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Board of Directors

 
Mark Beglane, Clerk
Heather Bliss, Secretary
Chris Buendo
Laurie Caine
Laurie Cirillo
Nancy Cokotis
Damon D'Amico
Jennifer Dubish
Chris Graziano
Al Kasper, President
Dan Manley
Bill Preye, Treasurer
Marna Shields
Arminder Singh
Gina Szynkaruk
Michael Whitman

 

Mark Beglane:  mbeglane@bacon-wilson.com

Mark is a member of Bacon & Wilson, P.C.’s Real Estate Department with special expertise in the areas of condominium law, zoning and land use planning and development. In addition, Mark specializes in Municipal Law.

Education:
Western New England College, J.D., 1978
Fairfield University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1975

Areas of Practice:
Real Estate & Zoning
Bar & Court Admission:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Professional Associations & Memberships:
Massachusetts Bar Association
Hampden County Bar Association
East Longmeadow Board of Appeals, Member and Past Chairman, 1989 – Present
Massachusetts Conveyances Association

Professional & Community Activities:
Instructor: Real Estate Law, Springfield Technical Community College, 1983
Director: East Longmeadow Educational Fund, Inc.
Director: East Longmeadow Lions Club
Member Finance Committee, Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts Council, Inc.

Publications & Lectures:
Lecturer: "Condominium Law," MCLE, 1985
Lecturer: "Boundary Law," National Business Institute, 1991
Lecturer: "Basic Real Estate Law," National Business Institute, 1992
Lecturer: "Foreclosures," Lorman Educational Services, 1998-2001

Location:
Springfield Office

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Heather Bliss:

Heather Bliss is both a Board Member and the Secretary for ELEEF.  She has lived in East Longmeadow since 1993.  She is married to Dave Bliss and they have 2 children, Matthew born in 2002 and Catherine born in 2005.  She is currently employed with Mass Mutual Financial Group and is also the Berkshire Chapter Administrator for the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)

 

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Chris Buendo:  cbuendo@thereminder.com

bulletCo-Publisher of Reminder Publications – Publishers of The Reminder, The Chicopee Herald, Reminder MetroWest, The Journal/Bravo and Prime Times
bulletGraduate of Rochester Institute of Technology
Heads up Financial, Editorial, Circulation, and Graphic Arts Department
bulletLives in East Longmeadow with wife Felicia and two children, Anthony & Alex
bulletPast President of the East Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce
bulletPast President of the Free Community Papers of New England
bulletPast Honorary Chairperson Ronald McDonald House Gala
bulletFormer Member, Chicopee Rotary Club Board of Directors
bulletFormer Member, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
bulletPast President, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts

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Nancy Cokotis:  njc@meadwestvaco.com

Nancy (Borden) Cokotis (ELHS ’81) joined the Board of Directors in November 2003. She grew up in East Longmeadow and entered 1st grade at Meadow Brook Elementary School when it was first built. After high school, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Western New England College and received her MBA in 1989.

She is employed at MeadWestvaco Envelope Products Group headquartered in Springfield and is currently Manager, Inside Sales and National Customer Service. Over the past 19 years, she has received nine Sales Leaders Awards as well as a Performance Excellence Award in 2000.

She is a co-captain of Hope Everlasting, a team in the annual Rays of Hope Walk, a fundraiser for breast cancer research at Baystate Medical Center. Nancy also participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

Nancy is married to Peter Cokotis (ELHS’77) and they have two daughters. Jennifer attends Birchland Park Middle School and Julie attends Mountain View Elementary.

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Damon D'Amico

Damon D'Amico is a 1988 graduate of Western New England College where he earned a BSBA in Accounting.  After spending 15 years working in accounting and operations, he is presently the owner and president of Alden Medical, L.L.C., located in West Springfield, MA.  Alden Medical  is a medical device manufacturer serving hospitals and clinics internationally.  Damon is also part owner and CEO of Ciden Technologies, L.L.C., a developer and distributor of infection control solutions.  Damon has lived in East Longmeadow for 6 years with his wife, Maria, and their children, Meaghan 12, Joseph 9, and Damon Jr. 7.  He joined the Endowment board in 2004.  He also enjoys coaching youth sports in town, playing soft ball in the Springfield Men's League and spending leisure time with his family.

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Jennifer Dubish

 My husband, Ed, and I moved to East Longmeadow in June of 2006 so that our son, Justin, could start high school and pursue his interests in football and lacrosse. Ed and I both work for MassMutual however I am a hairdresser part-time and Ed is a football official for Western Mass. I also have a seven year old step-daughter, Madison and two boxers.

In addition, I was on the board of the PTO at Sabis International Charter School for 7 years.

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Al Kasper:  akasper@savagearms.com
                      

I am currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Savage Arms Inc.  headquartered in Westfield Mass.  I have 25 years of experience in a variety of Manufacturing Companies.  I have a BSBA degree in accounting from Western New England College (1978) and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts (1988).  I am currently a board member for Savage Sports Corp, Junior Achievement, Wmass Chapter of APICS, East Longmeadow Educational Endowment, East Longmeadow Basketball Association and an STCC Foundation Trustee.  I currently reside in East Longmeadow along with my wife Carol and our three children. 

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William E. Preye:  wpreye@meyersbros.com

Certified Public Accountant
Meyers Brothers, P.C.
B.S. – University of Connecticut
M.S. – Western New England College

Member of:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants

Personal:
Married – Sandra L. – Inventory Accounting Assistant, Lego Systems, Inc.
Two Sons – William A. Preye – Computer Teacher, West Springfield, MA.  Married to Kristen, a 4th grade teacher, West Springfield, MA.
Matthew D. Preye – Instructor, Outdoor Wilderness Experiences, Inc.  Married to Hava, a 6th grade teacher, Chicopee, MA

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Gina Bergamini Szynkaruk:  Gszynkaruk@MassMutual.com

I was born and raised in East Longmeadow and attended East Longmeadow schools for grades 1 – 10. Due to my father’s job transfer overseas, I attended and graduated from high school in 1981 from the International School of Brussels in Brussels, Belgium. During my school years, I was very active in sports and participated on three varsity teams. I earned a bachelors degree in Accounting from Western New England Collage graduating in 1986. For the past thirteen years I have been employed at MassMutual Financial Group. For nine years I have been married to Jack Szynkaruk and we have one daughter, Jennie, who is in 1st Grade at Meadowbrook School.

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Michael Whitman
 Michael.whitman@florencebank.com

Mike is a Vice President of Commercial Lending at Florence Savings Bank and works out of Florence Savings Bank West Springfield Loan Office. They have 2 daughters, Diana and Emma Grace. Diana is a student at Meadowbrook School and Emma will follow in her footsteps in 2007.

Education:

Western New England College
MBA-Finance 2002
Westfield State College
B.S. Business Management 1994

Professional Associations & Memberships:

Treasurer, Chicopee Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors

Member, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Member, Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc.

Member of Treasury Management Association of New England

Member-American Legion Post 275

Past Organizations Served:

Western New England College Alumni Association, Board Member
Rotary International-East Longmeadow Chapter
Junior Achievement Instructor, Grade 3

11/07/05