Mary E. Whittier
Executive Director

Mary Whittier is the Founding Executive Director of Bivona Child Advocacy Center. She has worked with children and families for more than 23 years. Her professional background includes working as a teacher’s assistant for Hillside Children’s Center, as a Child Protective Services caseworker, and as a social worker for Golisano Children’s Hospital, where she served as the forensic interviewer and administrator for the REACH Program.

Ms. Whittier has testified as an expert in court and conducted numerous presentations on child abuse, specifically sexual abuse.  She sat on the Advisory Board for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)/NY Branch for two years and has volunteered there for over 22 years.

She served on the Board of the NYS Chapter of the National Children’s Alliance from 2000-2005.  She was awarded Social Worker of the Year for Program Innovation in 2000, was named the recipient of the Human Services Worker of the Year Award for the private sector in 2006 and received the Carl S. Hallauer Award in 2008.

Ms. Whittier holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Buffalo and an undergraduate degree in Social Work from Buffalo State College.

Rachel Ayala
Office Manager

Rachel Ayala joined Bivona Child Advocacy Center as Office Manager in January 2009. Her previous experience includes seven years in medical office administration, accounting and management. She is a graduate of World Harvest Bible College.

Ms. Ayala is an active volunteer of Destiny Generation youth services at Faith Temple Church in Brighton.

“I have a passion for people and a strong desire to reach out to those in need. In all my years in the work field my longing has been to merge my passion for business with my passion for people. Bivona Child Advocacy Center has provided this very fulfillment.”

Lindsay Bureaux
Special Events Manager

Lindsay Bureaux joined Bivona Child Advocacy in May of 2008 when the Special Events Manager position was first created. Prior to this, her past work included event planning and marketing in both the private and not-for-profit sectors.

Her work was recognized in the Democrat & Chronicle’s Young Professional Spotlight in March of 2009.

Ms. Bureaux is a volunteer with the Rochester Red Cross, and is a team co-captain for the annual MS Walk held by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

She earned a BS in Business Administration, majoring in marketing, from the University of Dayton in Ohio.

“I enjoy the variety of projects I get to work on daily (planning events, fundraising, giving tours of the agency, recruiting volunteers, assisting with PR/marketing efforts, etc.). Being able to bring people together to raise money and awareness for child abuse allows me to feel that I’m truly contributing something meaningful to the community.”

Sue Kreilick

Bookkeeper

Sue Kreilick joined the Bivona Child Advocacy Center in September of 2009.  Check back for her full bio and photo soon.

Sue Page
Receptionist

Sue Page came to Bivona Child Advocacy Center in June of 2006 with a background in banking, but she’s glad to have made a switch in fields. In addition to greeting visitors, she spends time with the children who come to Bivona.

“I love children. They are all precious and if just sitting with them reading a book or playing a game makes them happy and safe, I know I did my job to make them feel wanted and safe.  ‘It’s all about the kids,’ I say.”

Ms. Page is a graduate of Nazareth Academy High School.

Sue VanStrydonck
Program Manager

Sue VanStrydonck has been with Bivona since 2004, when she served as Acting Director. Since then she has served as Program Manager, a natural culmination of her 30-year career in Monroe County Child Protective Services as a caseworker, supervisor and administrator. She is a founding member and current volunteer of the Adam Walsh Resource Center, now the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children/NY Branch.

“I spent my previous career in the field of public child welfare working with the various systems in place to protect sexually abused children. Throughout many of those years there was a dream we had…to have a place like Bivona Child Advocacy Center in our community for our children—a child-friendly place whose focus would always be on the healing of children and what was best for them. To work at such a place now is a gift.”

Ms. VanStrydonck is a recipient of the 2002 Nathaniel Award, conferred by The Daily Record for commitment to community service and the justice system. She is a previous volunteer with Rape Crisis Services and served as a Red Cross volunteer during Hurricane Katrina. She holds an MSW in Social Work and a BA in Psychology.

“I feel so fortunate to work with such dedicated and committed team members whose passion and commitment is reflected everyday in the work they do for the children of our community.”