Year-round Staff

Meet our year-round staff and see who's behind all the scenes!

Operations

Bernie Tessler: CEO

A teacher and psychologist turned entrepreneur and executive, Bernie Tessler has over 25 years of leadership experience with companies that provide services to children and families. Prior to joining Oasis, Bernie was a founding partner of Epic Partners, a consulting/banking firm that focuses exclusively on helping companies in the education and training industry. He served as the acting CEO of Saint Eustatius School of Medicine, a fully accredited medical school. He joined Epic after serving as the Chief Operating Officer for Liberty Travel, the largest travel agency in the country with more than 200 locations nationwide. Bernie's accomplishments include the creation of two successful educational product and service companies that became publicly traded, Enchanted Village and Children's Creative Workshop. He also completed a $150 million leverage buyout of Kidsmart where he subsequently served as Chairman and Chief Executive of this retail chain with over 375 locations. Bernie is also a former Director of K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations), a national foundation made up of leading executives from the education and children's services industry. He holds a BS in Education and an MS in Psychology from Long Island University.

Jeffrey Horne: CFO / Executive Vice President

Jeff began his career with Oasis in May 2005. Jeff's previous experience includes roles as Financial Controller at David Zwirner, an international art gallery based in Manhattan, and as Executive Director of Spring Theatreworks , a non-profit theater production company based in Brooklyn he established in 2000. Jeff graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he returns often to visit his family. In his free time he can be found traveling the world, watching theater, or roaming museums and galleries. Jeff also serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of a non-profit theater company, Oslo Elsewhere, which produces off-Broadway productions in New York City.

Mateo De La Rosa: Regional Director of School Year Programs

Mateo joined Oasis Children's Services in March 2009. He comes with an extensive background in Student Development as he served for many years in the field of Higher Education. Mateo earned his MS Degree in College Student Development from Long Island University and received his BA in American Music, Dance, and Theater. Currently, Mateo serves as the Director of Afterschool and Holiday Programs during the school year, and Site Director of the Oasis at Queensborough Community College summer enrichment program for middle school and high school students. Outside of working with Oasis, you can find Mateo at the gym, playing volleyball, or walking a fashion runway in Miami or New York City.

Rashiem O'Connor: Director of Operations (Funded Programs)

Rashiem began his career with Oasis as a seasonal employee in June of 2010 at the Brooklyn/TWU camp site where he managed the site's daily camp operations. In September of 2010 Rashiem was brought on full time to focus on the overall operations of Oasis' Funded Programs. Rashiem has been part of the Youth Development field his entire professional career. Beginning at St. Luke's Day Camp in the Bronx, Rashiem worked as a group leader for 3 years before joining the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo where he served for 6 years as a manager of several of its after school and summer programs. Rashiem attended The State University of New York College at Buffalo where he majored in Individualized Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education and Athletic Coaching. Outside of Oasis, you can find Rashiem at church directing one of the church choirs, spending time with family and friends, at the gym, enjoying a good movie or a good meal.

Robert Thomas: Controller

Robert joined Oasis in 2007 after serving as the Administrative Director of Executive Education of the School of Management at Binghamton University. Robert received his BS in Bioengineering and his MBA in Operations Management at Binghamton University. After serving at Oasis as an Operations Manager for two years, Robert joined the Finance department in April of 2010. In his free time he can be found golfing, bowling, playing poker or watching his favorite teams- the Indianapolis Colts and Syracuse Orange.

Ryan Vazquez: Office and Systems Manager

Ryan joined the Oasis team as of Summer 2011, as the Office and Systems Manager. Ryan received his Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from Boston University in 2005. Prior to joining Oasis, Ryan spent several years managing program operations for marketing agency, Zoom Media. A native of New York, Ryan dedicates his free time to researching the historical background of New York City and the legacy of underground rock in Long Island. He also enjoys reading, collecting vinyl records, and doing home renovations.

Human Resources

Jessica Humes: Director of Human Resources (Fee-Based Programs)

Jessica joined Oasis in 2008 with extensive experience in the camp world and child development including programming and site director roles with the YMCA, working with special needs children, and an After School Program Director. She has spent her time with Oasis as a part of both the Oasis Operations and Human Resources teams. Jessica is currently the Director of Staffing for Oasis and manages the recruitment and development of staff in our Human Resources Department. Jessica is a native upstate New Yorker with a BA in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz, and is working on her MA in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling at CW Post. Jessica enjoys being outdoors, exploring the city on the weekends, spending time with her friends, family and pets (Grace and Bella), and loves holiday music and movies.

Noel Delgado: Director of Training and Staff Development

Noel has worked with Oasis since its inaugural summer 2001 when he was a Division Leader at PS 55 in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He has directed both after school and summer programs at Oasis, most recently at PS 298 during the summer of 2009. Noel has a long history of leadership in community-based organizations since his teenage years as a youth worker at the Center For Family Life in Sunset Park. He has worked for Good Shepherd Services as their Beacon Director of PS 15 from 2004 - 2007. Noel returned to Oasis in 2008 as the Director of Training and Staff Development. Noel's other interests include art, which he studied for two years at Kingsborough Community College. When he is not working, he can be found running at the park, spending time volunteering in the community, traveling across the country, visiting museums, or sitting down with family and friends to laugh and share stories.

Sandy Persaud: Director of Human Resources (Funded Programs)

Sandy has worked with Oasis since 2005, serving as the Operations Director of the Oasis at Cantiague Park and Oasis in Bayside day camps. A true camper at heart, Sandy previously attended and worked at a community-based camp for over ten years before joining the Oasis team as a full-time Operations Manager in Fall 2008. In Fall 2009, she joined the Human Resources team and has been dedicated to hiring outstanding staff as the Director of Staffing for Funded Programs. Sandy received her Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Binghamton in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, and plans to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Her favorite camp activities include all-camp games, Theme Days, Morning Rally, and Olympics week. In her free time, Sandy enjoys doing crossword puzzles, going to sporting events, watching old movies, and spending time with her family.

Marketing

Cary Suarez: Marketing & Family Relations Manager

Cary has worked with Oasis as a seasonal employee since 2008, serving as the Operations Director of the Oasis in Bayside day camp in Summer 2010 and Human Resources Assistant in Summer 2011. As of Fall 2011, she joined the Oasis team as a Marketing and Family Relations Manager. Cary received her Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Stony Brook in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Child Psychology. In her spare time, Cary enjoys reading, playing with her dogs (Trouble and Baby), and spending time with friends and family.

Luke Mohatt: Marketing Manager, Site Director of Central Park Day Camp

Luke originally joined the Oasis team in the Operations Department of the Central Park Day Camp in Summer 2010 and was promoted to Site Director of Central Park in Summer 2011. After a decade in sales and marketing, Luke left the business world to pursue his original passion: working with children. Luke recently earned his New York State Teaching Certificate in Grades 1-6, and is thrilled to the Site Director of Oasis in Central Park for many summers to come. Luke has "camp in his blood" as he has attended and worked at sleepaway camps for several summers. Luke is excited to bring all the thrill and excitement of attending sleepaway camp into the day camp world of Oasis. Luke continues his Master's work in Special Education at the City College of New York. In his free time, Luke enjoys spending time with his partner, cooking, watching college football, and playing with his dogs and cat.