Board of Directors
Brenda E.
Levis
President
Citing a void in the New York Tri-State market for
Citing a void in the New York Tri-State market for reasonably priced, high-quality destination services providers, Brenda was inspired to start up her own company, NYC Navigator, in 2005. Prior to this, she served as the Global Relocation Manager for Lehman Brothers in New York City, where she managed the firm’s domestic and international relocation departments and its corporate housing program. Having lived in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, she has first-hand knowledge of the challenges of an international move. Brenda has been a featured speaker at numerous relocation events and is an active
Board member of TIRA (The International Relocation Associates) and the Tessa International School. She has also served on
the International Assignment Committee for the Employee Relocation Council.
Anne Marie
Salmeri
Treasurer
With 30 years of experience as a New York State Li
With 30 years of experience as a New York State Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, Anne Marie has cultivated a loyal clientele who value her in-depth market knowledge, strategic insight, and genuine passion for helping people achieve their real estate goals. She approaches every transaction with the belief that no two clients—or homes—are alike, and she leads a trusted team of attorneys, lenders, photographers, stagers, contractors, and architects to ensure each sale is seamless and successful. A natural entrepreneur, Anne Marie previously owned two businesses in the health and fitness industry before channeling her energy and business acumen into real estate. She is an active member of NAR, NYSAR and REBNY.
Alice
Lesman
Operations
Alice has more than 26 years of experience in relo
Alice has more than 26 years of experience in relocation, real estate, housing and facilities management. She developed and implemented the Housing Information and Referral Service at Columbia University to facilitate the relocation and housing search for faculty and staff recruits. She provides individual consultations for housing and real estate in the New York metropolitan area, which takes into consideration an urban or suburban preference. She manages the Affinity Mortgage Lending Program which provides a select group of lenders for purchasers. As an informational tool, she executes a monthly newsletter on a variety of relocation, housing and real estate topics for the Columbia community, along with a broad-ranging array of workshops. Prior positions were as Facilities and Expatriate Housing Managers for international banks. She earned an MS in Interior Architecture from Pratt Institute, and CRP and GMS certifications from WERC.
Patrick
Michaels
Marketing Chair
Patrick Michaels has over 20 years of leadership e
Patrick Michaels has over 20 years of leadership experience spanning talent mobility, real estate, travel, and hospitality.
Patrick brings a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering exceptional global service.
Prior to joining Sterling Lexicon, Patrick founded and led R3present, advising organizations on brand strategy and competitive positioning across consulting, mobility, and luxury travel sectors.
His career also includes senior roles with AKA Hotels & Hotel Residences, AVE (Korman Communities), Santa Fe Relocation, and key contributions to nxt90days, a global consultancy focused on executive performance and process improvement.
Patrick’s global perspective—shaped through work across the US, UK, APAC, and EMEA—positions him to deliver strategic solutions that elevate client success.
Bob
Wallace
Events Chair
Bob is Vice President of New Business Development
Bob is Vice President of New Business Development with HSBC’s Corporate Expatriate Banking Group. His team is a specialized group that works exclusively with multinational organizations and their international assignees to eliminate many of the headaches and solve many of the financial and credit challenges associated with overseas assignments and moves into the United States. A leading authority on Expatriate banking issues, Bob has extensive experience designing and implementing programs to facilitate cross-border compensation delivery for global companies. FEM has recognized Bob’s leadership and the success of his team, awarding the HSBC Corporate Expatriate Banking Program its Expatriate Banking Service of the Year Award for multiple years in a row.
Ben
Spilka
Sponsorship Chair
Benjamin Spilka is a Director at Andersen, special
Benjamin Spilka is a Director at Andersen, specializing in global mobility and cross-border compliance for multinational organizations. He advises clients on strategic mobility design, tax efficiency, and operational transformation across complex international programs. Ben brings over a decade of experience at Andersen and PwC, leading technology-driven initiatives to streamline compliance and improve mobility management. He is recognized for integrating digital solutions that enhance workforce analytics and the experience of mobile employees. Ben holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Albertus Magnus College. He brings a global, technology-forward perspective to NYCORP’s board.
Susan R.
Ginsberg
Education Chair
The founder and Managing Principal of SRG Advisory
The founder and Managing Principal of SRG Advisory, Susan R. Ginsberg draws from more than 30 years of experience in global mobility and retail to advise organizations on how to integrate their vision and purpose into strategies and proven methodologies for achieving business growth. She has led teams at School Choice International, REA, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, saks.com, and Lancôme, and has developed e-learning courses on strategic business development and collaboration for Worldwide ERC® and the European Relocation Association (EuRA). Additionally, she mentors women and minority-owned enterprises with the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and The Acceleration Project (TAP). Susan is a recent recipient of the Worldwide ERC© Award for Distinguished Services.
Fran
Ferraiolo
Community Outreach & Scholarship Chair
=Fran has been the Director of Destination Service
=Fran has been the Director of Destination Services for Douglas Elliman since 2008. She manages a team responsible for ensuring a positive relocation experience for corporate transferees and for maintaining relationships with numerous external relocation teams, compensation and benefits, HR, assignees, and key vendors. In her time as International Assignment Manager for Prudential Relocation, Fran coordinated and managed the transition of assignees and their families to new locations. A member of the Tau Pi Phi Business Honor Society, Fran wrote her thesis on “Factors that Determine Repatriation Retention” as part of her Masters of Science in Management from Albertus Magnus College, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Management and Industrial Relations from the University of Bridgeport.
Christina
Blondheim
Membership Chair
Christina Blondheim is a seasoned leader in global
Christina Blondheim is a seasoned leader in global mobility and corporate travel, known for building strategic partnerships and elevating client and supplier relationships across the industry. With over a decade of experience in relocation, temporary housing, and technology-driven mobility solutions, she brings a service-focused and solution-driven approach to every collaboration.
She has worked closely with Fortune 500 clients, relocation management companies, and corporate housing providers worldwide, and is known for proactive communication and commitment to elevating industry standards. Based in New York City, Christina is an avid traveler who has visited 54 countries and is always planning her next adventure.
Robert
Sanford
Technology Chair
Robert Sanford is an accomplished global mobility
Robert Sanford is an accomplished global mobility and international education leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning immigration compliance, international assignment strategy, and global tax planning. As Director of Immigration and Global Mobility at New York University, Robert has transformed mobility operations, developed compliance infrastructure, and led strategic initiatives impacting thousands of faculty, staff, and students worldwide. A certified Global Mobility Specialist–Talent (GMS-T) and Certified Relocation Professional (CRP), Robert is known for designing scalable service models that reduce risk and optimize cost. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and an active board leader with NAFSA and the New York Council of Relocation Professionals. Robert holds an MBA from Fairfield University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University.
Peggy
Lee
Co-President Emeritus (Corporate)
A seasoned professional specializing in compensati
A seasoned professional specializing in compensation and global mobility, Peggy is the Senior Director of Compensation & Expatriates for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Inc. She has extensive experience across multiple industries, developing and administering comprehensive compensation programs, implementing global mobility policies, and enhancing compensation processes for such organizations as Bunge Limited, where she was Manager of Global Mobility and Manager of Executive Compensation, The Guardian Life Insurance Company, and WebMD. Peggy obtained her MBA in Human Resources from Baruch College and her Bachelor’s in Marketing and Management from the University of Oregon. Her certifications include CCP, and GRP from WorldatWork as well as GMS from Worldwide ERC®.
Christine M.
Haney
Co-President Emeritus (Service Provider)
The Executive Vice President of Global Relocation
The Executive Vice President of Global Relocation and Referral Services for Douglas Elliman, Christine designs and implements global programs focused on enhancing business opportunities and relationships with customers, corporate clients and brokers. Her previous work involved serving as Director of Prudential Referral Services for the USA, Canada and Mexico; Director of Business Development for Prudential Home Connections, USA; manager of the Northeast Broker Network; and Team Leader of Appraisal/Inspection and Real Estate Services. She also spent nine years as a Financial Manager. Christine holds a BS in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College and her designations include CRP, GMS, and SGDS. She is active in WERC and sits on the boards of NYCORP and RDC.
Sonya Weisshappel
Co-President Emeritus (Service Provider)
Sonya Weisshappel is the founder of Seriatim, a re
Sonya Weisshappel is the founder of Seriatim, a relocation and transition management company that helps families and institutions navigate complex moves with empathy and precision. Dedicated to calming the chaos of Collecting, Harmonizing, Appraising assets, Organizing, and Securing what families and individuals value most, both financially and emotionally, Sonya developed Seriatim’s proprietary inventory process to help clients minimize risk and maintain control during major transitions. A Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alum and longtime NASMM member, with over 30 years in the relocation industry, Sonya is also the author of Confessions of a Chaos Whisperer. She splits her time between Rhode Island and New York City.
Committees
Gallia
Peretz
Executive Committee Member
With over 20 years of experience in the global mob
With over 20 years of experience in the global mobility industry, I am a strategic partner and a relocation expert who supports organizations in moving beyond the transactional to the strategic application of talent and mobility management. I work as the VP of Business Development at Weichert Workforce Mobility, where I deliver quality, cost-efficient, and compliant programs that create clear value for our clients and their employees.
I have a strong background in relocation and assignment management, customer experience, sales, client relations, and team management. I hold the CRP and GMS-T credentials from ERC, and I am well-versed in the current and emerging mobility trends, policies, compliance, and technology. I have lived in three countries and bring unique levels of cultural awareness and sensitivity to the workplace. My mission is to enable the success and satisfaction of my clients and their mobile talent.