We are pleased to announce the election of Manda D’Agata as our new Board President. Currently the Treasurer for a private investment firm, Manda was introduced to Rocking the Boat through a Goldman Sachs corporate volunteer day in 2009. She became a supporter and then joined the Board in 2016. Neither a sailor, nor a woodworker, nor a scientist, Manda was moved by spending the day at Rocking the Boat working hand in hand with the participants. Once she got more involved with the organization as a donor she was continually struck by how very well the work was being done—from the direct services, to the external communication, to the management. That level of consistent professionalism attracted her and synched well with her instincts honed during a 20-year career in investment banking, leading large international teams, balancing growth with risk management, and building strong business relationships. Though Manda may not consider herself much of a boater, we are thrilled to have her at the helm of Rocking the Boat.
Manda follows in the footsteps of Carla Murphy, who has served as Rocking the Boat’s President for the past four years. Carla’s path to Rocking the Boat was unconventional: she met Adam Green on the subway. They discussed hiking boots. An avid sailor, she was intrigued to learn about Rocking the Boat and with several friends in tow, she attended a 2006 fundraiser at Brooklyn Brewery and has been Rocking the Boat’s most industrious cheerleader ever since. A technology project and applications manager with the Fire Department of New York, Carla spends her days and plenty of long nights developing and managing complex emergency response systems that keep New Yorkers safe. For Carla, who credits an after school program with changing her own life as a kid growing up in New York City, a great part of the appeal of Rocking the Boat is the very concrete way in which it changes the lives of the kids its serves...and they get to go sailing, too! We are so fortunate to have Carla’s amazing energy behind us and look forward to continuing to work closely together for many years to come.
"I was honored to serve as board president, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and a joy to share my passion for the organization with so many of my friends and family. Rocking the Boat's staff, students, board, and supporters are some of the best people you could ever hope to spend your time with and Rocking the Boat is an organization that the more you know about the more you want to do for. I am thrilled to be remaining on the board under Manda's leadership."
"The work done by RTB is incredibly important but just as important is how they do it. I have seen up close how thoughtful the management team and staff are about setting ambitious goals for growing and delivering services to the community, and following through with plans on how to achieve the goals. Then they accomplish them. As President, I am thrilled to help execute those plans."
