for many years, serving terms as President and Vice President. Her volunteer activities include providing childcare at MomCo and at Christ Community Church, where she also assists in leading the seniors program. In retirement, Gwen wants to put her years of experience to use by supporting an organization that provides services to people with disabilities. “Watching how the services that are provided by agencies like TRC are improving lives and helping people to achieve their dreams and goals has been rewarding,” Gwen said. I would like to continue aiding in those successes by volunteering on the TRC board.” She was elected to the Board in 2026.

Barbara Stewart is retired as a Sales Merchandiser with Kraft Foods and has been involved with The Resource Center for more than 30 years. Barb is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is active in her church and is a Poll Site Coordinator with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections. She serves as Secretary/Treasurer of Chautauqua Connections, Inc., and serves on the Board of Community Inclusion Inc. She had a son who received supports from TRC for many years. Barb served on TRC’s Board from 2003-2010, then again from 2012-18, including one year as Vice Chair. She was elected to the Board again in 2022.

Dan Tota works for Lutheran, where he serves as Director of Edgewood Communities and Interim Administrator of Hultquist Place. Dan previously worked for The Resource Center. He was elected to the Board in 2026.