Columbia Memorial Health Foundation Appoints Kirk Kneller Board Chair

The Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) Foundation has appointed Kirk Kneller chair of its Board of Trustees. He succeeds Jay Cahalan, who served as board chair for the last year and, previously, as CMH president and CEO from 2013 to 2022.

Kneller is the president of Kneller Insurance Agency, which has locations in Chatham, Valatie, and Copake. He has previously served as a CMH board member since 2014, including as board chair from 2022 to 2024, as well as a member of the Foundation board since 2016.

“Kirk’s commitment to Columbia Memorial Health and the communities we serve makes him an excellent choice to lead the Foundation’s Board of Trustees,” said Dorothy Urschel, president and CEO of CMH. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue strengthening the Foundation’s impact and securing resources that help CMH provide exceptional care close to home.”

Kneller will lead a team of Foundation board officers, including past chair and community leader Anne Schomaker; vice chair Richard Byrne of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty; Treasurer Glenn Lunde, vice president and senior relationship manager for commercial lending at TD Bank; and secretary Ryan Scott, owner of Pro Printers.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to serve as chair of the Columbia Memorial Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees and to strengthen community and donor engagement. I look forward to helping advance the Foundation's support of the CMH mission and its outstanding health care professionals,” Kneller said.

Kneller Insurance Agency is one of the oldest agencies in the county providing a full range of services from property, casualty, home, auto, health, and life insurance coverage. Kneller is also a founding member of Columbia County Habitat for Humanity and is president of the Chatham Rural Cemetery Association.

“We are grateful to Jay Cahalan for his dedicated leadership and continued service as a board member,” said Shanna Mazzelli, executive director of the Columbia Memorial Health Foundation. “As Kirk steps into this role, the Foundation is well positioned to continue building meaningful relationships and inspiring philanthropic investment in the health and well-being of our region.”