Mark L. Goldsmith, President and CEO, founder of GO&SO, brings more than 35 years of experience in corporate management and entrepreneurship to the creation and growth of the agency. He has developed all aspects of the programming, including coaching, lecturing, and teaching of life skills strategies that focus on post-incarceration education and employment to engage GO&SO’s population.  He is a member of the board and also oversees all public relations, court and criminal justice system advocacy; and program development initiatives.  He engages in and oversees all fundraising and financial activities.

Nicole Columbo, Resource Developer, graduated from Columbia University with a Masters in Social Work. Nicole provides GO&SO participants with essential information about potential job prospects, and guides and supervises them during the entire job search and interview process. Her additional responsibilities include outreach to potential employers and business leaders in the community, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the certificate and vocational training programs we recommend to our clients. Prior to becoming our Resource Developer, Nicole was a GO&SO Social Work Intern working with program participants both on Rikers Island and in the East Harlem office.

Paul Gutkowski, Director of Social Services, comes to GO&SO from the Vera Institute of Justice, where he provided individual and family therapy to adolescents and families involved with the Juvenile Justice System. Mr. Gutkowski received his MSW from the Columbia University School of Social Work, with a concentration in direct clinical practice with families, youth, and children. He serves as both Career Manager and Social Worker for young men who need a broad range of psychosocial supports, such as housing and substance abuse treatment, as well as an ongoing therapeutic dialogue that can help guarantee success for each and every GO&SO client.

Jezel Nicholas, Career Manager, received her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. She encourages clients to access all GO&SO activities, calling both new and ongoing clients to inform them of workshop schedules and other opportunities. Ms. Nicholas is also in charge of all client correspondence and administration of the Greene Correctional Facility program and the Ohio University Independent & Distance Learning Programs.

Bianca Van Heydoorn, Career Manager, comes to GO&SO from the VERA Institute of Justice where she was the Program Analyst for the Center for Youth Justice, experience that makes her uniquely qualified to work with the men in our program. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and received her BA in Correctional Sociology from CUNY. She is responsible for all aspects of the career and educational counseling of program participants.

Aviva Tevah, Program Analyst, graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor's Degree in African American Studies. She recruits clients at Rikers Island and is the first contact with clients when they come to the GO&SO offices. She gathers all the essential information to provide each client with ongoing individualized services. She also works with clients as a counselor and coach.

Mark Leonida, Program Administrator is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where he majored in History and African American Studies. He is responsible for administering and monitoring all aspects of our program, most importantly, data management and tracking of participant performance. He is also responsible for correspondence with participants who have been sentenced to upstate facilities. Mark will also be working on special projects as direct by Mr. Goldsmith.