English Household is your dependable resource

English Household was established to assist families and their trusted advisors in managing the ongoing staffing and maintenance demands of busy households and estates. In her work with families and their staff, Kathleen English, founder and president of English Household, saw a need for professional advice and administration. She formed a team of experts in human resources, facilities management, construction, and employment law who provide experienced professional support based on each family's needs.

Kathleen English, SPHR

Founder and President of English Household Kathleen English has two decades of estate management experience handling issues relating to large holdings and global lifestyles. With an MBA from Rutgers University and Senior Professional Human Resources certification from the Society for Human Resource Management, Kathleen has the expertise to supervise a broad range of household needs. She brings a passion for service coupled with integrity and confidentiality. Prior to starting English Household, Kathleen worked for 18 years with Rockefeller & Company and members of the Rockefeller Family. In that role she served as Director of Personnel and Office Services for Rockefeller & Company, liaison for Rockefeller & Company to the Rockefeller Family, and Senior Advisor to several Rockefeller Family members.


Meet our team of experienced professionals

Cristina Ruiz - Employee Relations Manager

Cristina is passionate about helping management ensure there are open channels of communication between employees and their supervisory line. Her expertise includes interpretation of HR policies and Collective Bargaining agreements, Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) compliance, and conflict resolution. For more than 15 years, she served as Employee Relations Manager at the Visiting Nurse Of New York Home Care Agency, and has worked in the profit, nonprofit, and state government sectors, including in-service organizations, publications, retail, and hospitals, including more than five years as a psychiatric social worker. With a Masters of Education and a concentration in Counseling from the College of New Jersey, she is certified through Cornell University ILR School of EEO studies, and is fluent in Spanish.

Rahsaan Hatter - Senior Project Manager

Rahsaan works with families and advisors on property management, maintenance, construction and renovation. He comes to English Household with more than 10 years of experience working in significant residential projects, having served as Project Manager at Richter & Ratner and Plaza Construction, and Estimator at Builder’s Group, Tri-Star Construction, and B&F Building Corp. Rahsaan has a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and a Diploma in Building and Construction Management from New York University.

Patricia Reddin - Bookkeeper and Payroll Administrator

Patricia comes to English Household from Venrock-a venture capital firm founded by Laurence Rockefeller-where she was bookkeeper for 10 years. Prior to that, Patricia served as a Treasury Assistant for Siemens Corporation, Service Representative at Principal Financial Group, and Senior Administration Assistant at Cigna Heathcare of New York. She is a graduate of Grace Institute in New York and the College of Commerce in Dublin, Ireland.

Bill De Benedetto - Director of Maintenance

Bill has experience in all facets of managing maintenance and repairs and holds mechanical and safety certifications. He served as facilities manager for the NY Half Hollow Hills school district for more than 30 years, and oversaw a $25 million renovation in the past 5 years. Bill also supervised the grounds and landscaping for the school district and is familiar with all aspects of professional landcare. He holds an AA degree from LIU, CW Post and attended SUNY at Stony Brook.

Jennifer Gordon In-House Counsel

Jennifer responds to issues regarding policies and procedures. She is an employment and labor attorney with more than eight years of experience advising employers and management. Jennifer’s areas of expertise include employment and labor law, particularly Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) and the various federal, state and local laws that regulate non-discrimination and non-harassment, Fair Labor Standards Act, and the development of Human Resources policies. Jennifer is focused on helping management prevent litigation by providing effective counsel on a wide variety of employment and labor issues, and working with management to balance legal and operational needs. In addition to being an attorney, Jennifer is a Certified Social Worker, and has more than six years of experience as a psychiatric social worker and working with children and youth and their families. Jennifer has a Masters of Social Work from New York University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona, and is certified through Cornell University ILR School in EEO Studies and Labor Relations-Contract Administration.

Marjorie Agriss - Travel and International Concierge

Marjorie Agriss has always had a sixth sense in knowing exactly what her clients want even if they don't know themselves. With over 20 years of experience she has travelled extensively to the world's most desired and exotic destinations including Antarctica, the Amazon, and all of Europe.  Marjorie caters to a high-end clientele ranging from the rich and famous to moving Broadway shows and performing arts companies such as the American Ballet Theater (ABT), Bolshoi, and Alvin Ailey as well as Jazz at Lincoln Center.  She is also the personal agent to many CEO's of the world's largest corporations, and can supply references upon request. Marjorie believes in making her trips both magical and different. Her clients get to do things they never dreamed of and they always return thanking her for her remarkable recommendations. When she meets a person for the first time she instinctively knows where to send them so they will have a vacation to remember for a lifetime. She knows what people want out of a vacation, whether it's a leisurely trip on a beach or a more adventurous venture. Marjorie knows that all corners of the earth have wonderful things to see and do and each trip she books is filled with amazement and wonder.