Board of Directors Damon D'Amico, President Damon is a 1988 graduate of Western New England College where he earned a BSBA in Accounting. Damon has spent over 25 years working in accounting and operations and he is presently the owner and president of Alden Medical LLC, located in West Springfield. Alden Medical LLC is a medical device manufacturer serving the global health care market. Damon is also the owner of Ciden Technologies LLC, a developer and distributor of infection control solutions and Gulf Medical LLC, a medical device distribution company. Damon has lived in East Longmeadow since 1999 with his wife Maria and their children Meaghan, Joseph and Damon Jr. He joined the board in 2004. He also enjoys coaching youth sports and spending leisure time with his family. Al Kasper, Vice President He is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Savage Arms Inc. headquartered in Westfield Mass. He has 25 years of experience in a variety of Manufacturing Companies. He has a BSBA degree in accounting from Western New England College (1978) and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts (1988). He is currently a board member for Savage Sports Corp, Junior Achievement, Wmass Chapter of APICS, East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund, East Longmeadow Basketball Association and an STCC Foundation Trustee. He currently resides in East Longmeadow along with his wife Carol and their three children. David Mantoni, Treasurer David is currently the Assistant Corporate Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of Cyalume Technologies Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CYLU) which has global headquarters in West Springfield Massachusetts. He is also the Manager of Taxes & Financial Planning for Cyalume Technologies, Inc., a CYLU wholly-owned subsidiary, which is a U.S. manufacturing company that is the world leader in providing dependable chemical light for uses in emergencies such as blackouts, industrial accidents, acts of terrorism and natural disasters as well as components of ammunition that provide day/night marking and illumination. He is a licensed CPA and received his B.A. degree in accounting from Western New England College in 1997. David has lived in East Longmeadow since 2000 with his wife Susan and their three children. Helen Adamo, Secretary Elizabeth Marsian-Boucher, School Committee Lynn Brown Lynn (LaClair) Brown is a native of East Longmeadow and was a member of the ELHS class of 1981. Following high school, she graduated with an accounting degree from North Adams State College and then went on to earn a MBA - Finance from Western New England College. She has been employed in the banking industry for the past 25 years and is currently a First Vice President with Peoples Bank. Lynn is married to Tim Brown and they have two children, Nick and Ashley. Lynn joined the Endowment Board in 2005 and also serves as a board member and volunteer to several other local non-profits. Laura Caine Laura joined the board in 2004. She is a graduate of Cathedral High School (1982) and received a BSW from Salem State College and a Paralegal Certification from Elms College. She spent 10 years as a housing administrator in Western Mass before becoming an Investigator for the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. Laura is now a stay at home mom residing in East Longmeadow with her husband Marty and their two children Maeve and Aidan . Maria D'Amico Maria is a graduate of Westfield High School, and a 1988 graduate of Elms College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She is a licensed, registered nurse, currently working part time as a substitute nurse in the East Longmeadow Public Schools. Maria has been involved in the East Longmeadow Public School system since 1999, volunteering in many capacities. She has distributed fluoride, acted as room parent, class room helper, field trip chaperone, recess monitor, and has been on many PTO committees throughout the years. She has also served as parent representative, and secretary to the MacDuffie School Parent Association. She joined ELEEF as a dance committee member in 2004, and as a board member in 2008. Maria has resided in East Longmeadow since 1999, with her husband Damon and their three children, Meaghan, Joseph and Damon Jr. Dean C Dagnoli Dean is a 1995 graduate of Norwich University, The Military College of Vermont. Dean began his financial planning career in 1998 at Morgan Stanley where he worked until April of 2011. Dean is currently an Account Vice President with The RBD Wealth Management Group at UBS Financial Services in Springfield Mass. Dean has lived in East Longmeadow for 10 years with his wife Lisa and their three daughters Siena, Ava and Bianca. He joined the board in 2011. He also enjoys playing golf and spending leisure time with his family. Angela Edwards Angela is President and co-owner of Edwards Coastal Land Development, LLC, a real estate land acquisition and development corporation on South Padre Island, TX. She was a partner in the law firm of Melmed & Trombly in Stamford, CT where she specialized in consumer class action litigation and served as co-lead plaintiffs counsel in a number of prominent national class action cases, obtaining $150 million in settlements. Attorney Edwards is a member of the National Million Dollar Advocate s Forum and is licensed to practice in MA and CT and is a licensed MA real estate agent. She is a Merit Scholar graduate of Western New England School of Law where she earned her JD, and a Phi-Beta Kappa and All-College Honors gradate of Skidmore College. Angela and her husband, Rick, reside in East Longmeadow with their two children. Shailja Kanjolia Lisa Kessler Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Lisa graduated from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York with an undergraduate degree in Education/Special Education, and a Masters Degree from Hunter College (CUNY) in Science/Special Education. She has also completed reading coursework at Central Connecticut State University. Lisa has taught in the public school systems of New York City; Rush Henrietta, NY; Rochester , NY and is currently a special education facilitator at Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford, CT. She has taught in the Hartford Public School system since 1988. Growing up in New York City made Lisa want raise her family in a more bucolic setting, and she has resided with her family in East Longmeadow since 1992. Lisa is proud of the East Longmeadow School System and how it has prepared her children with an emphasis on achievement. She is inspired by the dedication of the teachers in East Longmeadow, and she wants to help encourage and support them financially so that they can realize their vision and help their students achieve. Lisa recently joined ELEEF because as a recipient of educational grants, and as a teacher in a public school system she understands how important it is to support teachers and reward excellence in the field of education. Dr. Richard Martin Rich has been a hand surgeon in Western Massachusetts for the past eight years. He graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in Biology and received his MD from Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. He completed his residency training in general surgery at Baystate Medical Center and his plastic surgery residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Rich completed his training with a fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microsurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He is one of three full-time partners at the Hand Center of Western Massachusetts and is on the board of directors at the Pioneer Valley Surgery Center. Rich and his wife, Renee, reside in East Longmeadow with their two boys, Ben and Gabe. Jennifer Merrigan Jennifer (Brega) Merrigan is a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow and a 1992 graduate of East Longmeadow High School. Jennifer received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in History from Providence College in 1996 and 1998. A former History teacher at Agawam High School, Jennifer now teaches US History at Belchertown High School and is an Adjunct Professor at Bay Path College. Jennifer resides in East Longmeadow with her husband Sean and their two children, Jack and Sam. Lori Parsons Lori is a graduate of Drew University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts, and also a graduate of Springfield College, where she earned a Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science. She worked as a Corporate Fitness Center Manager where she also Chaired United Way Golf Outings as well as co-chaired United Way Run/Walk to help raise money for United Way. She served on the Enfield Johnson Memorial Cancer Center Board for their Run/Walk to raise money for the Johnson Memorial Cancer Center. She volunteers her time being part of a committee at her church as well as a mom's support group. Lori is an active volunteer in East Longmeadow schools serving as a room parent, class room helper, field trip chaperone, helping out with PTO events, helping coach youth sports, and is a Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader. She joined the ELEEF Board Fall 2012. She resides in East Longmeadow with her husband, Duncan and three children, and enjoys spending time with her family. Marna Shields Marna lives in East Longmeadow with her husband Michael and their 3 children. She has been on the board since 2005. She graduated from North Adams State College (Now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) with a degree in Elementary Education, and earned her Masters in Education from Leslie College in 2000. Marna is the owner/Director of Busy Bees Pre-School in East Longmeadow. Busy Bees serves 64 families with children ages 3-5. (www.busybeespreschool.net) She is involved with several committees with both the Field Club of Longmeadow and her church, and teaches Sunday school. She enjoys playing tennis, platform tennis, softball, hiking, and going on adventures with her family. Lisa Timm Lisa moved to East Longmeadow in 2008 and is a native of upstate New York. She graduated from Schenectady County Community College with an Associate's degree in Computer Science in 1992. She has worked at MassMutual Financial Group for 15 years as a Systems Specialist and is currently a Testing Consultant in Information Technology. Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and being involved with her church. She recently joined ELEEF and is excited to take an active role in supporting our school system.