RFNJ Officers 2010 - 2012
Gregory Farnham, RFNJ President
Greg has been on the RFNJ Board since 2006. He is Senior Manager of Customer Service for American Express Online Travel. Previously, he was the owner of his own consulting firm, Customer Intelligence Consulting, which helped companies improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Greg holds a B.A. in English from Hunter College. Greg and his partner of 22 years Christopher have two daughters, Megan (5) and Rachel (2). They have lived in Glen Ridge, NJ for over 10 years.
Alexis Hanes, RFNJ Vice President
Alexis has been a member of Rainbow Families since 2003 and was a board member from 2008 – 2010. Alexis and her partner Anna have been together since 1999. They live in Glen Ridge with their daughter. Alexis has worked for the foodservice company Compass Group since 1991, where she is the Business Relationship Manager for the Eurest/Flik Eastern Divisions.
Michelle Breaud, RFNJ Secretary
Michelle Breaud has been a board member since 2008 two years. She is the Director of Marketing for Arden Courts Alzheimer’s Assisted Living. She also runs a private tutoring business for grade school children and frequently teaches Psychology classes as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. She has given lectures on Child Development, Utilization of Medication Management and Parent-Child Relationships. Previously held professional positions have been in marketing and psychology. Michelle has her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. She has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross and the Young Leadership Council, and is currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce, The Caregiver’s Coalition of Essex County and the Executive Women’s Association of Morris County. Michelle and her partner are in the process of starting a family.
Amy Van Pelt, RFNJ Treasurer
Amy has served on the RFNJ Board for 7 years. She was President of RFNJ from 2008 to 2010. She and her partner, Laura, live “down the shore” with their 2 sons. Amy is a graduate of Temple University and is the Manager of Volunteer Programs at Homefirst - a non-profit social service agency serving the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
RFNJ BOARD MEMBERS 2010 - 2012
Eddy Byam
Eddy has been a RFNJ board member for the past 2 years. He has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years and is currently pursuing a shift in career focus on becoming an entrepreneur. He holds a B.A. in English from Rutgers University and a M.A. in Media/Film from the New School. Eddy and his partner David live in Hoboken with their son.
Mechelle Evans
Mechelle has been a member of RFNJ for four years. She and her partner Darilyn have 2 boys, ages 5 and 3. Prior to moving to Morristown, NJ in 2005, the couple lived in South Orange, NJ and Maplewood, NJ for 8 years. A native of Ohio, Mechelle received her B.A. from Duke University prior to moving to the metropolitan area in 1990 to attend New York University School of Law where she met her partner, Darilyn. Darilyn is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mechelle is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, and her partner practices law in the financial services industry.
Eric Goldman
Eric lives in Glen Ridge with his 6 year old daughter Rosa, their dog Marlon and their two cats, Garcia and Otis. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and of NYU Law, Eric works as an entertainment lawyer in New York City. Eric is just completing his term as a board member of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition, a national organization of which Eric has been an active member since its formation in 2001. Eric has been a member of Rainbow Families since 2003.
Doug Graiver
Doug and his partner Matt live in Lambertville, NJ where they are learning how to parent their two very active sons Luke and Cole, ages 2 and 1. Doug and Matt are certified foster parents. Prior to adopting Luke and Cole they cared for Dillon for his first 38 months and Jake for his first 11 months. Doug is a stay at home dad who works part time. When not at home running after Luke and Cole, Doug is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has worked in various schools settings, in substance abuse programs, and mental health clinics. Currently, Doug is a consultant for a halfway house serving indigent women as they work on their sobriety. Doug has a private practice providing psychotherapy to families, couples, teens, and those with substance abuse problems.
Maria Towe
Maria Towe, has been delighted to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the past four years. She and her son live in Montclair. Maria has an MA in audiology from Gallaudet University, and is a sign language interpreter at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.
Rhonda VanAntwerp
Rhonda and her partner Debbie live in Bergen County with their two daughters, ages 8 and 9. Their family was formed through international adoption. Rhonda has twenty years of non-profit managerial experience. Currently she is employed as Director of Major Gifts at Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey. Rhonda is a graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago (BFA) and Montclair State University (MA).
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