Mentoring USA Staff

Stephen Powell is the Executive Director at Mentoring USA based in New York, NY. An alumnus of the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management Executive Education Program at Columbia University's Graduate Business School, Stephen remains driven to lead program expansion and technical assistance efforts for Mentoring USA across the nation in major cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Las Vegas, and also in Newark, NJ. Prior to joining Mentoring USA in 2005, Stephen worked in program development and management for local and national non-profits such as: Family and Child Services of Washington, DC, VSA arts/Kennedy Center, the Anthony Bowen YMCA, Youth for Understanding, the Metropolitan DC Police Boys and Girls Club, and the Harlem Educational Activities Fund.

Touring the U.S., Africa, Europe, and South America, Stephen Powell spent 10 years performing, holding workshops, and completing artist residencies via a percussive-based dance troupe, called Step Afrika, which was developed through his college fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha at Howard University. Down the line, Stephen cultivated a passion for procuring celebrities and athletes to support causes for young adults. Inevitably, this passion led to becoming the Founder of PQ Concepts Sports and Entertainment Consulting LLC.

A native of New Jersey, Stephen was born and raised in Newark and East Orange, respectively. He now lives in New York City with his wife/Broadway actress Marlaina Sims-Powell and their     2.5 year old daughter, Sinclair Adina. Stephen also still remains an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Xi Lambda Graduate Chapter, the Association of Mentoring Professionals and is a member of USTA Eastern Muticultural Participation Committee.

Peter Cataldo, Assistant Director
pcataldo@mentoringusa.org, 212.400.8271

Since the summer of 2005, Pete Cataldo has contributed to the team of efforts at Mentoring USA. Responsible for overseeing program implementation and training, Pete has also assisted in expanding site-based mentoring to Los Angeles, CA and in Newark, NJ where Mentoring USA's strong New York presence has played a pivotal role. Prior to Pete's arrival at Mentoring USA, he worked for Habitat for Humanity and Jersey City Medical Center's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic. With a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Scranton and a Masters degree in Social Work from NYU, Pete Cataldo has managed numerous site-based mentoring programs and is involved in the training of volunteers to prepare them for the challenges of serving as an effective mentor.

Dimple Patel, Senior Program Manager
dpatel@mentoringusa.org, 212.400.8286

Beginning as a dedicated intern volunteering for Mentoring USA in September of 2007, Dimple Patel eventually joined on and became the General Programs Manager in January of 2008. Prior to joining the Mentoring USA staff, Dimple provided her skills in Longview, TX as an Outreach Coordinator and Research Evaluator. In this position, she educated elementary and middle school students about Violence Prevention, while also being instrumental in a coalition to create a male mentoring program. Receiving her Bachelors of Science from A&M University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Dimple eventually moved to NY. With experience and passion sparked in Texas, Mentoring USA's mission and goals inevitably drew her in and became an ideal place to call home.

Neil White, Career Program Manager, Foster Care Initiatives
nwhite@mentoringusa.org, 212.400.8290

A journalist and creative writer for multiple local and national publications, Neil White is Mentoring USA's Foster Career Initiatives Program Manager. Graduating from the University of Connecticut, he received a B.A. in psychology and served as one of few African American Resident Assistants in the Department of Residential Life. A native of the Bronx, Neil has also proudly served his hometown as a community organizer acting as a liaison with various tenant associations and developing community boards for rental residents in the South East Bronx. A published author, Neil's 2006 book of poetry, Worded Thoughts, has been a catalyst for educational public speaking forums with thousands of children in schools and community groups in the Tri-state New York area. Contributing to Mentoring USA by designing a Resource Guide for assisting Mentors and Mentees, Neil also facilitates the shaping of futures by assisting Mentors and Mentees with finding employment, internships, and enrolling in schools.

Samantha McQuibban, Program Manager
smcquibban@mentoringusa.org , 212-400-703