Kevin Guest House Staff Fall 2023

Have you wondered who is behind the scenes at Kevin Guest House? While our operations wouldn’t be possible without help from our amazing volunteers, meet our full-time, small but mighty team that makes patients and their families feel right at home.

Front left to right: Damon, Rebecca, Marianne, Alex & Lynsey
Back left to right: Damon, Leslie, Marianne and Alex
Front left to right: Rebecca, Lynsey and Betsy (former staff member)

Lynsey Weaver

Executive Director

Lynsey became Executive Director in 2014 and oversees the organization’s strategic & financial planning, board oversight, along with managing the daily operations of our four-building campus and grounds. She has worked on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus since 2007, including her time as the Ride For Roswell Director and working on cause marketing, corporate partnerships, and a wide variety of Roswell Park Alliance Foundation events. Managing a team of eight along with a rotating group of weekend & evening relief coordinators, Lynsey was brought to KGH to embark on their first ever capital expansion which was completed in 2017, obtain essential status designation during pandemic to never close our doors while simultaneously embarking on our KGH50 capital renovation to improve the physical environment of our original three buildings for the most immune compromised guests. Lynsey continues to develop long term strategic plans for growth and to build relationships with our hospital partners, community members and board of directors to meet the needs of our guests. She and her husband, Brad, have two kids, Helena & Cameron, and a boxer, Knucky. Just one of her volunteer efforts, she proudly bleeds orange organizing events for the Syracuse Alumni Club (1 of 21 alumni) with her family for more than 20 years. She is a board member with the WNY Planned Giving Consortium & Amherst Chamber of Commerce EBL, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Leadership Buffalo and the Junior League of Buffalo. Lynsey loves to travel – she once spent two months backpacking through Europe after studying in France. She has a goal to visit to all seven continents in her lifetime.

Andrea Walh

Development Manager

Andrea joined the KGH team July 2023. She comes from background of over 20+ years in marketing & non-profit work in various roles at Audacy, Inc, Sinclair Broadcast Group, The Salvation Army, ConnectLife, Child & Family Services/Stanley G. Falk School where she was most recently their Marketing & Outreach Specialist. She is no stranger to Kevin Guest House, having been on the BNMC Rotary Club she organized their monthly meal for our guests, attending several of our events. In her spare time, she jokingly says networking events are her hobby, but most of her time is spent with close friends and family especially her husband Brian and 6-year-old son Gavin. Her positive, friendly, let’s try it & roll up your sleeve attitude will be a great fit with our team and such a wonderful passion to help others and engage our major donors, corporate groups, foundations & leading our Giving Hearts Program!

Jeffrey Davis

House and Grounds Manager

Jeff has worked at KGH for 17 years who until recently handled all maintenance & housekeeping of four properties on his own with the support of the many very LOYAL volunteers who come back because they have a fond appreciation and respect for his dedication to the cause. As House & Grounds Manager, he not only is responsible for the upkeep of these aging Victorian era buildings but in his expanded role is helping to ensure the safety & security of our staff and guests as well as troubleshooting technology issues. A man who often can’t sit still, Jeff also is a dedicated worker for his second shift job at Tripifoods. When Jeff isn’t keeping KGH looking its best or attending to repairs around campus, you can find him with his three kids, fish, tortoises, dogs, fish and one cat. Jeff drives a Harley motorcycle and can always be found drinking coffee no matter what time of day.

JAMES O'CONNOR

Community Engagement & Administrative Associate

Jim joined our team October of 2023 and spent the prior year and a half at our sister charity, Grace Guest House in South Buffalo as their Operations Coordinator helping to run daily operations, data gift processing, accounts payable, manage part-time staff, guest relations and volunteer coordination from special events to their dinner program. He comes from a 25+ career in as a Service Provider for UPS with a background in safety protocols, quality assurance and sales. In addition, Jim works in Guest Services for the Buffalo Bills and an assistant coach for swim team TWST (Town Wreckers Swim Team). He’s also a former US Marine and an active community volunteer with past experience as a substitute teacher, helping with Boy Scouts as a leader and Merit badge councilor and as also has coached youth basketball and baseball.  Jim in active in church events and ministries. He lives with in Hamburg with his wife Laurie and kids Jack & Maggie, Jim certainly has seen different aspects of giving his time & talents as a volunteer.  He jumped right into learning the office details and assisting guests with a great attitude to help wherever needed! In this new position for KGH, Jim brings community members together for a common goal while dually handling data management & reporting. He’s responsible for the primary coordination of data integrity, gift processing & analysis, the annual fund campaign & community engagement initiatives. He will be for the first time the main contact for all of the ways to volunteer, for KGH in the future.

Katie Orr

House Manager

Katie joined KGH in May 2023 after a career in various roles in the academic field and obtaining a Master of Science in Education from Niagara University. As House Manager, Katie coordinates the onsite house & office operations including managing guest services & healthcare partner relations, supervising the operations weekend & evening staff, developing policy and management of accounting payable, database reporting and working alongside the House & Grounds Manager to ensure daily facility & housekeeping plans are met. Katie spent over 10 years in the academic field as a former Residence Director at Alfred & Niagara University, an Academic Success Coach and a Student Services Manager at Bryant & Stratton College managing a team of 10+ direct reports along with providing counseling to countless students. Prior to that she was a Self Determination Assistant at People Inc. where she supported individuals with developmental disabilities to learn to live independently. Katie is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Getzville Fire Company, a Mentor at Alfred State Emerging Pioneers Leadership Program and is an Assistant Softball Coach at Lou Gehrig Youth League. She is an advocate for Mental Health Awareness issues and enjoys bowling, corn-hole, euchre and is an avid Buffalo Bills fan.

Alex Alexander

Resident Manager

Alex is no stranger to our guests as they started out as a Weekend Coordinator, then joined us full time as our Resident Manager in 2017, switched back as a Weekend Coordinator and then ultimately returning as our Resident Manager and was instrumental to keeping our doors open every week throughout the pandemic. Part of Alex’s schedule includes Saturdays which has allowed many groups to volunteer together with Alex’s assistance and grateful for their willingness to guide each project.  Alex has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, as a community advocate for a variety of issues, supported people as a counselor & workshop leaders and won prestigious technology awards including one from Apple & Google. They enjoys spending free time working on international coding projects.

Damon L. Duncan, Jr.

Weekend & Relief Coordinator

Damon started volunteering with KGH in March 2020. He currently works at Consolidated Maintenance Services on weekdays and on weekends you can find him greeting you at our front desk playing jazz music! In his free time, Damon enjoys creating his own music and swiping his TJ Maxx credit card around WNY.

Kevin Morgenstern

Weekend & Relief Coordinator

Kevin was born in Las Vegas, NV where he was raised and graduated high school. He moved to Buffalo in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the snow, the Buffalo Bills and all the friendly people. Some of his hobbies and interests include playing ice hockey, trail biking, coin collecting, poker and playing at the pool tables! Kevin also enjoys learning about history and watches the History Channel quite often. Since joining the KGH team in 2022, Kevin has enjoyed meeting some amazing and friendly people. Learning the rich and historical significance of the houses gave Kevin a pride sense in working at the facilities, along with the helpful and friendly staff that is second to none. Helping people in time of need is something he’s always strived for in a career, as Kevin was once in their place as a father of a young boy who passed from heart complications after many months of surgery and hospital stays. Working at KGH and interacting with the guests brings Kevin great confidence knowing he’s part of their journey and can be there for guests when they need it the most.

Left to right: Rebecca, Lynsey, Leslie, Marianne and Alex on National Wear Red Day 2022.
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