ADVISORY BOARD School of Graduate And Professional Studies
Our Mission The Board’s mission is to contribute to student success by helping them become consummate professionals and responsible citizens within and beyond their community. Bringing together accomplished professional experts and eminent community members that have a common interest in civic engagement and a shared mission of student success, the Board aims at directing influence with students, faculty, and fellow Board members to offer guidance and support to SGPS leadership team and faculty. Specific areas of support include: Advise on market informed strategic directions for new course and program offerings to meet the changing needs of organizations hiring our graduates Guide content creation and quality improvement based upon Board members’ experience in professional settings Help develop assessment tools for program effectiveness in determining the level of student knowledge and skills Share career and professional advice as well as discuss latest developments in Board members’ field of expertise through guest speaking engagements Work with career services to offer students advice on securing internships and guide students towards professional opportunities Assist students in building and developing a professional network The initial term of serving on the Board is two years. The Board will meet once every semester for a total of three times a year.
Vincent J. Averaimo, ESQ. Milford Chamber of Commerce, Milford Law For over 20 years of practice, Vinny has engaged in, General Civil, Probate, Title, Complex Foreclosure and Eviction litigation. Additionally, he practices in the areas of Real Estate Transactions, Title curative and REO transactions on behalf of businesses, individuals, and institutional clients. He also has extensive experience in probate administration both contested and uncontested and preparing and drafting Wills and Estate plans. He provides pro bono services to incapable individuals by virtue of Court appointments through the Milford/Orange Probate Court. He has been a partner at Milford Law, LLC. in Milford Connecticut since 2008. Vinny has built a reputation of being an aggressive, compassionate attorney who prides himself on high ethical standards. He prides himself in being active in his community through his memberships in several organizations, particularly, the Regional Milford Chamber of Commerce and Boys and Girls Club of Milford, Incorporated. When not practicing law, he has been an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven in New Haven, Connecticut teaching graduate level courses in business law. He currently teaches classes in The Basics of Connecticut Foreclosures, Ethics, Fair Housing Laws and Real Estate transactions for the Dare’s Institute. He enjoys playing competitive tennis through the USTA New England League. Vinny was humbled to be awarded the New Haven Business Times “Forty Under 40” Award in recognition of professional achievement and community involvement (2005) and Milford’s 15th Annual Helping Milford Grow Award given to a member of the community who has helped guide the City of Milford educationally, artistically, politically, morally, civically, and economically. Vinny contributes to many publications including realtor.com, Forbes Magazine and has appeared on WTNH Channel 8 News where he spoke on several different legal topics.
Dr. Christine Broadbridge, Ph.D. Executive Director/Professor, Research and Innovation, SCSU Dr. Christine Broadbridge, professor of physics and Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) received her M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering from Brown University, where she conducted research in the fields of materials science, physics and nanotechnology. She has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on over 10 National Science Foundation (NSF) projects and as researcher on over a dozen others, including grants from NASA, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Broadbridge participated in the establishment and is currently education director for the Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena (CRISP) at Yale and SCSU and is a Yale Visiting Fellow in Electrical Engineering. She is the founding Director of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Center for Nanotechnology and the SCSU Office for STEM Innovation and Leadership (STEM-IL). In addition to being the current President for the CT Academy of Science and Engineering, Dr. Broadbridge is a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of Sigma Pi Sigma and Tau Beta Pi (national honor societies for physics and engineering respectively).
Desmond F. Brown Assistant Director, Office of Consumer Education, CFPB Desmond Brown currently serves as the Assistant Director for the Office of Consumer Education at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Brown has more than two decades of experience working with national and local organizations to increase financial well-being and economic opportunities for vulnerable families. In his current capacity, he is responsible for leading the Bureau’s consumer education and financial inclusion work. This includes providing strategic direction for consumer education research, program and policy development, and external partnerships. He leads the office’s efforts to identify and elevate barriers and financial challenges facing consumers, including racially and ethnically diverse communities. Through his leadership, the Office of Consumer Education leverages partnerships to create policy, institutional, and programmatic changes within government agencies, financial institutions, and other organizations to increase consumer protection, deliver effective financial education, and improve access to financial services for vulnerable consumers. The Office of Consumer Education plays an important role in the Bureau’s efforts to expand financial inclusion in the U.S. by intensely focusing on the unique opportunities and challenges of traditionally underserved populations as they navigate the financial services marketplace. Brown holds degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and Georgetown University.
Jack Burriesci, M.S. Security Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Jack Burriesci has more than two decades of public service across federal, state, and local governments. He is an experienced leader in homeland security operations, program management, budget administration, and policy analysis. Burriesci currently serves as a manager in Security Operations at the Transportation Security Administration where he leads oversight and analysis of the agency’s regulatory compliance programs. Previously, he was a program manager for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and he began his federal service as an analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Burriesci started his professional career as a researcher for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities in New Haven and was later appointed by the City of Stamford Board of Finance as clerk and staff analyst. While conducting graduate studies at SCSU, he was selected for a non-partisan fellowship in the Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research. Burriesci earned a B.A. in geography from Central Connecticut State University in 1997 and was the recipient of the Young Alumni Service Award in 2010. He received a M.S. in political science from Southern Connecticut State University in 2001. Born and raised in Stamford, he currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife.
Devin Carney CT State Representative Devin Carney is serving his fourth term as the State Representative in the 23rd district of Connecticut, which encompasses Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. Rep. Carney is currently serving on three committees being, the Transportation Committee, Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee, and lastly the Education Committee. Devin is also the co-chair of the bipartisan energy caucus and serves on the bipartisan tourism caucus. He received his Bachelors in Political Science from Brandeis University in 2006. He also workers as a realtor for Coldwell Banker. Carney also volunteers his time with many local organizations including serving on The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center Board of Trustees, as the Treasurer of the Board of Saybrook Senior Housing, as a member of The Rotary Club of Old Saybrook, and as a member of both the Lyme-Old Lyme and Old Saybrook Chambers of Commerce. This year Rep. Carney is focusing heavily on the various public health crisis’s that we are facing. Both the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the issues of the opioid epidemic that many of us are far too familiar with here in Connecticut. Some acts he has co-sponsored this year include provisions requiring healthcare to pay for screenings for cystic fibrosis, as well as expanding state services provided to victims of domestic abuse and violence. In past years he has voted in favor of new environmental protection acts. These acts primarily focus on the control of fracking waste, and increasing the available public funds for the public education of the impacts of climate change. Devin Carney highly values the impacts that the public education system can bring to the average person’s life. He contributes his attendance to the Old Saybrook public education system to the success that he, and more importantly future children, will have as time goes on. Carney graduated from Brandeis University in 2006 where he received a BA in Political Science and a BA in American Studies with a minor in Film.
Gary Joseph Ciarleglio Regional Director Sales & Relationship Management Greater New Haven & Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce Gary’s professional career at the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce commenced in May 2015 when he was named Business Development Executive. Tasked with the growth of both membership, sponsorship and event sales, Gary has made an outstanding contribution into developing these three key areas and has elevated the chambers profile with area businesses. In 2016 Gary was recognized nationally by ACCE (Association Chamber of Commerce Executives) finishing 2nd in total sales and total dollar value. In 2017 Gary finished 1st in the nation in both categories. In June of 2019, Gary was named Sr. Director of Sales & Marketing overseeing the transformation of the chamber’s digital, social media and print marketing strategy. In addition, Gary was instrumental in improving both the growth of the chamber’s event and corporate sponsorship portfolio. In March 2021, Gary was elevated to Regional Director of Sales & Relationship Management for both the Greater New Haven & Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. Gary will oversee the sales team while simultaneously implementing a new sales CRM. Prior to joining the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce Gary held various sales executive roles at Gryphon Networks, ADP, Gilman Gear and Security Specialists. Before changing career paths in 2005, Gary was an assistant football coach and recruiter at Columbia University from 1993-2002. He also served as Defensive Coordinator at LaSalle University in 2004. Gary has also served as an assistant coach for the Needham Rockets (Youth Football) (2005), Sheehan HS (2010), Hamden HS (2011), Nauset Regional HS (2013-14) (Eastham, MA) and Westerly HS (2016) (Westerly, RI). A native of Branford Connecticut, Gary graduated from the University of Rochester (NY) in May 1989 with a B.A. in Political Science. Gary was elected to the University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 after earning multiple All-American honors in football during his undergraduate career. Gary is an avid golfer and currently is the tournament director of the QCC Golf Classic held annually (August) at the Farms Country Club. Gary lives in the Mt. Carmel section of Hamden Connecticut with his wife Eileen Giaimo, Western Regional Director for Pro Health Physicians.
Joe DeLong CEO & Executive Director, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Joe DeLong is CCM’s Executive Director and CEO. He received his Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University (WVU). While attending WVU he was a standout athlete on the football team and helped the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season in 1993. Prior to joining CCM in April 2015, DeLong spent time as a State House Majority Leader and the Chief Executive of a $100 million public/private corporation.
Patricia Dillon CT State Representative, CBIA | Connecticut House District 92 - Democrat Patricia Dillon is serving her eighteenth term as the Democratic representative of the 92nd district in New Haven, Connecticut. She is currently acting as the Deputy Majority Leader for the Democratic party. Rep. Dillon also currently serves on three committees for the state. She serves as a chairwomen for the apropriations committee, environmental committee, and the judiciary committee. She has founded a shelter for battered women in New Haven and prides herself on her actions taken against family and domestic violence. Many of her actions as a state rep have been focused on helping struggling families. These actions range from enacting policies on injury prevent, to starting the first WIC programs in the state. (Women, Infant, Child services.) Patricia Dillon received her undergraduate degree from Marymount College, and later her graduate degree from Yale University School of Medicine in 1998. She was a teacher for both undergrad and graduate level courses over the course of 33 years. Some of the universities in which she was an educator include Ohio State, Rutgers, and Alburtus. In the past few years Patricia has continued her long record of supporting women and families, as well as making efforts to help relieve the effects of poverty in her community. She has supported acts increasing the minimum wage in Connecticut, as well as increasing support funds for paid medical and maternity leave. Other legislation she has co-sponsored in the past continue to reflect the ideas that she has fought for her entire political career, such as increasing fundings available to first responders suffering from PTSD. This year she is focusing heavily on relieving issues concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. One of her primary focus is on funding the availability of oxygen pulsometers available for senior citizens and those suffering from certain disabilities. The testing machines are very reliable in measuring potential damages caused during and after being infected with the Coronavirus. This year she is also supporting bills to increase fundings to first responders and increases to the availability of public mental health clinics.
Glenn M. Jurgen Director Human Resources Access Health CT As a senior Human Resources professional, Glenn has extensive experience in the management of high-impacting Human Resources initiatives and programs. Having developed a strategic, engaged management style, he is skilled in many areas including: HR management and optimization; staffing and recruitment; benefits plan administration; leadership and development; training and facilitation; strategic planning and analysis; cultural development; policy writing and implementation; 401(k) administration; and continuous improvement. He provides strategic direction over various operational areas, including: benefits; payroll; talent acquisition; employee relations; and performance evaluations; as well as conducting internal investigations into concerns and complaints and recommending corrective action. Glenn has worked in various industries over the past 20 years including Insurance, Manufacturing, Accounting and Healthcare. Glenn received his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Quinnipiac University. He is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and is a certified Public Housing Manager (PHM).
Nicole Klarides-Ditria CT State Representative State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria was re-elected to serve the 105th district of Beacon Falls, Seymour, and part of Derby in November 2020, having first been elected in 2016. For the 2021-2022 legislative session, Representative Klarides-Ditria was named Chair of the Legislative Regulation Review Committee by House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora, and promoted to serve as a Caucus Whip. Whips are traditionally responsible for helping to shape public policy, assisting Republican lawmakers and making sure all Republican House members are in attendance to cast their votes on legislative issues. Representative Klarides-Ditria will also serve on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and Public Health Committee. Previously, she served as served as the Ranking Member of the Regulation Review Committee. Rep. Klarides-Ditria is a lifelong resident of Seymour whose grandparents made their way from Greece many years ago in search of the American Dream. They started a small family business (Klarides Supermarkets) and worked very hard every day of their lives to give their families a better life than they had. As a young girl, she grew up working at her family’s supermarkets in Seymour and Derby, where she learned the values of hard work and putting her community first. In 2011, Nicole decided to run for a seat on the Board of Selectman in Seymour. She won that election and was unanimously voted by Democrats and Republicans on the Board of Selectman to become the Deputy First Selectman. Nicole was reelected to the Board Selectman in 2013 and 2015 and stepped down from being the Deputy First Selectman after winning her election for State Representative. She still continues to serve on the Board of Selectmen as a regular member. Nicole graduated from Quinnipiac University, and after graduating went on to pursue a career as an athletic trainer and currently is the head athletic trainer at both Lauralton Hall High School in Milford and for the Seymour High School Football team. She also has an active role in managing a number of business properties owned by her family. Rep. Klarides-Ditria’s had the distinct pleasure of serving alongside her sister, State Representative Themis Klarides (House Republican Leader – Orange, Woodbridge, and Derby) from 2016-2020. The siblings became the first sisters to serve together in the history of the State House of Representatives. Nicole lives in Seymour, with her husband, a Seymour Police Detective, and son.
Donna Lecky, JD, MBA Managing Partner, HealthVenture Capital CFO & Co-Founder, HealthVenture Co-Founder & Board Chair HealthHavenHub, Inc. Donna Lecky, prior to founding HealthVenture, previously was VP, Chief Tax Officer and Tax Counsel at Omnicare, a CVS Company. She was also the Treasurer and Chief Benefits Officer. Prior to Omnicare, Donna was the VP, Chief Tax Officer and General Tax Counsel of HealthSouth Corporation. Before HealthSouth, for approximately 20 years, she operated in various roles with KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte where she supported healthcare and financial services clients in the areas of finance and tax structures, mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, strategy and business development. She serves on the Board of the World Surgical Infection Society, a non-for-profit that addresses global strategies associated with infection disease control. Donna also serves on the State and Local Tax Advisory Board of New York University School of Law. She is the 2018 recipient of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce Women’s Excellence in Business Award. She is also an Associate Fellow at Pierson College at Yale University. In 2019, Donna was featured in a ForbesWomen article: Meet the Women Investors Supporting Early Women’s Health Innovators, where she addressed the importance of supporting diversity and inclusion in early-stage investing. Donna holds a BS in Accounting from Temple University, a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law and completed the Emory University School of Law LLM Taxation program. She completed the University of Oxford Private Equity Program and graduated from Yale University where she received her MBA with a concentration in healthcare. She also holds a certification in venture capital from Venture Capital University, a joint initiative of Startup@Berkeley Law and National Venture Capital Association.
Andrea Lobo Chief Human Resources Officer, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Andrea Lobo joined the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center leadership team in 2010 as the Chief of Human Resources. Andrea is no stranger to the Health Center; she served as its Director of Human Resources from 2001 to 2004, Inspired by her passion for people and serving others has led Andrea to a professional career in Human Resources and Management. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of human resources and management. In her current position she serves as the Center’s Chief of Human Resources, Health Information, Patient Advocacy and Marketing/Community Relations. In this position she has been committed to improving community health, advocating for patients, evaluating and improving all aspects of the employee experience and working with all levels of the organization to achieve the health center’s strategic goals. Under her leadership the National Association for Community Health Centers recognized the Center for Best Practices in Human Resources. Andrea is a native of the Greater New Haven Community, having been born, raised and educated in New Haven, CT. She is a member of the Board of Directors for The Boys & Girls Club of New Haven. Andrea is also actively involved with volunteerism and a member of several civic organizations within the Greater New Haven Community. She believes that healthcare is a vital component in building strong communities and that human capital is the heartbeat of every organization.
Paige Miglio Executive Director, Milford Arts Council Paige Miglio, Executive Director, Milford Arts Council (a certified 501c3 since 1972) in Milford CT. Paige is a lifelong CT resident, growing up in Old Saybrook and living in Milford for 24 years. She is a graduate of Rhode Island of Design (1988, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration). After graduation, Paige lived in Boston and worked in educational publishing (Houghton Mifflin and DC Heath) before joining a RISD professor (and mentor) to start a Children’s book studio, ultimately representing and managing over 45 writers and illustrators across the globe. After moving to Milford, Paige raised two children and worked as a freelance illustrator, portrait and mural artist before starting her dream job overseeing the MAC in 2013. Her experience with and love of all of the arts combines with her passionate vision of the arts as being an essential part of economic and community development, has brought her to many tables alongside the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as the City Economic Development Commission and Tourism Commission.
Sri Muthu, MBA CEO & Co-Founder, HealthVenture Co-Founder & Board Director, HealthHavenHub, Inc. Sri Muthu is CEO & Co-founder of HealthVenture Corporation and Managing Director of HealthVenture Labs. He is also a Co-Founder and Board Chairman of HealthHavenHub. Immediately prior, he was the Head of Technology for Innovation, R&D and the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator. Other roles include the Head of Technology and Operations for ClearXchange, a payments joint venture of Bank of America, Capital One, JPM Chase, US Bank and Wells Fargo. He co-founded and managed Wells Fargo’s Internet Services Incubator, Labs and R&D in 2007. He managed Technology Investments from 2002 to 2007 and was responsible for the Online Brokerage, Trust & Investments Services. Prior, he managed multiple product engineering groups since joining Wells Fargo in 1999. He holds FINRA 7, 63 and 24 registrations and has completed Health-CISSP, CISA, CISSP, CISM and CGEIT CyberSecurity examinations. He is currently a National Association of Corporate Directors Governance Fellow and an active panel moderator and judge for Healthcare and Venture Capital events. Sri graduated from Yale with an MBA in Healthcare Leadership. He also completed Oxford Private Equity Program and the Strategic Decision and Risk Management program at Stanford. Sri is also a proud Hokie grad of Virginia Tech.
Lucy Nalpathanchil Presenter, NPR Lucy is the Executive Producer and Host of WNPR’s popular talk show, Where We Live. The show goes beyond news headlines and interviews with policy-makers. Where We Live features conversations about Connecticut and highlights the stories of its residents. In 2020, Lucy received a national Gracies Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for her conversation with a Connecticut mother and her trans-son. In 2018, Where We Live received two national awards from Public Media Journalists Association, formerly known as Public Radio News Directors, Inc., or PRNDI. Lucy and her team were awarded second place in the categories of “Call In Program” and “Interview.” Lucy has been a public radio journalist for more than 20 years covering everything from education to immigration, juvenile justice and child welfare issues to veterans’ affairs and the military. Her reporting has taken her to all sorts of places including a nausea inducing ride aboard a Coast Guard boat in Florida and to Tambacounda, Senegal to talk with women journalists and farmers. She moved to Connecticut in 2006 to become WNPR’s Assignment Editor. She’s also been local host for mid-day programming and for All Things Considered. She contributes to National Public Radio and her stories have aired on several national NPR shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Weekend All Things Considered, Here and Now, and Latino USA. During her time in Connecticut, Lucy has focused on immigration including New Haven’s controversial ID card program, efforts for an in-state tuition law for undocumented students, and the Becoming American series: stories of immigrants and the citizenship process. In 2011, Lucy launched the Coming Home Project to tell the stories of returning Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans in transition. To learn more about the military, Lucy was chosen to take part in a week-long training for journalists hosted by the U.S Army at Fort Leavenworth, KS and Fort Leonard Woods, MO. Getting up at 3:30 am to participate in boot camp was most memorable! In 2014, she was selected to join military reporters around the country for a conference hosted by the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative in Washington D.C. Lucy has worked in several states as a public radio reporter after beginning her career at WDUQ in Pittsburgh. She’s received awards from Pennsylvania’s Golden Quill, the New York State Associated Press, the Mayor’s Asian American Advisory Board in Jacksonville, Florida, the Connecticut Associated Press and the state’s Society for Professional Journalists chapter. When she’s not in the newsroom, Lucy enjoys traveling, hiking, and planning her next garden. She and her husband, Jason, live in Suffield with their two children and a small zoo.
Ron Napoli CT State Representative Ron Napoli is serving his second term as representative of the 73rd district in Waterbury. He is currently serving on three committees, being the Education Committee, the Higher Ed and Employment Advancement Committee, and serves as the VIce Chair for the Veterans Affairs Committee. Last session he also served on the Energy and Technology Committee. Ron Napoli has two college degrees, the first being a bachelors in European history from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, and then earned his second degree in secondary education from the University of Bridgeport. In previous years he has worked as a social studies teacher at Wilby Highschool. He currently works in adult education. He has served as a position of Alderman in Waterbury since 2009. In his first term, Representative Napoli has supported bills such as increased paid medical leave insurance, increases to the state minimum wage, as well as increasing the state’s capabilities for cyber security. This year he is sponsoring legislation designed to make it easier for veterans to enter and pay for higher education through the state’s community colleges and universities. He also is sponsoring a bill that would create a task force focused on children’s mental health.
Jeffrey Orszak Director, Strategic Growth & Technology, ConnStep Jeffrey Orszak is Director, Strategic Growth & Technology at CONNSTEP. At CONNSTEP, Jeff leads a team helping Connecticut companies with top-line growth using market development and applying technology acceleration as well as adapting risk management solutions of their information. He assists Connecticut companies with innovation and product development. He has more than 20 years of product development and program management experience, leading diverse teams in telecommunication, semiconductor, and aerospace industries. Jeff has created partnerships leading to the introduction of new technologies into the market and applied Lean tools to improve operational and product development processes. He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and of Boston University. He is active in supporting STEM education.
Kara Rochelle CT State Representative Kara Rochelle is currently serving her second term as the representative for the 104th district of Connecticut, making up Ansonia and Derby. She currently is acting as Vice Chairwoman of the Commerce Committee, as well as serving on the Higher Education and Employment Advancement and the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. Kara graduated from Fordham University, and is working as an administer for a local faith-based nonprofit called Shabtai, which is affiliated with Yale. Before being elected in 2018, she formed the Naugatuck Valley Young Democrats group, in which she has spent many hours volunteering for since her time in college. She has also formed a local chapter for the Elks, a fraternal order focused on community involvement, designed for fortunate and unfortunate youths alike. In her past efforts, she has also supported the state’s initiative to increase the minimum wage. Her primary goal is focused on returning the Democratic party to the working class roots that it originated from. She has a strong focus on increasing the availability and quality of education to her constituents and the state as a whole. Believing that we must adapt to the changes being brought forward by the new technological era, Rep. Rochelle is fighting to retrain Connecticut’s labor workforce to meet the new demands being brought forward. She has fought for increased funding to schools throughout the state and fighting the racial inequality being seen in higher education throughout the state. She also supports acts focusing on the crackdown of violence both physical and sexual in nature on college campuses. Other notable legislation she has supported includes the Crown Act, a bill designed to eliminate the stigma against women regarding their natural hair in the workplace.
Paul Savas Vice President, Comcast Paul Savas is Vice President of Comcast Business in the Western New England Region. Paul is responsible for delivering a World-Class Customer Experience. He leads all aspects of Comcast Business’ Sales, Sales Operations and Marketing efforts for the Region including delivering Voice, Data and Video solutions to Comcast customers in more than 300 communities in Connecticut, New York, Western Massachusetts, Vermont, and Western New Hampshire. Paul serves on the Board of the Connecticut Technology Council and serves as Executive Sponsor of Comcast’s Black Employee Network Employee Resource Group.
Dr. Ripi Singh, Ph.D. •
Chief Innovation and Strategy Coach Dr. Ripi Singh is a purposeful innovation coach who loves to discuss about future possibilities with optimism and hope. For over 30 years, he has been learning how to develop products, technologies, processes, and people; spanning aerospace and defense, renewable energy and power, healthcare and medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and IT domains. He is currently serving on US expert team developing ISO 56000 for innovation management; advisory to Tsinghua University, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, and International Association of Innovation Professionals; Guest Editor for Springer and Materials Evaluation; and Vice Chair of Global Special Interest Group on NDE 4.0. Prior to his innovation practice, he worked as Director R&D Alstom Power (Now GE), Advanced Technology Manager for Pratt and Whitney, and Faculty at Indian Institute of Science. He is a winner of numerous National and Corporate honors, author of 8 books, 100+ publications, 300+ lectures, and a few patents. His derives great satisfaction in inspiring young minds to coaching business owners; startups to growth companies; commodities like garments to futuristic technologies like drones; and geographically from local eco-system to global. He holds a PhD in Engineering and MS in Business Strategy. He is married to a bio-scientist and together they have one son who is a practicing engineer.
Dean Manohar Singh, Ph.D. Dean Singh serves as Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University. Dean Singh brings to Southern a proven track record in enhancing academic opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds, launching new and innovative programs, fundraising and community outreach, practicing sound fiscal management, collaboratively managing interdisciplinary programs to build enrollments and improve graduation and retention rates, and developing and assessing the curriculum. He came to Southern from Humboldt State University, the northern most campus of the California State University system, where he served as the Dean of the College of Professional Studies. As Dean of the multidisciplinary College of Professional Studies, Singh led two schools --School of Business and School of Education-- and six departments, namely Leadership Studies, Economics, Social Work, Child Development, Psychology, and Kinesiology and Recreation Administration. Prior to Humboldt State, Singh served as the Division Head of the Division of Social Sciences and Business at Penn State – Abington. Previously, Singh has also served as the Interim Chair of the Department of Finance at Long Island University in New York. His non-academic professional career includes serving as a senior executive with the Government of India as a member of the Indian Civil Services. His academic experience includes serving on the faculties of the University of New Hampshire, Long Island University, the University of Nevada - Reno, Willamette University, and the University of New South Wales - Sydney, Australia. Dean Singh enjoys engaging in multidisciplinary scholarly research. With research interests ranging from finance, macroeconomics, and management strategy to corporate social responsibility and gender equity in corporate America, Singh has published over 40 manuscripts appearing in the leading peerreviewed journals in finance, marketing, and economics. Several of his published manuscripts have been ranked multiple times by Elsevier Science Publishing to be among the top 25 papers. He is recipient of the College of Business Researcher of the Year Award presented by the University of Nevada - Reno. One of his co-authored papers has also been awarded the Academy of Finance Distinguished Paper award. Outside of the university institutions, Singh is actively engaged in the academic community by delivering keynote addresses, presenting and discussing papers, and chairing academic sessions at national and international conferences. He also serves on the editorial boards of two academic journals, namely, the Review of Financial Economics and the Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting. As a teacher, Singh has designed and delivered a wide variety of graduate, honors, and undergraduate traditional and case-based courses in all major areas of finance, management strategy, and applied economics. Having designed study abroad courses and having taught abroad in India, Australia, and Singapore, Singh imparts a global perspective to students’ learning experience. Dean Singh has been honored with the Teaching Excellence Award at the Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies. Dean Singh received a bachelor’s degree in Economics (Honors) from Punjab University - India, and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo - Ontario, Canada, before completing a doctorate in Finance at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. Singh enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife of 30 years, their son, and daughter, and their Goldendoodle named Cooper.
Matthew Sugarman President, EBP Supply Solutions With nearly two decades of experience at EBP Supply Solutions, Matthew is committed to helping our customers shine by creating stronger partnerships that extend beyond that of a traditional wholesale distributor. Matthew began his career with EBP as its first Sales Executive in the New Jersey market. He quickly rose through the sales ranks, serving in several positions along the way including Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales in EBP’s New Jersey location and Senior Vice President of Sales where he led all five Sales Team Vice Presidents. Matthew became President of EBP Supply Solutions in early 2018 and has focused on more strategic initiatives that allow EBP to provide its customers with more value beyond the janitorial and foodservice supplies that EBP offers. Prior to joining EBP, Matthew served as a Sales Representative for 3M in the Commercial Care Division and Construction Home Improvement markets. Prior to that he was a member of the sales team for the New York Mets, Corporate Ticket Sales Department.
2021-2023 Advisory Board Members Vinny J. Averaimo Christine Broadbridge Desmond Brown Jack Burriesci J. Devin Carney Gary Ciarlegio Joe DeLong Pat Dillon Glenn Jurgen Nicole Klarides-Ditria Donna Lecky, JD, MBA Andrea Lobo Paige Miglio Sri Muthu Lucy Nalpathanchil Ron Napoli Jeffrey Orszak Kara Rochelle Paul Savas Dr. Ripi Singh Dr. Manohar Singh Matthew Sugarman