The Centering for Wellness Board is composed of individuals with a variety of talents and experience. The Board consists of:
- Marjorie Baker Price, President
- Max Reiter, Vice President
- Deb Fitch, Treasurer
- Beth Price, Secretary
- Mary D. Freida
- Dr. Leila Kirdani, MD
- Jean Kase
- Tony Quercia
- Andrea Quercia
Marjorie Baker Price, President
She has taught at the State University of New York College at Brockport School of Nursing, Nazareth College Center for Lifelong Learning and St. John Fisher College community education center. She has worked as a geriatric nurse at the Jewish Home and Infirmary in Rochester, NY.
In 1987, she founded her private holistic counseling practice. She is a counselor and holistic practitioner as well as a spiritual/intuitive coach, group facilitator, speaker and trainer.
She specializes in regression, relaxation and recovery therapies, shamanic healing, therapeutic journaling, grief counseling, conflict resolution and intuitive/spiritual development. In addition, she has presented numerous staff development seminars through her current holistic counseling practice, on meditation, new leadership skills, hypnosis, therapeutic journaling, and energy healing, including her uniquely synthesized approach, compassionate touch therapy.
She has authored a nationally acclaimed series of audio guided meditation and self-hypnosis recordings as well as several related books and self-study courses on integrative healing and empowerment. Additionally, she has authored an inner child and children's fable, Merinda and the Magic Mirror, which includes a CD recording and two guided meditations; and a book of poems, Willing to be led Toward Your Heart.
She has been a featured columnist with Nature’s Wisdom magazine on counseling and integrated health topics, and was the recipient of the Florence R. Hallauer award for Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In addition, she coauthored an article for the New York State Nurses Association Journal called "The Spirit of Healing", and has contributed numerous holistic articles to local and national newspapers and magazines, including on line publications.
Marjorie presents numerous related workshops nationwide on self-healing, wellness, recovery therapies, goal achievement, creative expression and empowerment, as well as counseling and consulting for individuals and small groups. She is a sought after public speaker and frequently makes appearances nationally on radio and television.
Max Reiter, Vice President
Max Reiter has extensive experience in managerial, teaching, and leadership roles in the Cosmetology industry. His experience in non-profit organizations includes board membership with Helping People with Aids (founded 1993), where he chaired the "Dining for Dollars" event, yielding $125,000 in donations/funds.Max became a member of the National Cosmetology Association in 1980. This lead to his 1986 election to the Board of Directors on the Rochester Cosmetology Association. Max’s duties included roles as the Treasurer and as the Chairman of the Membership Committee.
In 1976, Max was hired at the B. Foreman Company in Pittsford, NY as a stylist and was subsequently promoted to working manager, and then senior manager, where he oversaw the company’s four salons.
From 1981-1987, Max started and managed his sole proprietorship as a booth renter at Peter’s Hair Fashions, in Pittsford, NY. His entrepreneurial experience continued from August 1987 to July 2000, as Max ran his own business at Beaux Arts Salon in Pittsford, NY.
Max received a degree in vocational-technical education at SUNY Oswego, which included certification to teach cosmetology in New York State (1990)
Debra Fitch, Treasurer
Our programs are aimed at increasing self-awareness and self-actualization...individuals will be empowered with self-help tools to deal with daily stresses, but most importantly, empowerment to address the critical stresses that brings challenges at different stages in their lives.
Debra Fitch brings accounting professionalism & a heightened moral compass to our work. Her rich experience working with individuals needing medical and educational attention in Pakistan are inspirational and motivating.
Debra obtained a B.S. in Biology (1977) from Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduation, Debra was hired at the Genesee Hospital where she worked as a histotechnologist in the Pathology Department. While at Genesee Hospital she was awarded two certifications by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry as Histologic Technician, and Histotechologist.
From 1988 to 1989, Debra joined an overseas medical agency funded by the United States Agency for International Development in Peshawar, Pakistan. Freedom Medicine was specifically chartered to train and educate military Afghani soldiers, “Mujahedeen’s,” in the administration of medical procedures which helped save lives of the wounded during the Afghan Soviet war. Her experience working in an underdeveloped country such as Pakistan and the cultural differences that existed had a profound affect on her. She administered an annual budget to USAID and she developed a financial reporting format which was adopted by them for use by all contract agencies.
In 1991, Debra completed her program at RIT and received her MBA in accounting. and accrued experience as she worked for various local CPA firms. She performed bookkeeping services, cash management, and human resources support with an emphasis on corporate, partnership, individual and fiduciary income tax accounting.
During this time, Debra also bought LedgerPlus, where she marketed small businesses and individual clientele with a focus on financial reporting and tax reporting compliance. She sold the franchise in 1997. In 1997 she successfully completed all portions of the CPA exam.
After working for several years in a CPA environment, Debra worked from 2002 to 2007 for a local law firm performing daily bookkeeping activities. In this setting, she created a procedural manual for bookkeeping/accounting transaction and activities, she saved the company money by correcting an employee health contribution that was understated for prior years, and finally she brought their real estate account into compliance.
In 2007, Debra revisited the CPA working environment and she is currently working part time for a local CPA with a concentration in areas of tax accounting and bookkeeping management.
Beth Price, Secretary
Beth Price is an active composer and bass player of New York City. She received her Master’s in Music from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA and her B.A. from Bennington College, VT, studying with Allen Shawn-bestselling author of Schoenberg’s Journey, Dr. John Morrison and celebrated national composer, Kenji Bunch. Beth is a three-time recipient of the Nadia Boulanger Composition Commission and the Bennington College Composition Award. Her work has been commissioned and performed in Boston, Rochester, NY and was most recently performed as part of a faculty recital at the Juilliard School in New York City.Beth is co-founder and contributing composer to the artists’ ensemble, Brooklyn Emerging Artists (BEA), an organization dedicated to spreading new works by emergent Brooklyn composers, artists and musicians. BEA is celebrating their second year in residency at the New York Times noted community center, Greenpoint Church through their on-going new music concert series. All BEA ticket proceeds benefit Greenpoint Food Pantry’s efforts to eradicate local hunger. Beth is also executive director and co-founder of BEA Rock Camp, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth, regardless of financial need, through musical collaboration, in the freedom and spirit of Rock ‘n Roll.
A regular instrumentalist for the Off-Broadway circuit, Beth most recently performed with the Village Voice noted theatre company Stolen Chair in their original production of Theatre is Dead and So Are You! A contributing bass player for the national touring all-girl country band, The Havens, Beth’s work can be found on their premiere album, Devil Days.
Beth is also a dedicated teacher, often combining compositional techniques and creative approach in her instrumental and theory lessons. Currently, Beth teaches at the innovative Garden School in Jackson Heights, New York and Joria Productions’ City Music Schools in Manhattan.
Mary D. Freida
Centering for Wellness programs can enhance one's life by learning how to use tools that will assist in stress reduction, generate positive thinking and improve coping abilities.
Mary Freida MSN Ed, RN has extensive experience as a registered nurse and with educational program development. Mary has advanced her expertise in nursing for the past thirty two years in clinical areas to include the emergency room, medical surgical acute care, home care and hospice. Since 1989 she has provided educational opportunities, developed conferences and programs throughout the Finger Lakes Region. Mary is the co-founder of The Springs of Clifton at Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic. The Springs of Clifton offers a variety of holistic health care and educational opportunities to clients for healthcare prevention and wellness. Mary is currently working as a clinical nursing instructor at Finger Lakes Community College.
Dr. Leila Kirdani, MD
Dr. Kirdani's offers services and consulting at Professional Nutrition Services and the Centre for Optimum Health
Medical specializations and areas of interest include:
- Hormone Balancing,
- Adrenal Fatigue,
- Disease Management
- Nutrition Consulting
Dr. Leila Kirdani is the first Physician in Western New York to be Board Certified in Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine. She graduated from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1991 and went on to obtain a Board Certification in Family Medicine from York Hospital, Pennsylvania. Dr. Leila Moved to Rochester in 1997 to complete a Fellowship in Family Systems which allowed her to explore her interest in Family Therapy and Biopsychosocial Medicine. She has been practicing Family Medicine in Rochester's Inner City for over 9 years.
Jean Kase
Jean Kase is the executive director of The Entrepreneurs Network. She brings 22 years of public and private expertise.
Rooted in the Rochester community, Jean Kase has an extensive network on the local, state and federal levels. As director of the Rochester Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), one of six official Department of Defense programs in the state, 99 clients were awarded $129 million in contracts from 2004- 2007, resulting in the creation and retention of 2,568 jobs. She served in this capacity from 2003-2005 and resumed this position earlier in 2007 at the request of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.
As vice president of government relations for the Rochester Business Alliance and its predecessor, the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, Jean Kase served as the principal lobbyist representing 2,100 member firms in government matters affecting the regional business climate. In this capacity, she advised CEO’s on legislative and political issues. Key successes included coordinating the Common Sense Medicaid Coalition estimated to save Monroe County $47 million in 2007, organizing grassroots business and editorial support to facilitate enactment of broad-based and targeted tax relief packages – saving employers $2 billion since 1995, and coordinating the International Business Council advocacy of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement – and was recognized by the U.S Chamber of Commerce for delivering key support for the 217-215 victory.
In forging greater collaboration between The Chamber and Small Business Council of Rochester, Jean Kase launched the area’s first CEO Roundtable program in 1990 and grew the program to more than 150 members. She also managed the Start-Up Resource program which connected emerging firms with mentors from successful companies.
Jean Kase provides clients with advocacy, business development and project management services. She currently serves on the Board of Nazareth Schools – The Hall and The Academy, wholly owned and operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. She earned her undergraduate degree at St. John Fisher College and an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Tony Quercia
A lifelong Rochester resident Anthony has a financial services practice. Working with professional couples and the owners of closely held businesses he uses tax advantaged strategies to help clients build and preserve their wealth.
Educated at McQuaid Jesuit HS, St. Bonaventure University (B.S. Economics) and the Rochester Institute of Technology where he received his MBA with a concentration in Finance, Tony went on to pursue post graduate work at the Advest Institute at Harvard University.
Active in the community; Tony has served on the board of Cameron Community Ministries and as the chairman of their annual golf tournament the past 10 years. The tournament is their main fundraising event which helps sustain their after school programs for the kids from School 30. He has also been involved with fundraising efforts for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Bivona Child Advocacy Center. Currently serving on the Advancement Committee of McQuaid Jesuit HS, he previously sat on the boards of Faith Childcare and Nursery School and St. Joseph’s School in Penfield.
Tony and his beautiful wife, Andrea live in Pittsford and are the proud parents of three grown children.
Andrea Quercia
Andrea Morano Quercia is Vice President and General Counsel of ITT Geospatial Systems, where she advises a $1.5B international high tech company headquartered in Rochester.
ITT Geospatial Systems is a global supplier of innovative night vision, remote sensing and navigation solutions that provide sight and situational awareness at the space, airborne, ground and soldier levels.
Prior to joining ITT, Andrea was Senior Counsel at Eastman Kodak Company, focusing on general corporate, labor and employment, and commercial litigation.
Andrea practiced law with Ernstrom & Dreste and with Nixon Hargrave Devans & Doyle, now Nixon Peabody, prior to joining Kodak.
She has spoken at national and international conferences on a variety of topics, including negotiation, electronic discovery and employee training.
She received her B.S. in Economics summa cum laude from Saint Bonaventure University and her J.D. cum laude from Albany Law School of Union University.
Andrea has served on the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children/NY for several years, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of Mercy High School, where she chairs the Compensation and Benefits Committee.
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