TANGO 2023 Building Bridges Conference Speakers

Paul Ballasy, CPA
Partner
CohnReznick

Paul R. Ballasy, CPA, is a partner with CohnReznick and co-leads the efforts of our Firm’s Not-for-Profit and Education Industry Practice in New England.  Paul has more than 30 years of experience and spends most of his time servicing not-for-profit audit engagements and closely–held corporations.

Paul serves as a resource to professionals both in and outside the firm on the cost standards implemented by the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM).  He has conducted numerous educational seminars on various topics relevant to the not-for-profit community. He is also very active on the CTCPA nonprofit committee which plans the annual nonprofit organizations conference.

Education

• University of Connecticut: Bachelor of Science, Accounting

Community Involvement

• Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, Finance Committee Member
• Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Audit Committee Member
• Ellington Farmers Market, Treasurer
• Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, Inc., Former Vice President
• Jewish Association for Community Living, Former Treasurer

Professional Affiliations

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants

Honey Belarmino
Project Lead
Cause Inspired

Honey Belarmino brings over a decade of experience where she’s thrived in service, operations, and marketing with leaders in multiple industries. Throughout her career, Honey has demonstrated a knack for leveraging data to craft compelling narratives that guide businesses in making strategic decisions. Currently steering strategic partnerships and business initiatives at Cause Inspired as a Project Lead and Senior Digital Strategist, Honey embodies the essence of a lifelong learner, constantly evolving to meet the demands of the ever-changing business landscape.

Her journey is marked by progressive roles, including a significant tenure at The Walt Disney Company, where she led cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence and spearheaded initiatives that significantly impacted business processes and customer engagement.

Committed to purpose and impact, she consistently seeks innovative solutions to complex challenges. This commitment led to her receipt of the Walt Disney Legacy Award, awarded to less than 3% of the global organization to recognize those who give the very best of themselves to Dream, Create, and Inspire – which she continues to do in helping nonprofits connect people to purpose with Cause Inspired.

As a lifelong learner, Honey is pursuing her MBA at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and another in Foreign Languages from Virginia Commonwealth University. Not content to rest on her laurels, she has also pursued multiple certifications in Lean Six Sigma, ScrumMaster, and Data Analytics, showcasing her commitment to continuous growth.

Rooted in a multicultural background, Honey harbors a profound appreciation for cultural immersion and understanding diverse perspectives. This passion has led Honey to study four languages and explore 18 countries (and counting). Honey’s next adventure will take her to Peru: hiking the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu.

Mike Bentley
Executive Partner
Vertikal6

Mike Bentley is an Executive Partner with Vertikal6 who specializes in providing the best outcomes for our clients through the use of technology. With over 30 years of experience assisting all types of organizations with aligning technology and their business strategy, resulting in increased operational efficiency, productivity, and a superior user experience.

Vertikal6 is an IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) focused on the New England region. We specialize in Technical and Security Assessments, Cloud and Server Migrations, and outsourced Managed Services. We are a 24x7x365 shop with a fully staffed HelpDesk and Network Operations Center (NOC). The Vertikal6 team and I take great pride in our “Customer Service First’ approach, and our goal is to create Raving Fans in all of our interactions.

Olivia Besthoff
Ticket Sales Account Executive
Hartford Yard Goats

Olivia graduated from Western New England University in 2022 with a BSBA degree in Sports Management. She has been with the Yard Goats for almost two years working in the ticket sales department. She began working with the Yard Goats in March of 2022 while she was still working towards earning her degree. Olivia’s position began as a part time ticket sales assistant and began her account executive position in August of 2022. In her role with the Yard Goats she works closely with corporate and non profit organizations to plan fundraisers, recruiting/awareness events and volunteer/staff appreciation outings. She approaches her position with the goal of creating a fun, memorable and impactful experience for all the people and organizations she encounters while working at Dunkin Park.

Alan Deckman
President
TCORS Capitol Group, LLC

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

Dawn DeMatteo
Senior Account Executive
NFP

Dawn joined the firm in 2022 with over 30 years’ experience in employee benefits working for insurance and consulting firm. Her experience began in the individual marketplace specializing in life and disability benefits, transferring over to employee benefits in 1992. Prior to joining NFP, she held positions as Senior Client Executives in both large and small agencies. Dawn has extensive experience, working with various size groups in the private and not-for-profit sectors, both fully insured and self-funded. She recognizes that each employer is unique requiring customized employee benefit programs. Dawn has worked diligently with clients assisting in Heath Care Reform, employee communications, and aiding them through complex pieces of PPACA and compliance. Her experience in sales and service, combined with the knowledge of the industry, allow her to tailor and implement plan designs specific to clients. Dawn becomes an extension of a client’s Human Resource Department.

Dawn has a special bond with not-for-profit agencies providing services to those with IDD. As a mother of a 30-year old, disabled child, obtaining services from DDS, she services on many boards and works closely with Legislators and DDS in advocating for benefits to serve those with intellectual disabilities. She served two consecutive terms as Co-Chairperson for DDS’s Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) and continues to be part of the RAC’s monthly meetings, as well servicing on various DDS committees and currently sits on the ARPA committee in charge of communication within DDS and agencies. Additionally, Dawn is extremely involved in parent support groups and is President of DDS Families First, a non-profit family advocating group.

Dawn resides with her son in Wallingford, CT.

Carl Fazzina
Director, Client Development
Novus Insight

Carl oversees new client acquisition at Novus Insight. In this role, he works with nonprofits, towns, and school districts to better align their technology investment to their missions, through the development of more sustainable and secure technology systems.

Carl’s approach with nonprofits and other organizations is to emphasize the people and process aspect of technology use, something largely overlooked by many vendors who sell technology products and services. This results in focused discussions with management teams about improving operating efficiency, as well as how smart use of technology will significantly contribute to achieving certain strategic goals.

Carl has a B.A. in Communication from Central Connecticut State University, and a M.A. in Mass Communication from University of Denver.

Benjamin Freedman
CEO
Weiser Innovations

Benjamin is the President and CEO of Weiser Innovations, a talent acquisitions consultancy focused on strategy and implementation. He has been in this role since 2019 when he and his partner launched the company. In this role, Benjamin focuses his company’s work to support nonprofits throughout the United States and global NGO’s based stateside. It is his goal to make sure that nonprofits have the tools, resources, and knowhow to hire and build the best teams possible so they may achieve their missions.

Prior to this role, Benjamin spent over 10 years working directly in the nonprofit sector. Leveraging his degree in Special Education, he built and ran youth programs that were both academic and recreational in nature. Finding a passion for hiring his teams, he parlayed his experience building and managing teams into a career in talent acquisition.

With a Certificate in Human Resources from Cornell University, Benjamin started his recruiting career over 15 years ago in Big Law but quickly returned to his roots to build a workforce development program in Washington, DC and then to recruit specifically within the nonprofit sector. After many years working for agencies, Benjamin transitioned to building corporate recruiting functions for a video medical interpreting company, a transit safety company, and a global pharmaceutical manufacturer.

When Benjamin is not focused on his work supporting the nonprofit sector, he can be found enjoying his 2 children, his extensive record collection, going to concerts or watching basketball. He also is quiet an animal enthusiast living with 3 dogs, a snake, and 5 ducks.

Patrick Gill
CFO / Director of East Coast Operations
Financial One

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.

Kristin Guglielmo
Vice President
NFP

Timing is everything; something Kristin Guglielmo discovered about 30 years ago. Graduating from the University of CT in 1992 Phi Beta Kappa, her father needed help with the family business when he was elected to the Connecticut State Senate. As a businessowners, there are many hats to wear and one of which was getting up to speed in computer technology. Very computer savvy, Kristin pursued her insurance license and became a Licensed Insurance Agent in 1993 in Property and Casualty and Life and Health, ready to help her dad and the business any way she could.

Penny-Hanley & Howley Co. Inc. was an independent insurance agency that partnered with more than thirty insurance carriers to bring clients the best coverage and price combination to fit each individual family or business need. Originally founded in 1865, Kristin was proud to be able to continue the company’s tradition of providing professional service just as her father did, as well as helping make her community a better place to live. And although it is certainly a necessity that she maintains a profitable business, she is always thinking of her clients and protecting their assets. Kindness, honesty, and consistency are qualities she values most.

As CEO, she participated in every aspect of the sales and services of their products. It is an incredibly challenging field, one that never gets boring. There is always something new to learn. Every day is a school day in insurance. Kristin earned her Certified Insurance Consultant designation fifteen years ago and is continually pursuing information that may help her clients in their businesses or personal lives.

Currently active as a member of her local Rotary and a Board member at Opportunity Works CT, Kristin also enjoys giving back, she adopted 125 veterans, delivering a present to each of them at the Veteran’s Hospital along with cards that the children of Stafford Springs had made for them. She is also the former President of a Computer User group, which consisted of a group of agents who taught other agents the functionality of computer software, specific to the insurance business. Kristin grew the membership from twenty to more than one hundred agents in the few years she spent in that role.

Married with three children, Kristin’s husband, Bob has been collaborating with her for the past 21 years as an insurance agent and is now with NFP. They have two sons, ages 21 and 15, and a daughter, 18. Their eldest son is adopted from Guatemala; their daughter from China; and their youngest son is their biological child.

Kristin has stepped into a new role after merging with NFP insurance in Oct 2021, at first helping with the transition and now she has stepped into her sales role at NFP focusing on Property and Casualty and learning all the amazing products NFP has to offer! Benefits, Retirement, Financial planning and more! She is part of Tango, The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity and the Tango Women Take the Lead committee.

Ben Kille
Principal
Wealthspire

Ben brings over 30 years of experience in the financial industry to his work as an advisor. He joins the Wealthspire team from his previous role as Managing Member of Private Capital Group, which he established with a “Serve First” philosophy in 2003 to better fulfill the needs of clients.

Before founding Private Capital Group, Ben worked as the Regional Director of Investments for CIGNA/Lincoln Financial Services from 1988 to 2003, gaining industry and practice knowledge from two leading financial institutions.

Ben is an active member of the Estate of Business Planning Council of Hartford and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designations.

He currently resides in Simsbury, CT with his wife.

Holly Knight
Senior Advisor, Retirement
NFP

Holly Knight, a financial advisor and coach, dedicated innovation enthusiast, and a determined educator, is driven by a profound mission: to empower every individual to achieve the financial lifestyle of their dreams. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a master’s degree in Education, Holly possesses an unwavering commitment to guiding individuals towards financial empowerment.

Through her extensive experience conducting personalized coaching sessions and facilitating group financial wellness seminars, she has witnessed the remarkable transformations that occur. By assisting individuals in navigating the intricacies of personal finance, offering unwavering support as an accountability partner when necessary, and, perhaps most importantly, simplifying the complexities of finance to make them accessible and easily implementable, Holly firmly believes that we can revolutionize the concept of retirement readiness and genuinely assist individuals in reaching their financial goals.

Heather LaDue
Executive Director of Professional Programs & Partnerships
Franklin Pierce University

Heather LaDue is a seasoned professional with a diverse career spanning corporate leadership and higher education. As the inaugural Executive Director of Professional Programs and Partnerships at Franklin Pierce University, she brings a wealth of experience to drive workforce development through tailored, accredited learning solutions designed for working adults.

LaDue embarked on her professional career in technology, and her journey in higher education commenced at Southern New Hampshire University, where she initiated educational initiatives that extended opportunities to businesses nationwide. Her previous role as a B2B Director involved collaborating with Fortune 500 companies across financial services, outsourced human resource services, and technology solutions, empowering them to enhance their employees’ skillsets and competitiveness.

Heather is not only committed to her professional pursuits but also deeply engaged in her community. She is a pioneering force behind #TechWomen/TechGirls, a prominent N.H. Tech Alliance initiative aimed at fostering a vibrant community of female tech professionals. She actively contributes to the N.H. Workforce Development Committee and serves on the Women Take The Lead at TANGO.

Heather’s academic credentials underscore her dedication to excellence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Plymouth State University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, and several esteemed sales certifications.

Residing in southern New Hampshire, Heather balances her professional achievements with a rich personal life. When not immersed in her work, she enjoys quality time outdoors with her family, engages in social activities, and takes every opportunity to explore the world through travel.

Heather is a dynamic leader who bridges the worlds of education and corporate innovation seamlessly. Her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals, organizations, and her community defines her as a true professional dedicated to positive change.

Ryan Lawless
Senior Consultant, Corporate Benefits
NFP

Ryan Lawless is a Senior Consultant with NFP. 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.

Joe McGrattan
Director, Strategic Relationships
Novus Insight

Joe manages strategic relationships for Novus Insight, a data, technology & cybersecurity services firm based in East Hartford, CT. In this role he works closely with other organizations that specialize in areas which complement Novus’ services. Examples include cybersecurity insurance brokers, management consultants, and CPA firms.

Joe’s main area of expertise is improving business processes by automating how data is moved and managed. Effectively managing critical data is a large challenge for most nonprofits, and for some it can negatively impact operational efficiency organization-wide. Overcoming these challenges often requires coordinated assistance from multiple disciplines, hence Joe’s focus on establishing trusted relationships with strategic partners who complement the services Novus provides.

Joe has a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Connecticut.

Tammy Nuccio
CT State Representative

State Representative 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.

Cathy Osten
CT State Senator

State Senator Cathy Osten was first elected in November 2012 and is now serving her fifth term representing the residents of the 19th state Senatorial District communities of Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich and Sprague.

In recent years Cathy has helped write and pass such important legislation as increasing Connecticut’s minimum wage, a sex offender notification bill, the creation of senior safety zones task force, and creating a state version of “Erin’s Law,” which requires that children be educated in schools on sexual abuse in a child-friendly manner, for the purpose of informing and protecting them from sexual abuse.

A 1973 graduate of the Norwich Free Academy, Cathy heeded America’s call for volunteers during the Vietnam era by enlisting in the United States Army. After several months in the U.S., she shipped out to Japan as a translator-interpreter in Chinese Mandarin. After four years of active duty, Sergeant Osten returned to the United States, taking up residence in Norwich and attending Mohegan Community College before beginning her career with the state Department of Correction.

Cathy served in the Correction Department for more than two decades, first as a corrections officer and then as a lieutenant. For 21 years, Cathy experienced first-hand the issues surrounding Connecticut’s prison system, public employees, pension disputes and women’s rights in the workplace. In 2003, following a string of harassment cases against women which stemmed from inside the Connecticut prison system, Cathy joined with other female corrections officers to protest the treatment of women in the workplace. Bringing this fight to the State Capitol, Cathy was able to hold the Correction Department accountable for pervasive sexual harassment.

Understanding the need for more progress in the workplace, Cathy also began working toward the passage of new laws to allow corrections supervisors the right to organize. She was successful, and as president of the Correction Supervisors’ Council of CSEA/SEIU Cathy worked tirelessly to directly represent more than 600 professionals in the Corrections Department.

The mother of one and grandmother of four, Cathy is also an experienced public official; her passionate commitment to her community led her to become Sprague’s first-ever female selectman. In 2011, Cathy was appointed by Governor Malloy to the Two Storm Panel, giving small-town issues statewide attention by highlighting necessary changes by both the utility companies and the state in responding to recent emergencies.

Cathy’s continuous outreach to seniors, her fight for the middle class and her desire for open government and environmental integrity continually demonstrate that her focus is on improving communities.

Albert Petrunti
President
Awecast

Albert Petrunti is the founder/President of Awecast and founder/President of Panoptic Resources.  He’s been a content producer for over 25 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 UAV pilot with over 8 years of experience and is FAA certified for commercial drone flight.  Panoptic Resources specializes in remote surveillance, law enforcement consulting and training, construction site monitoring, aerial imaging, drone program consulting, and event security.

Joe Poretto
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
First Nonprofit

Joe is a graduate of University of Nevada (U of N), with post-graduate work at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and UN in the Nonprofit Management curriculum. In his role, Joe works directly with our program partners, insurance brokers, clients & prospective clients, and serves on the Board of Directors for AUTO (Association of Unemployment Tax Organizations). Prior to joining First Nonprofit in 2003, he had a background in sales and sales management. Joe also maintains Property, Casualty, & Surety insurance licenses and utilizes his experience in the insurance industry to introduce the value of risk transfer alternatives. He travels extensively meeting with individual employers and their representatives to educate nonprofits about the options available to them in managing their unemployment insurance obligations.

Augusto Russell
Vice President, Property and Casualty
NFP

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).

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 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).

Rollin Schuster
Managing Director, NFP
President & Founder, TANGO

Rollin Schuster is a Managing Director at NFP one of the country’s largest insurance and financial services advisory firms. In 2020 Rollin’s prior firm The Schuster Group was acquired by NFP.

For the last 30 years he has focused on providing clients with innovative employee benefits and insurance strategies.

Rollin’s involvement in NFP dates back to 2005 when his firm became an NFP Benefits Partner. 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 Connecticut Benefit Brokers and the National Association of Health Underwriters. He is 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 and Opportunity, Inc. (TANGO) which he now serves as President. This organization provides resources to over 1,600 nonprofits helping them further their mission and create positive change in the sector. www.tangoalliance.org.

Rollin’s nonprofit involvement also includes serving as President of the TANGO Foundation, Chair of The Board of Directors of CW Resources, Inc., The Past Chairman of The Board of Directors of Qualidigm, member of the Franklin Pierce University College of Business Advisory Board, 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 loves fly fishing and the outdoors.

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

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.

Jessica Smith
Deputy Chief of Business Development
The Connection

Jessica Smith is Deputy Chief of Business Development for The Connection’s Institute for Innovative Practice where she serves as a member of the executive leadership team by supporting the business development ventures of the organization.  She is passionate about cultivating revenue streams that further the overall growth and expansion of the organization, support mission advancement and ensure stability over long-term change and development. Jessica has provided organizations targeted business strategies for over 20 years and specializes in leading transformational initiatives from the conceptual stage through operational success.

Deb Smolensky, CWP, CLP, WELCOA Faculty Member
SVP and Global Practice Leader, Well-Being and Engagement
NFP

Deb is a #1 best-selling author, speaker, and award-winning thought leader in the area of human performance at work.  She serves as NFP’s Global Well-being and Engagement Practice Leader and for the past 25 years has worked with hundreds of employers, including Fortune 500 companies, developing strategies, programs and practices that empower employees and executives to lead healthy, productive lives at work through innovative, meaningful, and highly engaging solutions.

Ed Spinella
Partner
Murtha Cullina

Edward B. Spinella is a member of the Firm’s Business and Finance Department and the Chair of the Tax-Exempt Organizations Group. He is also a member of the Privately Owned Business, Education and Health Care Practice Groups, as well as the Innovation Team.

Ed serves as general counsel to a diverse array of non-profit organizations including start-up public charities, social service providers, other healthcare 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 non-profit and for-profit organizations as well as the conversions of non-profit 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 familiarized himself with the non-profit sector generally by speaking to non-profit 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.

He was an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s LLC Act subcommittee in connection with its overhaul of the LLC Act and will be actively involved with the Bar Association’s anticipated overhaul of the CT Revised Nonstock Corporation Act. He received his B.A. from the College of Holy Cross and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut Law School.

Dan Tamburro
Director of Ticket Sales & Service
Connecticut Sun

Dan Tamburro is the Director of Ticket Sales & Service for the Connecticut Sun WNBA Team. Dan came to the Sun in 2021 after almost 10 years working with the Bridgeport Islanders organization, where he led many nonprofit initiatives including helping to set year over year records for fundraiser $$ raised at games.

Originally from New Jersey, Dan came to Connecticut in 2007 to attend Sacred Heart University where he graduated from in 2011 with degrees in Sports Management & Finance. Dan now resides in Milford, CT with his wife & their 3 cats. He enjoys running in 5K road races or playing golf as often as possible.

Amber Tucker
Partner
FML

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).