Meet Our Team

Edward Leibman, Founding Partner

Edward Leibman has been a fixture on New York’s nonprofit landscape for decades. He has led highly successful fundraising efforts for The New York Botanical Garden, The Public Theater, The National Institute for Reproductive Health, and Theater Communications Group, among others, raising millions of dollars in the process. Nearly a decade ago, he founded Hudson Ferris Inc., a bottom-line-focused fundraising firm that has since grown to become one of New York City’s premiere boutique development consultancies for nonprofits. In 2018, he co-founded GreaterSpace, a groundbreaking platform that pairs workspace with shared support services to create efficiency, promote financial health, and increase the effectiveness of nonprofits. A creative thinker, his entrepreneurial approach to fundraising often breaks the mold of convention. Ed specializes in major gifts, board development, corporate sponsorship, and campaign strategy.

Jennifer Leibman, Founding Partner

Jennifer Leibman oversees all compliance, accounting, client relations, and business development. Prior to founding Hudson Ferris, Jennifer served in two consecutive mayoral administration, where she specialized in intergovernmental community relations, press, legislative affairs, and public-private partnerships. Jennifer subsequently pursued a commercial real estate career and worked as a Senior Associate with Vicus Partners. Jennifer is a graduate of New York University – Tisch School of the Arts.

Terrie Sultan, Museum Strategist

Terrie Sultan is recognized as a thoughtful, innovative museum professional with strong expertise in energetic leadership, fundraising, strategic planning, donor relations, staff and trustee mentorship. She is highly regarded internationally for her curatorial projects and is a published author of a number of books and publications. As Director of the Blaffer Art Museum (2000-2008) and the Parrish Art Museum (2008-2020) Sultan developed and implemented major capital campaigns for endowments, program initiatives, and for the Parrish, completed a $33 million campaign for the design and construction of a new facility that opened in 2012. Throughout her career she has specialized and excelled in shaping and guiding major gift campaigns, preparing and implementing strategic plans, building strong staff and trustee teams, and enhancing and expanding the missions, visions, goals, and services to the communities of the institutions she has led.

Carolyn Salvador, Founding Director, Momentum

Carolyn Salvador is a dynamic nonprofit professional with over 15 years of executive leadership experience. She drove impressive growth as Executive Director & CEO of Enduring Hearts and the Georgia Child Care Association, increasing revenue by 446% and 300%, respectively.

Leveraging her diversified skill set from executive roles and 25+ years of nonprofit board service, Carolyn provides consulting to advance organizational impact. Known for creative problem-solving and her commitment to driving change, she draws upon her background in advertising and marketing to help clients expand their revenues through out-of-the-box approaches.

Elsuida Brunga, Director of Research

Elsuida Brunga is a MA of International Affairs at the New School and holds a BA in International Relations from Iona College. She brings more than two years of nonprofit experience, superb research skills, and a passion for international development to the Hudson Ferris team. She gained invaluable experience working in the field in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on a Monitoring & Evaluation project for a national nonprofit organization that targets the most vulnerable women in Ethiopia. She also interned at the Consulate General of Kosovo as well as for Edmund Rice International.

Mike Esposito, CFRE, Director of Growth and Strategy

Mike is a nonprofit fundraising professional with more than five years of experience deploying innovative and successful fundraising strategies for various nonprofit organizations. Prior to Hudson Ferris, Mike served as the Individual Giving Officer at Waterkeeper Alliance, as well as the Individual Giving Manager at Echoing Green. He is passionate about improving systems and processes to drive growth and impact.

Mike graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Urban Studies from Fordham University, and serves as a volunteer on the Emerging Leaders Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, making fresh pasta, and rock climbing.

Sarah Pita, Director of Communications

Sarah’s career spans professional fundraising, communications, and grant writing. Sarah has worked with nonprofits across international aid, education, environment, arts, recreation, and healthcare. Most recently, she served as Development Director of Nehemiah Gateway USA, a humanitarian organization based in Albania. A lifelong writer, she is excited to join Hudson Ferris as Communications Manager so that she can help clients tell their compelling stories.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language and Literature from Swarthmore College, and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, and the US. Presently, she lives in the Philadelphia area with her family. She loves travel and being outdoors: hiking, skiing, swimming, and exploring.

Zack Travers, CFRE, Associate Director of Account Services

Zack Travers, CFRE joins Hudson Ferris with more than 7 years of experience in development and marketing/communications at The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, The Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation, The Children’s Hospital Foundation, Oklahoma City University, United Way of Central Oklahoma, The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, and The American Cancer Society. Zack is active in the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, currently serving as the board chair of the New York City chapter. He is also an active member of the Oklahoma City University Alumni Advisory Board. Zack holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Digital Fundraising through The George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University. Outside of work, Zack enjoys traveling, hiking, Citi-biking around NYC, watching NBA games and spending time with his wife and their two dogs, Bacon and Pepper Jack.

Michael Lutton, Director of Creative Services

Michael Lutton began his career as an improv performer, which led to teaching and ultimately directing. Since 2011, he’s taught over 2,000 students, and has had the pleasure of traveling the world teaching workshops focused on communication, public speaking, team-building, and improving corporate culture. He’s worked with such organizations as Amazon, TikTok, YouTube, IBM, and Morgan Stanley. Michael has also served as the Director of the Musical Improv Program at the Magnet Theater, and currently works there as Artistic Director.

Kathryn Susko, Account Executive

Kathryn Susko joins Hudson Ferris after 9+ years in the US Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer stationed in San Diego onboard USS Comstock (LSD 45) and Norfolk, Virginia onboard USS Nitze (DDG 94). This experience honed her skills into being a quick learner, experienced leader, and effective communicator. She is excited to bring these skills to Hudson Ferris’s diverse client roster, helping nonprofits that are making the world a better place. Kathryn earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Fordham University. In her free time, she volunteers with NY State Parks and the Sierra Club on Long Island.

Gayathri Thelekatt, Account Executive

Gayathri Thelekatt is a nonprofit professional with expertise in fundraising, research, and programming. Her dedication to the nonprofit sector began in college, where she held the role of Marketing Chair for Fordham University’s Student Philanthropy Committee. This commitment continued to grow through internships at Generation Citizen and Project Renewal.

Upon graduating, Gayathri worked at Achilles International as the Development and Communications Coordinator, gaining valuable experience in fundraising and nonprofit communications.

She is passionate about driving positive change in her community, particularly at the intersection of arts, culture, and political engagement. Gayathri holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University and an MLitt in Global Social and Political Thought from the University of St. Andrews.

Alexandra Torres, Account Executive

Alexandra Torres is a fundraising and research professional with experience in both political and nonprofit fundraising. Alexandra has interned at Tucker and Green Company, where she gained experience on political campaign research and targeted marketing strategies. Additionally, Alexandra has nonprofit experience working for Clean Water Action NJ, learning invaluable lessons on direct fundraising from the grass-roots level. Alexandra also brings experience from her role as a legal assistant with a boutique civil litigation law firm based in NJ. She is passionate about the intersection of policy and fundraising in cultivating growth within the nonprofit sector. Alexandra holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from Seton Hall University.

Amanda Ferreira, Client Services Coordinator

Amanda first became passionate about the nonprofit sector through volunteering for the New Jersey Special Olympics and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Before transitioning into the nonprofit sector, Amanda gained a background in Asset Protection and Legal Studies.

Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology with a minor in Law and Mathematics from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She brings experience as a paralegal at a Bankruptcy, Litigation, and Foreclosure law firm based in NJ. She is excited to make a greater impact through her role at Hudson Ferris!

Scruffy, Director of Morale Improvement Initiatives

Scruffy’s distinguished career in human resources administration spans more than 7 dog years. Core competencies include The Dog Face, stretching to the full extent of his physiology, chew toy management, mid-meal floor grazing, and scratching head with hind foot maneuver proficiency. Scruffy holds an MA in Cuteness Arts from Vanderbilt University, and BA in Canine-Human Relations from Swarthmore College.

Advisory Council

Hannah Lowery Odell, Managing Director

Hannah Odell is the Development Director of the Global Warming Mitigation Project. She brings 12+ years of professional nonprofit fundraising experience, specializing in climate, social justice, and international development. Hannah worked with more than 75 nonprofits around the world as the Managing Director of Hudson Ferris, a NYC-based fundraising firm where she spearheaded multi-million-dollar major gift campaigns, engineered private sector partnerships for social impact, and served as senior fundraising counsel to some of the most well-known national nonprofit brands. As a formidable member of the firm’s leadership team, she was responsible for overseeing four departments and doubling the size of the firm. In 2019, Hannah co-founded GreaterSpace, a platform for nonprofits that combines essential services with shared office space to optimize operations for growing organizations.

Xaira Ferrara, Executive Director

Xaira Ferrara has over 15 years of experience bridging the gap between capital and transformational ideas for organizations like the National Institute for Reproductive Health, Acumen, and Uncharted. Xaira was part of the initial team at Hudson Ferris and later returned to the firm as Executive Director, leveraging her experience to oversee client services. She specializes in developing and nurturing relationships with clients, funders, investors, and partners.

She is a Puerto Rico native, served two terms as Trustee for the Village of Pelham NY, and holds an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Master’s in Public Administration as well as a B.A. from Florida International University.