Staff

Jen Abrams, Development Director - Jen Abrams is an independent non-profit consultant specializing in small and very small arts organizations.  Jen is the former Poetry in The Branches Coordinator for Poets House, where she helped develop a comprehensive model for creating  library-based centers for the discovery of poetry in local communities.  Prior to working with Poets House, she was Administrative Manager for Guild Complex, Chicago’s premiere cross-cultural literary center, where she helped produce over 500 events and administered Tia Chucha Press, an independent publisher of poetry.  Jen has worked as a consultant with numerous small non-profits in New York and New Jersey in the areas of fundraising, strategic planning, human resources and organizational management.  Jen is also a dancer, choreographer, and published poet.

Catherine Breitfeller, Financial Administrator – After retiring from one of the largest banks as an administrative assistant in the Private Bank Department, Catherine joined CavanKerry Press in 2001.  Her experience in working in the financial area of the bank allows her to handle the financial area for CavanKerry Press.  This includes day-to-day accounting, audits and taxes.  She also uses her administrative skills in all areas of the Press.

Peter Cusack, Art Director/Designer/illustrator - After spending 4 years working in the production office of Consumer Reports Magazine, Peter Cusack began studying traditional realistic painting privately. He studied with Harvey Dinnerstein at the Arts Students League in New York, Ted Seth Jacobs at the L' Ecole Albert Dufois, Les Cerqueux Sous Passavant, France, and Andrew Reiss, in Brooklyn, New York . During this period of study Peter exhibited his work regularly with the Bronxville Art Center and Gallery, Bruno Billard, Private Fine Art Representative, France, and the Paul Toner Gallery in Manhattan. Peter joined CavanKerry Press in 2004, after graduating with his Master of Arts in Illustration from Syracuse University  Recently Peter has been honored by participating in the Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, traveling group show, curated by Murray Tinkelman. He has also been Included in the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Art for Transit Poster Program and his painting will be included in the New York Transit Museum. Peters work was included in the Society of Illustrators 48th and 49th Annual Exhibition and will appear in Illustrators 48 and 49. Peter is an Artist Member of the Society of Illustrators and the Arts Students League. 

Florenz Eisman, Managing Editor - Upon retirement as an executive from a major, international public relations agency, Florenz Eisman joined Joan Cusack Handler at the birth of CavanKerry Press. A lifetime love of reading, literature and writing, and friendship with the publisher prompted a second career as managing editor of the press. She brought to the position astute understanding and knowledge of public relations and marketing techniques from her years as a major player in bringing clients on board, developing their strategic programs and managing teams to execute agency tactics and achieve anticipated goals. She was, and is a skilled writer and editor. Among her Fortune 500 clients, were a major book retailer and national magazine—experiences that proved invaluable to CavanKerry.

Joan Cusack Handler, Publisher - Joan Cusack Handler's role as publisher of CavanKerry Press is enhanced through insights gained as writer, poetry workshop teacher, and as a psychologist in private practice. She was co-founder and director of Presenting Poetry and Prose, a literary series sponsored by the John Harms Center for the Arts, and is a member of the resident faculty at The Frost Place Poetry Festival in Franconia, New Hampshire. She is a former Governor of the Poetry Society of America and current Co-Chair of the Frost Place Advisory Board. Her poems have appeared in Agni, The Boston Review, Poetry East, and Southern Humanities Review. Since 1999, Ms. Handler has served as Publisher for CavanKerry Press, which she founded, and has brought out thirty-four books of poetry and critical prose.  She recently succeeded in negotiating a deal for national distribution of CavanKerry Press with the University Press of New England.  Among her awards, Ms. Handler has been honored by The Boston Review and the Chester H. Jones Foundation. She is married to fellow Board member, Alan Handler and they have one son, David.

Donna Rutkowski, Administrator – After a 20 year career in administrative positions and the computer science field, Donna began a freelance administrative profession.  She built her business to include organizations and individual clients including career counseling, human resources, accounting, legal, and publishing.  In 2003 Donna joined CavanKerry Press and has established her administrative  expertise in all facets of the organization.