RSVP Staff
Ray Duffy, Director
After earning a Master’s Degree from Saint Michel’s College in 1985, Ray spent the first part of his career building a corporate resume. Starting as Distribution Manager for a small paint and hardware operation, Ray moved to TJX in 1988. During his tenure in the Distribution Services Division of T.J. Maxx, Ray served as Inventory Control Supervisor and worked his way into Systems Development. An opportunity presented itself in 1998 at Allmerica Financial / Hanover Insurance where Ray accepted a position as Business Systems Financial Analyst and was assigned to the Y2K Project. After being laid off for a year, Ray accepted the position of Homeland Security Program Coordinator with RSVP where he re-evaluated existing work-plans and developed pragmatic outreach programs involving older adults. Several months after the sponsorship transition from the City of Worcester to Family Services, Ray was asked to serve as the interim director and was permanently appointed to the position in April 2008. Ray’s goal now is to transition RSVP and position the program to take advantage of the Boomer aged volunteers.
Nicole McLear, Administrative Assistant
Nicole has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in mental health. She has worked in various fields of Psychology including: Outreach Worker for Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Case Manager for adult men in recovery of substance abuse, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, and Family Service Advocate for Head Start Worcester in Great Brook Valley.
Nicole is currently coordinating the SWAT Team and Office Manager for RSVP.
Cathy Nalewajk, Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator
Cathy Nalewajk is the newest addition to the RSVP staff. She began her duties as Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator in May of 2009 and is eagerly looking forward to all the challenges and rewards the position offers.
Cathy comes to us with years of experience in marketing, customer service, training and sales. Throughout her career, she has held positions such as Assistant Store Manager/Sales Training Coordinator for the Outlet Department Stores of Providence, RI and Customer Service /Inside Sales Supervisor for Minolta Business Systems in Chicago, IL. Most recently, she was the Marketing and Customer Service Supervisor for LKQ Corporation in Webster, MA.
Barbara Drapos, Literacy Programs
Born and raised in Alaska, Barbara has resided in central Massachusetts since attending college in Worcester. She nurtured her passion for theater through directing plays in community theater and teaching acting, while working professionally first as a teacher and then as a resource specialist/behavioral consultant to school systems and families of children with special needs.
Following her work as an arts administrator, Barbara decided to take time off to write the story that had been “inside my head” for years. She says she loved doing the research and developing the self-discipline to write every day. The result was a work of historical fiction that Barbara read at the first “Women Writers in New England” event in Worcester in 2006. Barbara says that tackling her second re-write before sending the manuscript to agents is a necessary but difficult prospect.
The issue of domestic violence has inspired Barbara’s creation of a number of artistic and theatrical pieces intended to raise awareness about this deadly issue. These were presented over a number of years at the YWCA/Daybreak Annual Breakfast. Barbara’s enjoyment of the written and spoken “word” also includes judging high school speech competitions in which students from all over Massachusetts and around the country compete.
“For me, one of life’s greatest lessons has been that everyone has a story. If we don’t take time to listen, we miss the opportunity to know the incredible artists, remarkable adventurers and quiet heroes among us. Getting to know the Literacy Corps volunteers has been a gift. They are remarkable people.”
Rita Sullivan, Health & Safety Programs Coordinator
After working for 38 years as a Service Manager for Sears, Roebuck & Co., at the Auburn Mall, Rita was most recently Box Office Supervisor for Foothills Theater.
Rita was first introduced to RSVP via the Millbury Public Library, where she serves on the Library’s Board of Trustees and is the host of “Celebrity Reader” program, shown on Millbury Public Access.
Hosting the Library’s “Celebrity Reader” program, shown on Millbury Public Access, is one of her passions.
“Celebrity Readers” is a program where local celebrities read to the children, from their workplace. During the past three years they’ve visited the National Guard Motor Pool, the Eric Carle Museum, an Asa Water’s Tea, and the boxcar at the Millbury Sr. Ctr., just to name a few.
Rita is Program Coordinator for the Senior Health and Safety Program and will be developing programs that impact seniors in our communities