2012 A Night of Wine & Roses Masquerade Ball Honoree

Maureen Kangas
Maureen Kangas was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, graduating from Valhalla High School and then from Mandel Medical School in New York, NY. In 1988 Maureen moved to Fishkill where she worked as a manager at Galvestons Restaurant. As her experience and skills developed, Maureen moved forward with her career working as the Director of Catering at the Holiday Inn in Fishkill, and in August of 2003 Maureen accepted the position of Director of Sales and Marketing for the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel Banquet and Conference Center. In 2007 Maureen was promoted to the position of General Manager, a position that she currently holds. Maureen has been a dedicated supporter of the local nonprofit community, and she has participated on the Board of Directors of several local organizations including the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Gulian Historic Site, the Grace Smith House, and the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist. She has also participated as a member of the Southern Dutchess Exchange Club, the Hospitality Industry Council, the D.C. Tourism Council, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Heart Association, and as a past President of the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Auxiliary. In 2011 Maureen became the first non-medical person to be honored at the Vassar Brothers Medical Centers Diamond Gala along with the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Auxiliary. Special events have always been a natural way for Maureen to increase awareness and raise funds for charities that are close to her heart. She has worked on the planning committees for the Step Into Spring fundraiser, the Southern Dutchess Exchange Heroes Dinner, the Miles for Hope Brunch, the Go Red for Women campaign for the American Heart Association, and most notably, Maureen has been an active member of the A Night of Wine & Roses Gala planning committee for over eight years. Maureen has been a driving force behind this the Alzheimers Association, Hudson Valley/ Rockland/Westchester, NY Chapters signature gala event contributing to the success of this fundraiser that has brought in over $1,000,000 for the organization since its inception. Her passion for this cause stems from the fact that her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease when she was only 67 years old, and Maureen considers the time and energy that she spends while working as a volunteer for the Alzheimers Association a true labor of love. Her hard work is done in her mothers memory and in honor of all those in the Hudson Valley who struggle with the burden of living with Alzheimers disease. Maureen lives in Fishkill, NY. She is the proud grandmother to six grandchildren.