Management Team

JEFFREY A. FRIEDMAN, Executive Director

Jeffrey Friedman is a senior level manager with more than 15 years of progressive responsibility in the non-profit sector. He annually addresses national audiences based on the successes of programs that he and his teams have implemented. Recently, Mr. Friedman was appointed to the Executive Director position of the Retreat, a non profit organization dedicated to providing domestic violence services for women and children.

Prior to his appointment to the Retreat, Mr. Friedman served as the Executive Vice President for Operations of the Long Island Association for AIDS Care (LIAAC). LIAAC — one of the largest AIDS prevention / HIV-oriented service organizations in the United States — is where Mr. Friedman had propelled and managed day-to-day operations of the agency’s federally funded initiatives and, with a budget of 3 million dollars, had led the organization’s staff in exploring, pursuing, winning, and implementing relevant federal and foundation funding opportunities — including grants from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Before joining LIAAC in a middle management position in 1998 as Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Mr. Friedman served and helped drive & inspire the missions of other non-profit groups including FEGS (Federation Employment and Guidance Service) in New York City and ARC [previously Association for Retarded Citizens] in Port Henry, New York. Mr. Friedman earned a Master of Arts in Administration for Nonprofits from State University of New York at Plattsburgh (May 1995) and a Bachelors of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University (September 1992).

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Jennifer Criticher, Director of Finance 

Jennifer Critcher is responsible for managing all financial aspects of Retreat Inc.’s operations, reporting to the Executive Director.

Jennifer graduated from SUNY Albany in December 1997 with a bachelor’s degree (major Psychology and minor English.)  Post graduation Ms. Critcher worked for a mid-sized staffing agency and progressively managed Medicaid accounting, payroll and human resource functions. 

In the fall of 2000, she relocated to Long Island and was appointed Finance Director of the Retreat.  She currently has nine years tenure.  Ms. Critcher has been central in developing the Retreat’s accounting and control systems. In May 2010, Jennifer will graduate, with honors, from SUNY Old Westbury with an MS in Accounting (a specialized 58 credit program, including coursework in Financial Reporting, Taxation, Auditing, International Accounting, and Accounting Research).   Jennifer resides in Terryville, New York with her husband of seven years, and two daughters.  She serves on the personnel committee of her church and enjoys the beach, exercise, music, and gardening in her free time.

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Jennifer Palmer, Director of Development

With nearly a decade of experience in the field of fundraising and development, Jennifer Palmer is a proven leader who has demonstrated an ability for raising critical funds for the causes she represents. Whether Ms. Palmer was working on a national level or at a grassroots, community level, she has always demonstrated the ability to bring people together to rally around an issue. After years of success at a variety of positions in the entertainment industry, Ms. Palmer quickly realized her passion was to help those less fortunate.

At the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), Ms. Palmer spearheaded the Development Department by managing nationwide fundraising events. Her efforts around donor development led to a significant increase in agency supporters and constituents. During her tenure at NBCC she opened their only satellite office in Los Angeles and played a substantial role in expanding its leadership.

As a result of her decision to be closer to her family, in 2007, Ms. Palmer relocated back to her origin roots of East End of Long Island and was appointed to lead the Retreat’s development activities. Soon after her arrival at the Retreat, Ms. Palmer was promoted to Development Director. In her tenure with the Retreat, Ms. Palmer has been helped the Retreat raise awareness about domestic violence, expanded its group of community donors and supporters, and raise million of dollars to help protect the women and children of our community.

Ms. Palmer earned a Bachelors of Science from the State University of New York, Cortland.

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Kathy Schad, Administrative Manager

For almost a decade, Kathy has been an outstanding staff member and asset to our office administration here at the Retreat.  Her dedicated service and ongoing commitment to this agency includes overseeing the daily operations of both of our East Hampton and Riverhead offices as well as our technology and computerized systems.  She founded our Speakers Bureau and coordinates our current 50-person Volunteer Program. Her energy and passion for this work is evident from the beginning to the end of each Retreat day. 

Prior to her work at the Retreat, Kathy was a computer consultant for sixteen years.  During that time she traveled throughout Long Island to design computer programs for various organizations and business.  Some of her past clients include health insurance agencies, civic agencies and constructions/manufacturing firms.  She attended Suffolk Community College for an Associates Degree in Computer Programming.  It was because of her desire to give back to her local community that, ten years ago, Kathy choose to make a shift in her career path from the profit to not-for-profit sector, and decided to pursue work at our agency to help families impacted by domestic violence. 

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