ExCom 2021-22: Kim Celenza, SDA, SDA National Vice President

Kim Celenza was re-elected and installed to serve as SDA Vice President at the 2021 SDA Annual Business Meeting. Celenza, who held the Vice Presidency in 2020, is a member of the New York Chapter of SDA. She was the board’s President from 2018-2020 and is the current Past President/Director for the chapter.

“As Vice President, the focus is on membership and after a year of being Vice President and Membership Chair, I have a much better understanding of everything on a national level,” Celenza said. “This year our focus has really been on connecting with our new members, and retention of current members.” Celenza is the Marketing Manager for Perkins Eastman in New York, New York.

Celenza is also a foodie who likes to stir things up in the kitchen! Inspired by her grandmother as a child, she uses cooking as a way to de-stress. Click here to learn more of her culinary adventures and to grab a favorite recipes she was willing to share.

ExCom 2021-22: Anne McNeely, CDFA, SDA National Treasurer

Anne McNeely, CDFA was elected and installed to serve as SDA National Treasurer at the 2021 SDA Annual Business Meeting. McNeely, who previously held the National Secretary position in 2020, is a member of the Denver Chapter of SDA. She had served on the board in a multitude of capacities.

“As National Treasurer, my focus will continue to be the strengthening of SDA from the inside out,” McNeely said. “Member outreach and mentorship helps ensure that our members receive the most value out of their membership.”  McNeely is the Project Administration Manager / Contract Administrator for Fentress Architects, Ltd., in Denver, Colorado.

She is also a published author! Her book, Meaningful Omissions, was published in 2017. Click here to learn more about her creative process. 

Fridays After 5 Featuring Kim Celenza

(With Recipes!)

SDA’s member spotlight Fridays After 5 showcases the varied creative, fun, adventurous, or interesting achievements our members accomplish after business hours.

For this installment, we peek into the kitchen of our foodie and SDA National Vice President Kim Celenza. Kim is an Associate and Marketing Manager at Perkins Eastman in New York, New York. She also chairs the SDA National Membership Committee and is an active member of the SDA Marketing and Communications committee. 

Today is the feast of St. Joseph which is widely commemorated all over Italy to honor the relief St. Joseph provided during a famine in Sicily. The tradition includes parades, special recipes, and often the construction of what is known as a St. Joseph’s Altar. The tradition traveled to the US with the Italian immigrants and continues to this day from New York and New Orleans. 

As a child, Kim remembers her grandmother celebrated the day by making the traditional Zeppole di San Giuseppe. Zeppola is a fried pastry, with a center filled with flavored creams or sweetened ricotta. Kim also credits her “Grammy” for igniting her passion for food.

What do you love about cooking?

So many things. I honestly find it extremely therapeutic. I suffer from anxiety and I can say with 100% certainty it has helped tremendously, it's the process, the focus, the love- it comforts me.

I also love cooking for people and sharing something that I love so much with them.  

It feels like I am giving a part of myself when I do.  Also, I LOVE FOOD!

Who do you love to cook for?

My family, my friends.  I also love sharing recipes with my Mom, Dad, my sister Jackie, and friends near and far.

Would you be willing to share a recipe?

Sure! Here’s a favorite I’d love to share: chicken soup with pastina.  Simple, and oh so comforting.  In my family, it is called "Italian Penicillin".

When did the passion start?

Definitely started with my grandmother when I was a child.  Sunday dinners were her "thing". She would get up at 5 am and start making the "gravy" and meatballs.  

That would be followed by roast beef and potatoes and salad.

Making her "gravy" and meatballs will never fail to make me feel close to her again.  

Buon appetito e buona giornata!

The recipe for Kim’s Italian Penicillin is below. If you have trouble locating pastina or bucatini pasta, it is available through Amazon at http://bit.ly/SDAPastinaLink. This is an affiliate link and SDA National could receive a portion of your purchase price.

Bonus Recipe: