Stephanie is a lifelong resident of Branford, where she and her husband, Bill, raised their children, Nathan and Julia. She left the corporate world when her daughter was born and began teaching cooking classes with her mom, a job she loves and continues with to this day. In 2011, she became a real estate agent, helping people buy and sell homes all along the shoreline. Her parents instilled in her a passion for community service, leading by example. Her father was a founding and longtime board member of the Branford Community Foundation and she is honored to continue her family’s involvement today. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys cooking, reading, golfing, and giving belly rubs to her two pups, Daisy and Ivy.

Kathleen Fox is a long-time Branford resident, having lived here for forty-nine years. She and her husband raised their two children in Branford, sending them to Branford Public Schools. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and received a Masters of Social Work degree from New York University. She is retired from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services where she served as a clinician and as a District Director overseeing clinical services throughout the state. Following retirement from state service, Kathleen maintained a private practice in clinical social work and provided consultation and supervision to several non-profit agencies.

In addition to serving on the Board of the Branford Community Foundation, Kathleen serves as a Fire Commissioner for the Town of Branford. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Child Development Center of the First Congregational Church of Branford and has served the church in many capacities, including refugee resettlement.

John joined BCF in 2019 and serves as the Treasurer of the Board. His extensive career in
Finance and Accounting includes financial and operational experience in manufacturing,
wholesale and distribution and retail and his experience expands from small closely-held
corporations to large publicly traded entities. He is currently the Finance Manager for SFC
Koenig, LLC, an IDEX Corporation Business Unit.

John resides in Branford with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. An avid boater, John
and his family enjoy being on the water as much as possible, whether it be on a boat or at the
beach. They also enjoy family trips to Florida and spending the summer in Cape May.

A native to Branford, John is passionate about the continued progress and wellbeing of the
town. He joined BCF to help support the mission of serving those in need, bolstering the
community and preserving its resources.

Ryan Torello and his wife Karen, his daughter Sienna, and his son Roman, have lived in
Branford throughout their married and family years. Ryan and his wife were born, raised, and
have lived in Branford their entire lives and they love Branford and everything that it offers.
Over the years, Ryan has volunteered to be involved in many Town of Branford activities and
served on several committees and boards. He has been a member of the Branford Community
Foundation since 2018 and has been serving as the Treasurer of the Board since 2022.

His professional background includes 20+ years in the health and life insurance service industry.
After attending University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in medical
economics, he then attended the University of Connecticut, earning a Master’s in Business
Administration (MBA) and Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degrees. Since 2003 he has worked
with his father and brothers in their own insurance services company, Progressive Benefit
Solutions, LLC (PBS), located in Branford, CT, which they own and operate today. PBS is a
broker-oriented insurance service and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) of pre-tax benefit plans
for many employer groups in Connecticut and throughout the United States.

Heather Hackley, Immediate Past President and member of the Board of Directors, has proudly served the Branford Community Foundation since 2013. She recently retired from The Guilford Savings Bank following a career spanning over 28 years, holding the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer.

Heather is committed to making a difference within our community, volunteering for various nonprofit organizations. Previous board of director roles include the Women & Family Life Center in Guilford, CT, SARAH Tuxis Residential Services, and she is currently a member of the North Branford Rotary Club. Heather was recently honored with a SHEro award from the Women & Family Life Center and also received a Women of Excellence award from the Shoreline Chamber in 2020.

When not volunteering for various community events, Heather can be found spending time with her two grandchildren,  ATVing with her husband in Maine or simply enjoying being in the company of family and friends.

Katherine Patricia (Kathy) Andriole was born in Chapel Hill, NC and moved to Branford,
Connecticut at the age of three. Growing up in Branford, she attended public schools through
high school. She was class valedictorian, a student council member, Sports Editor of the

yearbook, and active in athletics (swimming, track (captain) and the first girl to participate on
the cross country team).

Kathy went on to Duke University where she majored in Biomedical Engineering and was an
Angier B. Duke Scholar, studying Twentieth Century English Literature at Oxford University.
She studied Electrical Engineering and Medicine at Yale University where her PhD research
was in classical machine learning. During medical school, Kathy formed with her mother
(Patricia C. Andriole) and the Branford Counseling Center a hot line to provide emergency
housing and food for individuals in need.

Dr. Andriole completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California at Los Angeles,
and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Departments of Radiology. At UCSF,
Dr. Andriole was instrumental in designing, building, implementing, and evaluating picture
archiving and communication systems (PACS) before they became commercial entities. She
was one of the early adopters of Computed Radiography (CR) using CR for the first time in
newborns including premature infants.

Dr. Andriole is currently an Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Director of Academic Research and Education at the
Mass General Brigham Data Science / Artificial Intelligence Office. Her research has involved
technical as well as clinically-relevant developments in medical imaging informatics and
machine learning. Dr. Andriole has developed multiple formal courses, directed fellowships in
medical imaging and biomedical informatics, and mentored more than 100 trainees.

She has served in multiple leadership roles for the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine
(SIIM), served on the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Radiology Informatics
Committee for fifteen years, and currently serves on the RSNA Machine Learning Steering
Committee. Dr. Andriole has given over 200 lectures nationally and internationally, and has
authored more than 160 publications and five books. She is the Senior Scientist for Education
at the American College of Radiology (ACR) Data Science Institute. She is on the Editorial
Board for the Journal of Digital Imaging, an Associate Editor for the SPIE Journal of Medical
Imaging and Senior Consulting Editor for Radiology: Artificial Intelligence.

Dr. Andriole has been elected a member of the Academy of Harvard Medical School, inducted
into the College of SIIM Fellows, the Fellowship of the American College of Radiology, and the
Fellowship of the Society for Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). She has been
named Third and Second Vice President of the RSNA, and is a member of the Executive
Board of the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. She has served on
grant review study sections for the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Andriole has received the RSNA Lifetime Honored Educator Award, the Gold Medal of
SIIM, the RSNA Gold Medal, and the inaugural RADxx Trailblazer Award recognizing a
pioneering woman leader in Imaging Informatics. She has been inducted into her hometown
Sports Hall of Fame for swimming, track and field, and cross country. Kathy lives in Hotchkiss
Grove, The Ponds and is happy to be back home in Branford.

Deborah joined the Branford Community Foundation Board in 2019. She is the Chair of the
Governance Committee and serves on the Development Committee.

She is newly retired from a 40 year career with Travelers Insurance Company, Business
Insurance division, in Hartford, CT, She has managed large commercial accounts, with premiums
of $1Mil and greater, through their entire life cycle – marketing to renewal. Working with clients
to help them; recognize risk, develop solutions for corrective actions, gain an understanding of
the need for appropriate financial reserving and the rationale for payments. Her business acumen,
attention to detail, leadership skills, ability to recognize trends and willingness to engage are the
keys to her success. She acts on the belief that relationship management is a critical component
of the process and works to instill that philosophy in others.

She was born in Branford, and while she did not grow up here, she has resided in Branford most
of her life and believes there is no better place to live. Over the years she has engaged in
numerous community activities.

She coached in the Branford Girls Softball League for 16yrs, without a child in the league,
encouraging the engagement of women in sports and giving girls the opportunity to learn and
succeed with a foundation of discipline and respect for themselves and others.

Deborah has had a lifelong engagement with Special Olympics. She works on multiple Games
Committees and has managed the staging for track/field events on local, state, national and
international levels.

She is on the Town of Branford Recreation Board, volunteers with the Community Dining Room
to deliver food to those in need, is a Justice of the Peace and proudly served one term as Town
Treasurer.

As a fitness enthusiast, Deborah believes in health and wellness as a lifestyle. She is a US Track
and Field Masters level official and has personally completed 15 full marathons. She loves
bicycling and can often be seen in the early morning hours pedaling on Rt 1 46.

Pam DeLise is President and Founder of Cardinal Rules Consulting, LLC. Pam is a certified
professional coach with over 25 years’ business experience as a leader, coach, mentor, and
facilitator. Pam began her career in Finance at Southern New England Telecommunications
Company before transitioning into Human Resources. Pam’s experience includes delivering
strategies and solutions to improve organizational performance in all areas of Human Resources
at Bayer Healthcare and Medtronic, both multibillion dollar, global healthcare companies. Her
international experience includes HR expertise in mergers and acquisitions for both healthcare
companies. Pam held the position of VP Human Resources at Hartford Healthcare before retiring
in January 2022. Since then Pam is consulting for Hartford HealthCare to support their growth in
Leadership and Talent Development. Pam received her MBA from Quinnipiac University and
her undergraduate degree from Western New England University School of Business. Pam holds
many certifications, among them a designation of Certified Professional Coach [CPC], through
the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.

Pam is a life-long resident of Branford where her father, Philip A. DeLise, was a former
Principal of Branford High School. Pam counts among her blessings living in the neighborhood
where she grew up, fulfilling her dream of living on the Branford shoreline. In addition to
serving on the Board of the Branford Community Foundation, Pam also serves on the Board of
Finance for the Town of Branford.

Linda Erlanger has been a Connecticut resident since 1982 and a Branford resident for the past 21 years. She grew up in Baltimore, MD and did her undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and completed the Family Dentistry Residency program at the University of Connecticut Health Center. A retired dentist and consultant, Linda’s career has spanned a variety of work experiences including dental practice, health care plan management and project leadership. She has been a volunteer for numerous local non-profit organizations, served as a 3rd District Representative on Branford’s RTM for five years and is a voting member of Branford’s Democratic Town Committee. Linda lives at Harbour Village with her wife, Margret, and their corgi, Mabel.

Bob Imperato has over 40 years of experience in the banking and finance industry and has
served as CEO of national construction lending subsidiaries and has managed more than $1
billion in construction management assets throughout his career. He has served as an advisor to
banks, financial institutions and GSEs; as well as creating platforms for risk management and
assisted banks in acquiring tier one capital. During Bob’s career, he has successfully developed
and managed start-up subsidiaries and divisions for residential, retail, and wholesale mortgage
banking platforms as well as commercial lending on a national level within 46 states. He has
expertise in implementing marketing strategies, achieving revenue targets, marketing, and
development of niche lending products. Additionally, Bob possesses subject matter expertise in
marketing, underwriting, draw management, loan administration, portfolio management, risk
management, loss mitigation and loan servicing of residential and commercial construction
loans. Bob has been a member of the Branford community for over 30 years and has educated 4
children through the Branford school system as well as volunteering for numerous clubs and
activities. Bob currently serves as Branford’s Tax Collector and has served as a member of the
Town of Branford’s Board of Finance which oversees the town-wide municipal budget, capital
funding, and risk mitigation. Prior to serving as a Board of Finance member, Bob held the
position of Representative Town Meeting member (RTM), representing the 4th district. As a
member of the RTM over the past several years, Bob has served as Chairman of the Public
Services Committee, which is charged with budgeting and appropriations responsibilities for the
following departments: Police Services, Fire Services, Public Works, Solid Waste Management,
Municipal Buildings, Engineering and Animal Control. Bob also served as a member of the RTM
Ways & Means Committee which administers and acts on appropriations of expenditure requests
for the town’s capital bonding projects as well as the management of the town’s overall
contingency funds. Additionally, Bob served as commissioner of The Water Pollution Control
Authority which is a separate municipal taxing authority. Bob is a member of the Branford
Rotary Club, Branford Elks Club, Branford MicroFund and serves as a Justice of the Peace.

Ram Shrestha has served on the Branford Representative Town Meeting since 2020 and
represents the fourth district. He is on the Public Service Committee. He is a small business
owner. He was born and raised in Nepal and has lived in Branford for 20 years. He is a past
president of the Society of Nepalese in America. He is a member of the Orchard House Medical
Adult Day Center Board and the Branford Community Foundation Board.

Charles E. “Chuck” Tiernan, III is a lifelong Branford resident who has been an attorney with the New Haven law firm of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante since 1983. He was named a Partner in 1988. In 2022,  Chuck was elected to serve as the Probate Judge for Branford/North Branford. Chuck received his B.A. from Trinity College in 1980 where he captained the Football team his senior season. He graduated from Drake University School of Law in December 1982. He was a member of the Board of Editors of the Drake Law Review and authored a note for the Drake Law Review entitled “Standing Barriers to Citizen and Taxpayers Suits in the Federal Court.” 32 Drake Law Review 2, 1983. On May 22, 2019, Chuck was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the State Judicial Selection Commission and in June of 2019, he was elected Chairperson by the members of the Commission. Attorney Tiernan served as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University from 1989-2011 teaching courses involving Introduction to Law and Family Law. Chuck is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007 and has been listed in the Super Lawyers publication since 2006. From 2008 until 2022, Chuck was an elected constable for the Town of Branford. In 2020, Chuck was elected vice-co-chairperson of the Branford Democratic Town Committee and served in that role until his election as Probate Judge.   He was also elected to the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee in 2020 representing the 12th Senatorial District and served for 2 years. In 2011 Chuck was inducted to the Branford Sports Hall of Fame. Chuck and his wife Marie live in Branford with their son Jack.

Kiersten joined the BCF team in 2023 as the Marketing and Communications Specialist. Born
and raised in Branford, Kiersten is thrilled to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to
giving back to Branford and the amazing community here.

Since graduating from Fairfield University in 2021 with degrees in Theatre and English, Kiersten
returned to Branford and has built a career as a marketing and communications professional and
as a professional theatremaker and performer. She is the Theatre Manager at Legacy Theatre in
Stony Creek, where she manages much of the marketing, finances, education, and administrative
work for the company. Kiersten is also a theatre reviewer for the Connecticut Critics Circle
(WhiteBirchBlog.com), a book reviewer for Booktrib, an a cappella ensemble singer with the
Royal Court Singers, and she does freelance theatre work for the Quick Center for the Arts and
Theatre Fairfield. As a performer, she has worked on dozens of productions both onstage and off
with companies such as Legacy Theatre, Seven Angels Theatre, Shoreline Theatre Company,
Theatre Fairfield, and more. When not working or performing, Kiersten is an active member of
the Branford community, where she can be found leading a writing workshop at the Blackstone
Library and volunteering at the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.

Jennifer Mullett is the Program Director at the Branford Community Foundation, a role she has held since 2015. With a master’s degree in Community Planning and early career experience as a city planner, she brings a background in community development and engagement to her work.

Joining the Branford Community Foundation has been deeply rewarding for Jennifer. In a world that can sometimes seem dominated by negative news, it is refreshing and inspiring for her to collaborate with community members, who are dedicated to making a positive impact in Branford.

Jennifer, a Connecticut native, and her husband purchased their first home in Branford in 2003, and since then they have enjoyed raising their two daughters along the shoreline. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, and paddle boarding. When not outdoors, she finds joy in exploring new crafts and reading.

jmullett@branfordcommunityfoundation.org

Amy joined the staff of The Branford Community Foundation in 2023. After ten years of working as a licensed clinical social worker for the New Haven School-Based Health Centers and the Branford Counseling Center. Amy took time off to raise her daughters and volunteered extensively in her community. She has been involved with almost everything from elementary school festivals and field days to Girls Coach Girls Run, and from high school volleyball boosters to a leader of GHS Theatre Arts and Project Graduation.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys gardening, trying new recipes, and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband, Tim, lived in Branford when they first got married and eventually bought a house in Guilford where they have raised their two daughters. You can often find them at the Stony Creek Market for breakfast or shopping at Taken for Granite.

Liza Janssen Petra has spent her career helping nonprofit, philanthropic and governmental organizations work to improve the lives of everyday people. Over the past 24 years, she’s worked for pubic, private and charitable organizations, and for the past 17 years, she has served as the Executive Director of nonprofit organizations serving the central Connecticut shoreline communities.

Liza is currently the Executive Director for the community foundations in Branford and Guilford, Connecticut. Prior to these roles, she served as the Executive Director of the Women & Family Life Center, located in Guilford. Both the Guilford Foundation and the Women & Family Life Center received “Service Organization of the Year” awards from the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce under her tenure, and she also received the “Community Service Award” in 2017. In 2020, she was named a “SHEro” by a collaboration of local service providers.

She served as the Chair of the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics National Committee from 2015-2019, is a Corporator for the Guilford Savings Bank, sits on the Human Services Council for the town of Guilford, and has served on a number of regional committees and Boards serving women in politics, the Blackstone Memorial Library, and individuals with cognitive disabilities, among others.

Liza earned her BA from Wellesley College in English and a Masters of Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Fun fact: Liza was inducted into the Wellesley College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. She lives in Guilford with her family

lpetra@branfordcommunityfoundation.org