Ms. Messina will assume the executive role held by Walter Beebe, the Open Center's Founder, after almost 30 years.

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK/EWORLDWIRE/Oct. 4, 2012 --- The New York Open Center announces the appointment of Rosalba Messina as Interim President. Ms. Messina will assume the executive role held by Walter Beebe, the Open Center's Founder, who is stepping back from day-to-day management after almost 30 years. Mr. Beebe will continue his service to the Open Center as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Beebe has been president of the Open Center since its incorporation in 1982. He was honored in 2011 for his unwavering commitment to the mission of holistic education. "Now," Beebe says, "It's exactly the right time to turn the operations of the Open Center over to skilled managers and accept the role of elder, which I expect to enjoy thoroughly. My love of, and service to, the Open Center will continue in this capacity."

Messina is principal and founder of Messina Consulting Group, a management consulting firm that assists national and international nonprofit organizations in fulfilling their mission by improving their organizational effectiveness. Specializing in managing organizational change and executive transition, Messina's services at the Open Center will include management, staff and board development, and implementation of her recommendations for the Open Center's progress during this time of transition. Prior to launching her own consulting practice, Messina held executive level positions in both nonprofit and corporate environments. The Open Center Board of Directors selected her after careful review of her qualifications, which include her successful interim leadership roles at over ten nonprofit organizations. "I am thrilled to be assisting the organization during this time of change," says Rosalba. "The Open Center has been such an important part of the NYC landscape, and many people depend on it."

About The New York Open Center
For almost 30 years, the Open Center has been the world's largest urban center for holistic learning and world culture, annually presenting over 500 programs in spirituality and world religions, health and wellness, psychology and self-development, society and ecology, and creativity and the arts. For more information, go to http://www.opencenter.org.

Contact: Lesley Rodriguez
lesleyr@opencenter.org
212-219-2527 x 144

HTML:   http://www.eworldwire.com/pressreleases/212641
PDF:   http://www.eworldwire.com/pdf/212641.pdf
MOBILE:    http://e4mobile.com/view_release.php?id=212641
ONLINE NEWSROOM:   http://www.eworldwire.com/newsroom/310221.htm

CONTACT:
Lesley Rodriguez
New York Open Center
22 E. 30th Street
New York, New York 10016
PHONE. 212-219-2527
EMAIL: lesleyr@opencenter.org
http://www.opencenter.org

KEYWORDS: holistic learning center, education, holistic education, Open Center, New York Open Center, non-profit

SOURCE: New York Open Center