Our Team
Director and Board
Bonnie Michelle Cannon
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bonnie Michelle Cannon is a pioneer of leadership. The first African American women to be elected to the Southampton Board of Trustees, she currently serves on the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and as chair of the Town of Southampton Housing Authority. A recipient of the Southampton Village Citizenship Award, she has also served on the Southampton Village Cultural Center Board and the Southampton Village Planning Commission. She is the co-founder of the East End African American Museum and Center of Excellence and Coordinator for Neighborhood Community Meetings.
A graduate of Howard University with a degree in Computer Management Information Systems, Cannon spent 20 years in Regional and Senior Staff management positions at Verizon and has been Executive Director of the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center since 2007. She is a board member of Urban League of Long Island.
Dr. Florence Rolston
Chairwoman
Dr. Florence Rolston of Southampton, is an obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice. She has served as an advisor to the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and as a former member of the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. She is currently a director at Southampton Hospital and a volunteer with Raphael Medical Missions. She has a particular interest in girl’s education, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Dan Rattiner
VICE PRESIDENT
Dan Rattiner is Vice President of the Center’s Board. He is the Founder and Editor and Chief of Dan’s Papers, a popular newspaper that has branched out into events, entertainment and a grand online presence. He is also the author of fourteen books, four of which were part of a series of books entitled “In the Hamptons” published by Random House and Suny Press.
Jerlean Hopson
TREASURER
Jerlean Hopson worked at a small manufacturing company in Sag Harbor for 46 years, starting as Payroll Clerk and retiring as Human Resources Director. Her family moved to Southampton when she was 3 years old but otherwise, has lived her entire life in SH town. She has lived in Southampton most of her life and attended Suffolk Community College and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bridgehampton. She knows and loves the community. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and is the Assistant Treasurer for the local chapter of the NAACP
Arlean Vanslyke
SECRETARY
Arlean Vanslyke had been a tutor at the Center many years ago for adults learning to read. She retired after 35 years at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. She has lived in Southampton most of her life and attended Suffolk Community College and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bridgehampton. She served as a Primary Sunday School teacher, President of the Women’s Guild and Director of Christian Education. Arlean knows and loves the community and children. She was executive secretary for the local chapter of the NAACP and a BSA Troop Den Mother.
Rev. Jerome Walker
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER
Rev. Jerome Walker is a minister of the Southampton Baptist Church. He serves as the Chaplain for the Bridgehampton Fire Department. He and his family are lifelong residents of Southampton. Jerome’s son is a Center- alumni. Jerome joined the board of the Center many years ago
Rev. Tisha Dixon Williams
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER
Reverend Tisha Williams is a proud product of Brooklyn, NY. She serves as the Sr. Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton. She answered the divine call of sharing Christ with the world in June 2008 and was licensed as a preacher and teacher of the Gospel in October of the same year. Reverend Williams was ordained in October 2014. “Reverend Tish” as she is affectionately known, has a servant’s heart and is passionate about ministry and the work that God has called her to do. She has a special heart for God’s people and a passion for new believers, young adults and women’s ministry.
Crystal R. Brown, MPA
Baord Member
Crystal has been a leader in the healthcare industry for the past 35 years, most recently with TDC Specialty Underwriters, Inc., serving as Vice President, Hospital Underwriting. She is a graduate of the Advanced Leadership Program at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She earned a master’s in public administration (MPA) in Health Services Management from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College. Crystal works closely with a number of community-serving organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Girl Scouts of America, Jack and Jill of America, YEMBA, Inc., Business Insurance – Women to Watch Foundation, and the Azurest Property Owners Association. At The Center, Crystal has served as an Advisory Board Member and is now a Board Member, volunteers with our Food Pantry, and works with our College & Career Readiness Program.
Crystal recently relocated from the Chicago area to Sag Harbor, NY with her husband, Damon S. Brown. They have 22-year-old triplets.
Trustees Emeritus
Jackie Leo
Kathy Tucker
Paul Jeffers Jr.
Advisory Board
Anna Cappelen
Barbara Slifka
Brandon Ray
Carol Hertling Nickell
Carol Konner
Cleo Ahn
Cheryl McNeil
Chris Moore
Chris Wasserstein
Christine Evangelista
Dan Gasby
Ella Engel-Snow
Jamie Diamond
Joan Ganz Cooney
Joan Hamburg
Joey Wolffer
Kayce Freed Jennings
Ken Miller
Kim Heirston
Kimberly Goff
Lauren Shapiro
Linda Bird Francke
Lukas Weinstein
Lybess Sweezy
Maria Lavezzo
Michael Davies
Shahara Ahmad- Llewellyn
Sivia Loria
Marketing & Development
Deb McEneaney