NYSACHO Staff

Sarah Ravenhall, MHA, CHES Executive Director

Sarah Ravenhall is the Executive Director of the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) and serves as the key liaison for all association activities. She supports and manages the governance needs of the Board, President, and Vice President, as well as NYSACHO’s membership committees. Sarah provides strategic administrative leadership, ensures nonprofit compliance, and oversees fiscal management for all NYSACHO grants and association activities. As a dedicated advocate for public health, Sarah acts as the primary contact for state agency representatives, academic liaisons, and key external stakeholders. She represents the voice of public health on the Governor’s Cannabis Advisory Board, has been recognized on the City and State’s *40 Under 40* list and Health Care Power List, and serves as NYSACHO’s registered lobbyist, championing public health advocacy priorities with the Legislature and Governor’s office. She also collaborates with the National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and other state associations to share best practices and advance federal public health initiatives. Since joining NYSACHO in 2017, Sarah has embraced the opportunity to represent governmental public health agencies. Prior to her role at NYSACHO, she managed a population health grant and worked in a hospital setting, where she contributed to shaping policies to support patients living with diabetes.

Cristina Dyer-Drobnack, MS Public Policy/Program Director

Cristina Dyer-Drobnack is Public Policy and Program Director for the New York State Association of County Health Officials. Cristina joined NYSACHO in 1994 and is the longest-tenured professional staffer at the association. Cristina provides in-depth knowledge of all core public health services, analyzing the annual state budget, legislation, and proposed regulatory changes to impact public health policy and local health department funding and operations. Cristina works with NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall to further NYSACHO’s advocacy work through engagement with members, partner organizations, and executive and legislative branch staff. Cristina provides technical assistance to local health departments on state public health statutes and regulations. Cristina is the staff lead on Environmental Health issues and is the liaison for NYSACHO to the NYS Conference of Environmental Health Directors. She plays a lead role in the development, planning, direction, and supervision of education and public health leadership programs for all local health officials and their staffs, serves as the contract manager and liaison with Columbia University for NYSACHO’s Region 2 Public Health Training subcontract, and supervises staff leads for NYSACHO’s Harm Reduction, Climate Change, and Public Health workforce training contracts. She is committed to advancing the mission of NYSACHO and the work of its members.

Robert Viets Program Director

Robert Viets has been a dedicated member of the NYSACHO team since 2006 and brings decades of experience in public health program management and member services. He enhances the capacity of LHDs through technical assistance, committee facilitation, and program oversight. He is the staff liaison to the Disease Control Committee and serves as the state lead for Project Public Health Ready.   Robert oversees contracts such as the Immunization Action Plan and Public Health Emergency Preparedness programs, supervising staff and coordinating key educational events, including statewide immunization meetings and adult immunization coalitions. Additionally, he directs NYSACHO’s IT operations, manages the organization’s website, and ensures effective use of technology for meetings and training.

Before joining NYSACHO, Robert worked for Health Research, Inc. (HRI) in diverse roles including experience in Emergency Preparedness, the Statistical Unit in Epidemiology, and the Bureau of Budget Management.

Molly Fleming, MPH Associate Program Director, Workforce Development

Molly Fleming serves as the primary liaison for NYSACHO’s Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) initiatives, working to enhance training and workforce development opportunities for local health departments across New York State. She also plays a key role in advancing public health workforce research by leading NYSACHO’s ongoing Enumeration Study, conducted in partnership with the Region 2 Public Health Training Center. This study provides critical insights into trends and changes in New York’s local public health workforce over time, supporting data-driven strategies for workforce planning and development.

Since joining the NYSACHO team in 2019, Molly has brought a strong passion for public health and data-driven solutions to her work. Before her time at NYSACHO, she gained valuable experience as a research assistant with the Upstate KIDS Study and the Albany Infant and Mothers Study at the University at Albany, School of Public Health. She also worked on a New York State Department of Health initiative focused on improving colorectal cancer screening rates among Medicaid Managed Care enrollees.

Molly earned her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2019 and her Bachelor of Science in Public Health in 2017, both from the University at Albany.

Outside of work, Molly finds joy in baking, catching the latest movies at the theater, and curling up for a nap with her cat.

Grace Dawson, MSW Program Manager

Grace Dawson is the primary contact for NYSACHO’s Vaccine Equity and Training and Education Contracts.

She leads NYSACHO’s Vaccine Equity (VE) contract, which involves creation of monthly social media posts for county use, organization of annual ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions to highlight best practices for immunization in underserved communities, and technical assistance to all counties on various VE topics.

Grace also manages the Training and Education Contract which provides technical assistance related to New York’s Early Intervention (EI) and Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) programs, Environmental Health, and connects Local Health Department Commissioners & Directors with staff and officials across New York’s government agencies, as well as provides professional development opportunities for Local Health Department (LHD) staff.

Grace holds a Master’s of Social Work from SUNY Albany and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from SUNY Plattsburgh. With a strong background in Macro social work, Grace is dedicated to assisting New York’s LHDs in creating large-scale community health improvements and advancing public health programs across New York State.

Grace joined the NYSACHO team in 2023.

Danielle Pellino, MPH, CHES Program Manager

Danielle Pellino is the primary contact for NYSACHO’s Substance Use/Harm Reduction and Climate Change grant activities. She leads the planning, coordination, and management of these initiatives, including communications, funding opportunities, webinars, and meetings, and providing related support and technical assistance to members. Danielle also serves as the lead staff person for NYSACHO’s Emerging Issues Committee, overseeing all related matters.  Danielle joined the NYSACHO team in 2024.

Kayla Dise Reporting and Compliance Manager

Kayla Dise has been with the New York State Association of County Health Officials since 2020, starting as an Office Assistant before advancing to the Reporting and Compliance Manager. In this role, Kayla is responsible for overseeing important projects related to contract deliverables, budgets, and vouchering, ensuring the organization’s financial and operational processes are managed effectively. She also serves as the primary contact for meeting minutes, ensuring accurate documentation and communication of key decisions.

Sarah Montuori Operations Specialist

Sarah Montuori plays a key role in the organization by ensuring the efficient operation of the NYSACHO office. She handles all administrative, fiscal and human resources related tasks, including member queries and communication, grant funding, invoicing, scheduling, meeting coordination, job postings, etc. She is also the main lead for the NYSACHO Directory. Sarah joined the NYSACHO team in 2021.

Laura Gibson Program and Event Planning Specialist

Laura Gibson plays a pivotal role at NYSACHO in the organization and planning all in-person events. Her responsibilities encompass managing comprehensive event operations, including venue selection, thorough vetting, and booking. Laura is responsible for creating and overseeing each event registration page, negotiating and finalizing contracts, coordinating banquet event orders, finalizing audio visual needs, and managing hotel rooming lists. She also works closely with NYSACHO vendors and partners to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

Laura supervises each event, swiftly addressing any issues to guarantee smooth proceedings. Beyond event planning, she manages the NYSACHO Bi-Monthly newsletter and contributes to maintaining the NYSACHO website by updating membership information, shared resources, and meeting details. Additionally, she supports Program Managers by crafting social media content and posts.

Since joining the team in February 2022, Laura, who holds a degree in Hospitality Management with a business minor, has contributed exceptional customer service skills and introduced innovative strategies to enhance the success of our events and increase member satisfaction.

Mary Fran Wachunas, CPH Special Project Executive

Mary Fran Wachunas is the Special Project Executive at the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO), where she leads a rural-focused public health initiative funded by the New York State Health Foundation. This pilot program, encompassing 33 counties, empowers public health department leaders with hands-on skill-building, succession planning, and tools designed to strengthen infrastructure across all counties.

Mary Fran joined NYSACHO in 2025 after retiring as Public Health Director of the Rensselaer County Department of Health, where she served since 2006 and built a legacy over 29 years in various public health leadership roles. Her experience includes guiding her department through major public health emergencies like the H1N1 outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic and co-chairing a countywide coalition to combat the opioid crisis alongside the County Sheriff.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing from Siena College and a Certificate in Public Health from the University at Albany (SUNY). Mary Fran brings deep expertise, collaborative spirit, and a lifelong commitment to advancing the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers.