TANGO 2024 Building Bridges Conference Speakers

Julia Boisvert
Partner
Murtha Cullina
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Julia P. Boisvert is a health care and tax-exempt lawyer who represents for-profit and nonprofit providers, including hospitals, social services providers, physicians and the full spectrum of taxexempt entities on regulatory, corporate and business matters.

A member of the Health Care and Tax-Exempt Organizations practices, Julia advises clients on issues related to corporate formations, transactions and strategic collaborations, governance, contracting, privacy and security, and regulatory issues. For health care clients, she regularly drafts corporate governance documents, services agreements, employment contracts, and HIPAA privacy and security policies.

Julia’s experience serving on boards of directors provides direct insight into the operations of tax-exempt organizations. For clients in the nonprofit sector, she regularly assists with tax exemption filings, board management issues, operational matters, charitable giving and the development of social enterprises.

By bringing a practical perspective to navigate complicated corporate and regulatory issues, Julia helps clients achieve their strategic objectives. She recently guided an affiliation between a developmental service provider and a behavioral health provider that allowed the affiliated system to expand its service offerings and broaden its market.

Other recent representations include developing an international grant-making process that allowed a private foundation to provide grants around the world; reorganizing an affiliated tax-exempt system to increase its operational efficiency; and facilitating an acquisition of one physician practice by another to increase its geographic reach.

Dave Charest
Director of Small Business Success
Constant Contact
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Dave Charest is a speaker, host, content creator, and marketer with over 16-years experience helping small businesses and nonprofits make sense of online marketing.
His mission is to make marketing easier for people who don’t have time for marketing. Specifically, small business and nonprofit marketers needing practical, step-by-step marketing advice to help them do more business and more for their cause.

For over 11 years, he has been fortunate to work at Constant Contact, where he gets to share small business marketing advice, speak one on one with customers, and travel the United States speaking about making sense of online marketing.

Alan Deckman
President
TCORS Capitol Group, LLC
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Alan Deckman is an influential and respected lobbyist at the Connecticut GeneralAssembly and the Executive branch state agencies with over 25 years of experience. His personalized approach to representing clients blends practical business expertise with a thorough knowledge of the legislative and governmental process.

Mr. Deckman is the President and principal owner of the TCORS Capitol Group, LLC. (TCG) a government relations and association management firm based in Glastonbury, CT. He oversees all aspects of the company, including client servicing, strategic planning and management, marketing, long-term growth, and business opportunities. Mr. Deckman has successfully developed innovative ways to impact legislative and executive decision-making to help achieve the best results for his company’s clients. This proactive approach has produced numerous victories for clients with interests in the state budget and tax matters.
As the senior lobbyist of the TCORS Capitol Group, LLC.,

Mr. Deckman assists Fortune 500 companies and small Connecticut businesses with complex state and municipal procurement matters. Further, he has resolved many administrative inquiries for clients from a wide range of industries at both the state and local levels of government. Mr. Deckman regularly provides lead identification and relationship marketing services to clients looking to expand their business development efforts within the public and private sectors.

As executive director and lobbyist for several Connecticut non-profit educational organizations and institutions, he frequently serves as
a media spokesperson and advisor on public policy issues of direct concern to those entities.

Mr. Deckman is also the Founder and President of the Connecticut Blockchain Association, whose mission it is to develop, promote, and advance blockchain technology, and to establish Connecticut as a leader for blockchain innovation. The Connecticut Blockchain Association strives to create a unifying advocacy voice for the Blockchain industry in the state of Connecticut. Mr. Deckman also serves as an advisory board member for the Pennsylvania Blockchain Coalition.

Born in New London, Connecticut, Mr. Deckman graduated from Assumption College, where he received the distinguished Crown and Shield Award for leadership and service. Subsequently, he earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Sawyer School of Management at Suffolk University in Boston, where he was also selected to participate in the Dean’s Fellowship Program.

Jillian Gilchrest
CT State Representative
Guest Speaker

Jillian Gilchrest was elected to represent the 18th District of West Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) in 2018. She serves as House Chair of the Human Services Committee and member of the Appropriations, Public Health, and Judiciary Committees.

Jillian Chairs MAPOC, the Trafficking in Persons Council, and the Endometriosis Working Group.

Prior to becoming a state representative, Jillian served as the Director of Health Professional Outreach for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, and Director of Policy & Communications for the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She has extensive experience advocating for women’s health and safety, in particular influencing public policy at the CGA.

Jillian was elected to the West Hartford Board of Education in 2013. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work with a focus in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, where she has taught Political Advocacy.

Jillian currently teaches for the University of Saint Joseph and University of Hartford.

Patrick Gill
CFO / Director of East Coast Operations
Financial One
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Patrick Gill serves as a Chief Financial Officer and the Director of East Coast Operations. He holds his CPA designation and earned a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University.  He began his career as a Staff Auditor with Ernst & Young in Hartford, Connecticut where he worked exclusively on contracts with the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, auditing Medicaid rates issued to nursing homes and group homes for the mentally challenged.

For most of his career, Patrick has worked in public accounting firms that have specialized in serving the non-profit community.  In 2009, he decided to take the step of moving out of public accounting and became the Director of Finance and Operations for East Catholic High School, a college prep catholic high school affiliated with the Hartford Archdiocese, serving a student body of 700+ students. There he managed and monitored all of the financial reporting, budgeting and operational logistics of the campus.

Patrick joined Financial One in 2015 as the CFO / Business Development Officer of the firm’s Connecticut location. His prior public accounting experience has allowed him to assist his clients with complex issues; providing them with the expertise needed to carry out their missions. In 2020, he added the role of Director, East Coast Operations.

Patrick provides services to many industries within the non-profit community including organizations providing support to children & adults with developmental disabilities, health and welfare organizations, community outreach & enhancement, private schools and membership organizations.  He is also a partner member of The Alliance for Non-Profit Growth and Opportunity (TANGO) platform in Connecticut which is a community of organizations that help non-profit organizations thrive through education, preferred services and mission support.  Patrick is also an active member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

For over 20+ years Patrick has been very active in coaching local sports, as well as serving as Treasurer for the East Granby Little League and Suffield Jets Youth Football Non-Profit organizations.  He also serves as Chairman of the East Granby Parks and Recreations Commission.  Patrick’s family includes his wife Jill, son Ryan and daughter in-law Kialeigh, sons Jameson and Brady, and grandson Walter Ryan.

Bryn Goodman
Partner
Fox Rothschild
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Bryn Goodman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Department in Fox Rothschild’s New York office. She focuses her practice on guiding management and national and international employers in a wide variety of industries on all aspects of employment law.

Bryn represents employers in state and federal lawsuits and administrative proceedings involving wage-and-hour, discrimination and sexual harassment claims. She has extensive litigation experience, including motions practice and discovery. Bryn is a skilled negotiator and frequently represents clients at mediations and settlement conferences.

Bryn is well-versed in litigating claims involving accessibility of public accommodations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws.

Bryn frequently advises clients on compliance with local, state and federal laws regarding hiring and termination, discipline, discrimination, retaliation and wages. She works closely with clients to draft and revise handbooks and policies, as well as employment, separation, confidentiality and non-competition agreements. She also conducts anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and diversity training. In addition, Bryn has represented insurers in various coverage and liability matters.

Bryn frequently speaks and writes on employment law. She is member of the Advisory Board of HR.com, Women in America and the New York Bar Association. Bryn earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Pace University School of Law and a B.A. from Cornell University.

William (Bill) Green
President & CEO
CW Resources, Inc.
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Bill Green has 40 years of experience with CW Group, Inc., a social enterprise dedicated to supporting and employing people with disabilities. Bill reports to the Board of Directors and directly oversees the development and progress of CW Group and its affiliates. Bill designed and implemented business strategies, plans, and procedures that brought CW from business only in the state of Connecticut to currently employing people in 25 states across the nation. Under Bill’s leadership, CW has over 1400 employees with disabilities. His goals for CW include growing federal and commercial contracts so that we may continue to hire those with disabilities and support the individuals we serve. Bill has focused on how to diversify funding within CW in order to create jobs. In his two years as President & CEO, the goals have started to become reality. CW proudly has added six new lines of business and has a seventh that was just approved by the board of directors.

CW’s new lines of business are:

Lucky You Flowers, Cyber Security, CW Threads, CW Commercial Laundry, LaSalle Market & Deli, LaSalle Only Sweeter, and under construction a hydroponics growing center.

CW is an award-winning organization providing meaningful and prestigious employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, veterans, wounded warriors, and the economically disadvantaged. CW is recognized as a national organization and provides exceptional products and services to federal, state, and commercial customers. CW pursues best practices, state-of-the-art management, quality control systems, relevant professional certifications, and continuing education and training.

Dr. Shalonda Hill
CEO/ Founder
Dr. Hill Educational Services LLC
Co-Owner
CT Crusaders Professional Basketball Team
Guest Speaker

An educator for 18 years, I have taught regular education and special education from kindergarten to high school. I am certified in special education, elementary, and remedial reading.

My educational background includes a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Bridgeport, M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport, Sixth Year in Reading from Sacred Heart University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University.

In addition, I am owner of Dr. Hill Education Services LLC. We educate and provide behavior services for the state of CT.

In my spare time, I am co-owner of Connecticut Crusaders, TBL (The Basketball League) and we mentor and train basketball players.

Mike Hutcherson
Vice President Property & Casualty
NFP, an AON Company
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Michael began his insurance career in 1985 with John P. Woods Co., Inc., a reinsurance intermediary located in New York, NY. While employed there, Michael also participated in a 2 year internship at Royal Insurance Company.

In November of 1990, Michael joined The Colonial Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency with offices located from Albany to Utica, ultimately serving as President until 2000, at which time the firm was sold to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. From 2000 to 2003, Michael served as Area President of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. In 2003, he purchased the business back and served as President/Principal of The Colonial Insurance Agency, LLC with the same team; merged the organization with SEFCU Insurance in 2007 where he served as Executive Vice President and most recently moved the team again to Rose & Kiernan, Inc., now NFP, an AON Company, in November 2017.

Through the course of Michael’s career, he has focused predominantly on managing property and casualty insurance programs for clients from the Nonprofit, Public Entity, Financial Institutions and Energy Distribution industry sectors. This focus encompasses traditional property and casualty insurance products, inclusive of Management Liability and Workers Compensation, as well as deployment of alternative risk management transfer strategies such as Group Captives. Most recently, Michael has been introducing colleagues from NFP with extensive Group Benefits expertise to existing clients to expand scope of services offered.

Michael is a 1985 graduate of Washington and Lee University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree. He currently serves on the Board of NYS Hospitality & Tourism Association. He formerly served Director Roles on the boards at NBT Bancorp., Friends of Bassett Healthcare, Town of Colonie Chamber of Commerce, Pathfinder Village Foundation, the New York Propane Gas Association and ANCOR Foundation / ANCOR Services Corp.

Dr. Kathee Jordan
President/Chief Executive Officer
Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates
Guest Speaker

Dr. Kathleen Jordan is the President/Chief Executive Officer at Seven Hills Foundation, an integrated health and human services company with an annual operating budget of $490 million and 4800 employees. In this role, Dr. Jordan oversees the programmatic and clinical aspects of the organization’s 15 affiliate companies in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Dr. Jordan has been with Seven Hills Foundation for the past 20 years. She speaks frequently on issues related to managed care in long term care settings, mergers and acquisitions, and data analytics. In addition to her role at Seven Hills, Dr. Jordan is an adjunct professor at Central Michigan University, where she teaches Strategic Philanthropy, Health Informatics and Communication, and Substance Abuse Services. Her board involvement includes membership on the Board of the Association of Developmental Disability Providers (ADDP); membership on the Board of the Provider’s Council; membership on the Board of the Association for Behavioral Health (ABH); membership on the Board of Anna Maria College; and membership on the Board of Shoulder to Shoulder. Dr. Jordan holds a Doctor of Health Administration degree from Central Michigan University, a Masters in Education Administration from Boston College, and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University. She is also a Fellow in the American College of Health Executives.

Allison Kaylor-Flink, CPFA
Senior Vice President
NFP, an AON Company
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Allison is senior vice president and is responsible for the Texas and the East Coast regions. Part of NFP, an AON Company since 2014, she brings more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of defined contribution and defined benefit plan design and administration.

With previous positions at Plan Data, The 401(k) Company, Guardian Pension Services, Hartford Retirement Services, ING/Voya, Lone Star Retirement Services and The 401(k) Concierge, Allison is well-trained in investment due diligence, provider benchmarking, advanced plan design and fiduciary compliance.

Allison is a nationally recognized expert in ERISA issues. 401kWire.com ranked her one of the “Top 300 Most Influential Advisors in Defined Contribution.” She’s a founding adjunct lecturer at UCLA’s The Retirement Advisor University. Napa Net ranked her one of the “Top Women Advisors of 2017 and 2018.

David Lawlor, CPA
President and CEO
United Methodist Homes, Inc.
Guest Speaker

Mr. Lawlor has enjoyed a 30+ year career of leadership in health care management, finance and strategy. A CPA by background and former manager in KPMG’s Senior Care Services consulting division, Mr. Lawlor serves as the President/CEO of UMH, Inc., the parent company of Long Hill. Over the past 24 years,

Mr. Lawlor has led a broad range of projects which have all centered around improving the operational stability and enhancing the value of senior living assets. His clients include institutional and private equity investors, lenders, state and federal government agencies and non-profit organizations. His projects have ranged in size from $1 million to $350 million in overall business value.

Ryan Lawless
Senior Consultant, Corporate Benefits
NFP, an AON Company
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Ryan Lawless is a Senior Consultant with NFP, an AON Company. His primary role is overseeing all aspects of the client relationship. Ryan represents his clients and is responsible for the delivery of services provided by NFP. Ryan is involved in all processes from the onset of the client relationship through to the implementation and delivery of services to employees. Prior to joining NFP, Ryan worked for Prudential Financial for 7 years. He is involved with Allied Rehabilitation in Enfield, CT as a Board Member.

Jacqueline Motyl
Partner
Fox Rothschild
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Jacqueline Motyl is a Partner at Fox Rothschild, a national law firm with 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. She is Co-Chair of the firm’s Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group. Jacqueline focuses her practice on taxation and wealth planning. In particular, she provides legal advice to nonprofits on a broad range of matters, counsels corporate fiduciaries and individual trustees on trust administration issues and assists individuals with their estate and tax planning needs.

Jacqueline assists nonprofits with the formation of private foundations, public charities, supporting organizations and other tax-exempt organizations. She addresses exempt organization compliance issues, such as self-dealing, excess benefit transactions, excess business holdings, taxable expenditures, public support, private benefit and employee compensation.

Jacqueline speaks on a variety of topics such as charitable trust administration, nonprofit reorganization structures, charitable solicitations registrations and the basics of estate planning.

She earned an LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University, a J.D., cum laude, from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law and as B.S. and B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Management.

Tammy Nuccio
CT State Representative
Guest Speaker

Tammy Nuccio proudly represents the 53rd General Assembly District, which encompasses Tolland, Willington and Vernon. She was elected to her first term in November 2020.

Rep. Nuccio was appointed as the Ranking Member of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Other issues under the committee’s jurisdiction include matters relating to state employees’ salaries, benefits and retirement, teachers’ retirement and veterans’ pensions and collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards for all state employees.

Rep. Nuccio will return to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to insurance law and real estate law. Nuccio will also serve on the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, which addresses all executive and legislative nominations requiring action of either or both chambers with the exception of judicial nominations, nominations of workers’ compensation commissioners and nominations of members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. In addition, she sits on the Screening Committee, a select committee that reviews all legislation introduced in the chamber.

Nuccio was an early co-sponsor and helped lead her Republican colleagues in passage of House Bill 6588. The bill formally established Nuccio’s proposed Mental Health Service Provider Task Force, allowing lawmakers to identify and eliminate roadblocks preventing more mental health service providers from participating in provider networks. Nuccio was later appointed to serve on the task force by House Minority Leader Rep. Vincent Candelora.

Rep. Nuccio is a financial analyst for Cigna and an elected member of the Tolland Town Council. She has more than 30 years of experience in finance and is active within the community. Most notably, she has been involved with the Tolland Senior Center, Tolland Soccer, Saint Matthew’s Church and is a sitting board member on the Eastern Highland Health District.

Nuccio holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bay Path University. She is a 35-year resident of Tolland where she resides with her husband and three daughters.

Albert Petrunti
President
Awecast
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Albert Petrunti is the Founder/President of Awecast and CEO of Panoptic Resources.  He’s been a content producer for over 30 years, creating marketing content for small and large organizations for television and digital media.  His skills also include performing video forensics and deploying remote surveillance services.  Albert is an experienced technologist, having served in various roles as Director of Information Technology & Systems for United Health Group, Open Solutions (now Fiserv) and Bozzuto’s.

Albert founded Awecast – a digital video production company – in 2006, initially capitalizing on the transition from analog to digital media.  He now leads his team of digital storytellers, helping nonprofits tell their stories!  With a philanthropic approach, he serves nonprofit organizations, ensuring they have access to the same quality video production services as their for-profit peers. Albert is a proficient drone pilot with over 10 years of experience and is FAA certified for commercial drone flight.  Panoptic Resources specializes in remote camera surveillance, construction site monitoring, aerial mapping, drone program consulting, and event security.

Augusto Russell
Vice President, Property and Casualty
NFP, an AON Company
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Augusto is a Certified Insurance Counselor with over 30 years experience in the insurance industry. In 2000, Augusto left his insurance career to work as the Director of Development for HOPE worldwide New England, a faith-based NGO in Andover, Massachusetts.  He raised money to support orphaned and abandoned children in Romania and other Eastern European countries. In 2003, Augusto and his family relocated to Farmington, CT where he resumed his insurance career with Insurance Provider Group (now affiliated with NFP, an AON Company).

Augusto regularly participates in data breach symposiums and webinars designed to heighten awareness of cyber liability exposures and to offer practical solutions on how to deal with the burgeoning problem of data breach to businesses and organizations. He was a regular presenter for Lawyers Clearinghouse, founded by the Boston Bar and Massachusetts Bar Associations, on the topic:  Navigating the Waters of Insurance and Risk Management for Nonprofits.  He has developed exclusive insurance programs for industries including Nonprofits and Human Service Organizations, Healthcare and Manufacturing sectors.

Augusto works with clients ranging from startups to nationally recognized companies.  He was the president of the Professional Insurance Agents of CT (PIACT) Association in 2013-2014.  Augusto received the CT Professional Agent of the Year award in 2015 and later received the 2016 National Professional Agent of the Year. He is the current Board Chair for the ARC of the Farmington Valley (Favarh), is the former chair of the Economic Development Commission for the Town of Farmington and has been appointed to the Insurance Task Force created by the CT Senate. He holds a BA from Tufts University (cum laude).

Zachary Segal
Senior Manager, Exempt Organizations Tax Services
CohnReznick
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Zachary Segal, CPA, is a senior manager in CohnReznick’s Long Island office as a member of the National Exempt Organization Tax Services (EOTS) practice and has over fifteen years of experience serving a variety of clients, including higher education institutions, public charities, healthcare organizations, affordable housing organizations, CDFIs, associations, and private foundations. His experience extends to tax-exempt clients with complex investment portfolios, managing compliance with IRS UBIT requirements, foreign filing requirements, and forms governed by the FinCEN.

Zachary is a member of our Association and CDFI Sector Workgroups working better serve those industries. Zachary also has gained extensive knowledge assisting his clients in the area of tax compliance, including federal and state audits/notices ranging from exemption revocation, employment taxes, unrelated business income tax issues, and issues related to maintenance of tax-exempt status. Zachary also reviews tax returns, such as Form 5500, associated with retirement plans.

Additionally, Zachary has served his clients in the areas of taxable organizations, including corporations (C-Corp/S-Corp) and partnerships, providing assistance with both compliance and consulting on complex matters.

Zachary had a successful career at a Big Four firm for eight years.

Education

• State University of New York at Albany: Bachelor of Science, Accounting

Community Involvement

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Jude “Hero Ambassador”/Athlete

Professional Affiliations

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants

Rollin Schuster
Managing Director
NFP, an Aon Company
President & Founder
TANGO
TANGO Partner & Guest Speaker

Rollin Schuster is a Managing Director at NFP, an AON Company, one of the world’s largest insurance and financial services advisory firms. In 2020 Rollin’s prior firm The Schuster Group was acquired by NFP. For the last 38 years he has focused on providing clients with innovative employee benefits and insurance strategies. He has served on the NFP Benefits Partner Broker Advisory Board as well as numerous insurance carrier advisory boards. He is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and a frequent speaker on industry related topics.

Rollin’s affinity for serving the nonprofit sector inspired him to create a nonprofit; The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity, Inc. Commonly referred to as TANGO which he now serves as Founder and President. This organization provides business training and resources to over 1,800 nonprofits, helping them further their mission and create positive change in the sector.

Rollin’s nonprofit involvement also includes serving as President of the TANGO Foundation, Board of Directors of CW Resources, Inc., Board of Directors of Qualidigm, Trustee of Franklin Pierce University, and Board Member of The Guide Relief Program. Also, a participant on the Compensation and Benefits Committee of Renbrook School, Corporator of CCARC and Connecticut Community Care, Inc. Rollin is a graduate of Franklin Pierce University and holds numerous insurance licenses and is a registered representative with Kestra Securities, Inc. He is also an Investment Advisory Representative (IAR). He lives in Simsbury, CT and Martha’s Vineyard, MA with his wife, has three children, and two grandchildren.

Richard E. Sebastian Jr.
President / CEO
The Kennedy Collective
Guest Speaker

Educated at Utica College of Syracuse University and receiving a BS Degree in Psychology and Loyola Maryland with an MS in Pastoral Counseling, Rick has dedicated his professional life to working with and supporting people who have disabilities and/or chronic & life-threatening medical conditions.

Rick’s life’s purpose is creating connection with and empowerment of people who have disabilities to live vibrant and relevant lives. As the parent of an adult daughter who has multiple disabilities and as The President of The Kennedy Center, headquartered in Trumbull, CT, Rick is present to the Power of Purpose, and he is a pragmatic visionary who leads and creates environments where people make an impact and the work they do transforms communities. Rick is a change maker and committed to being an influencer in building Communities and Economies on Purpose.

Rick is passionate about creating environments where all people excel, explore, and live their aspirations and dreams. He advocates for collaboration, self-determination, self-sufficiency, and community engagement through the alignment of policy, provision of appropriate services & supports, and the creation of meaningful and dignified employment. Rick advocates for the alignment of public policy to meet the needs of the disenfranchised people and public/private partnerships are vehicles for that alignment. Rick seeks opportunities to collaborate with other organizations to collectively scale the impact of employing people who have the greatest challenges.

Rick has 4 children and 5 grandchildren and shares with them his love of fishing, adventure travel, backpacking, gardening, skiing and hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Ed Spinella
Partner
Murtha Cullina
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Edward B. Spinella is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and the Business Law, Privately Owned Businesses and Health Care practices. Ed is chair of the firm’s Tax-Exempt Organizations practice and co-chair of the Education practice.

Ed serves as general counsel to a diverse array of tax-exempt organizations including start-up public charities, social service providers, other health care organizations, private foundations, social clubs and trade associations.

Recently, he has counseled clients in connection with cutting-edge projects such as the creation of integrated affiliated systems containing tax-exempt and for-profit organizations as well as the conversions of tax-exempt entities into for-profit entities and vice versa.

Ed regularly advises his clients regarding mergers, including mergers of religious institutions such as synagogues and churches, affiliations, joint ventures and other collaborations. He has familiarizedhimself with the tax-exempt sector generally by speaking to executives, volunteer fiduciaries and advisors.

In addition to his tax-exempt organizations practice, Ed regularly provides general counsel services to various for-profit entities with an emphasis on closely-held businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups.

Ed is an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) working group developing amendments to the Connecticut Model Entity Transactions Act regarding the inclusion of nonstock corporations. He was a member of the CBA’s LLC Act subcommittee in connection with its overhaul of the LLC Act.

Amber Tucker
Partner
FML
Guest Speaker & TANGO Partner

Amber specializes in providing auditing services to not-for-profit clients.  She began her career at a national firm, performing financial statement audits in not-for profit, manufacturing, distribution and retail industries.  Amber is focusing her time in the not-for-profit industry with her technical expertise focusing on areas including but not limited to social services, foundation, membership organizations, performing arts and museums. She is also proficient at government single audits for Federal and State compliance.

Amber excels at providing superior customer service and works with her clients to keep up to date on financial statement changes, requirements and compliance issues.  She is also actively involved in the community as a board member and volunteers with various organizations. In addition, Amber is a Board of Education member for Rocky Hill.

Amber earned her BS in Accounting from Eastern Connecticut State University and MS in Accounting from University of Hartford.  She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA).

Jon-Paul Venoit
President & CEO
Masonicare
Guest Speaker

Jon-Paul (JP) Venoit began his career at Masonicare at the age of 16, working in dining services. Thirty years later, he stands at the head of the largest not-for-profit senior care company in the state. Leading an organization through an industry in flux, turned upside down by a global pandemic, to one of the organization’s most successful years in operation, Venoit has been recognized and celebrated as a distinguished leader.

JP holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Insurance from the University of Hartford. He earned his Retirement Housing Professional license in 2003 from the University of North Texas, and a Leadership AAHSA [now LeadingAge] Fellowship certification in 2007. In 2016, he received his Masters of Science in Healthcare Management from Post University. JP, a native of Wallingford, CT, resides in his hometown with his wife of 24 years, his two sons and three Siberian Huskies.

JP is the vice chair of the Wallingford Planning and Zoning Commission and serves as Commissioner of the Wallingford Ethics Committee. He is a former chair of the Wallingford Education Foundation and former chair of Connecticut Assisted Living Association Board and their Institute for Senior Living Education. He is also a past surveyor for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (now known as CARF) and was appointed as Vice President to serve on the Board of LeadingAge’s Connecticut Chapter. JP serves as a Board of Visitors for the University of Hartford.