Charles A. Saia Jr. ’91, MBA ’94, is a Senior Partner at Deloitte, the author of "You Got This, Kid! Words of Advice for Young Leaders," the former Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte’s Risk and Financial Advisory business, former Chief Risk, Reputation and Regulatory Affairs Officer of Deloitte and a frequent contributor to publications, including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Fortune. Chuck enjoys leveraging his more then 30 years of experience in providing a broad range insights on purpose driven leadership, risk, reputation and regulatory management, strategy and corporate governance to C-Suite executives, board members, young leaders and professionals. Saia served on the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, is a 2010 Business Leader Hall of Fame inductee and a 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. A certified public accountant, he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer science, and an MBA from Quinnipiac.

John C. Abella ’83 is executive vice president with DDI Leasing Inc., cofounder and owner of DDI Leasing of New England, LLC, and cofounder and owner of BR Associates, LLC. He is a technology leasing veteran with more than 30 years of IT solution and equipment leasing sales and sales management experience. Prior to his election to the Quinnipiac Board of Trustees, Abella was an active member of the School of Business Advisory Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Quinnipiac in 1983.

Carlton L. Highsmith founded Specialized Packaging Group, a package design, marketing and engineering firm in New Haven in 1983. By 2009, SPG, with revenues of more than $180 million, had grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of consumer paperboard packaging in North America. The company was recognized as the largest minority-owned company in Connecticut. Highsmith currently serves on the board of directors of Key Bank and chairs the board of directors of the Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (CONNCAT), a nonprofit organization that provides world-class, market relevant job training and financial literacy training to underemployed and unemployed adults in the New Haven area. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded an honorary degree from Quinnipiac in 2008.

William T. Platt ’78 is the retired deputy managing partner of professional practice and retired deputy chief quality officer for Deloitte & Touche. Platt was a long-time member and the former chairman of the School of Business Advisory Board and currently chairs the President’s Advisory Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and served as an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac.

Brett M. Amendola ’91 is the managing partner of Aegis Wealth Partners, an agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America in New York, New York. With more than two decades of experience at some of the world’s largest investment firms, Amendola works to assist clients in meeting their current financial needs while providing for future concerns. He received Guardian’s National New Agency Recruiting Award for 2013 and the GAMA–Career Development Award. Amendola earned a bachelor of science in financial management at Quinnipiac in 1991.

Barbara M. Beever ’81 served as a physical therapist at Hartford Hospital upon earning her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Quinnipiac in 1981. She also provided at-home physical therapy services for many years. Beever was an active member of the School of Health Sciences Advisory Board.

Patrick A. Charmel ’81 is the president and CEO of Griffin Health. Charmel has been associated with Griffin since 1979, when he served as an undergraduate intern while attending Quinnipiac University. Throughout his more than 40 years at Griffin, he has held various administrative positions leading to his appointment as chief executive officer in 1998. During his tenure, he has positioned Griffin Hospital as an innovative organization recognized as an industry leader in providing personalized, humanistic, consumer-driven health care in a healing environment. Charmel also serves as chairman of Planetree Inc., a subsidiary not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the care experience in more than 800 care sites across 27 countries. In addition, he is chairman of the Value Care Alliance, a collaboration of Connecticut hospitals, health systems and physician organizations building the infrastructure necessary to deliver high value accountable care. Under his leadership, Griffin Hospital has received numerous awards including being named one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 best companies to work for in America 10 years in a row and a 2019 Newsweek Magazine “World’s Best Hospital.” Charmel earned a bachelor’s degree in health management from Quinnipiac and a master’s degree in public health from Yale University.

Alexander Clark is the founder and chief executive officer of Technolutions. Clark founded Technolutions in 1994 while a seventh-grader in Mississippi. In 2000, while a first-year English major at Yale, Clark developed and introduced Slate, which supports the enrollment, student success, alumni and advancement operations at over 1,600 colleges and universities worldwide. Described as a higher ed "Wizard of Oz" in a feature article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Clark has continued to lead Technolutions and its Slate community through its decades of innovation and growth.

Clark has a tremendous commitment to education as the Founder of Slate School, a non-profit K-12 independent school located in North Haven on a 40-acre campus with a focus on cultivating creativity, fostering ingenuity and curiosity, and inspiring a deep passion for lifelong learning. In 2018, Clark was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Quinnipiac University for his work as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Erik M. Clemons is co-founder of Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), a subsidiary of the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), designed to explore and implement opportunities for economic development and investment in New Haven.

Prior to this, Clemons was the founding CEO and president of ConnCAT, a non-profit organization based on the model of Bill Strickland’s National Center for Arts and Technology, which is dedicated to creating empowering art-based educational environments for at-risk public-school students and workforce training programs for under- and unemployed adults.

Clemons has an extensive background in nonprofit management and organizational leadership. For more than 20 years, he has served the interests of diverse and traditionally underserved communities. He serves as an education fellow at the Aspen Institute, Yale New Haven Hospital trustee, member of the Connecticut State Board of Education, board chair of the Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) and on the Board of Directors at New Haven Bank.

With a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in theology and ethics from the Hartford Seminary, Clemons is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn.

Robert Contri is the Global Financial Services Leader for Deloitte. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing Deloitte’s four global financial services sector groups - - banking and capital markets, insurance, investment management, and real estate.  He is also charged with developing and executing the industry group’s overall strategic direction and go-to-market strategy.

Contri has more than 30 years of experience at Deloitte, and has extensive global experience working with large financial services clients. Prior to his current role, he served as the Deloitte US Financial Services Industry leader.

Throughout his career, he has helped clients in the financial services industry address a range of issues, including strategy, restructuring, regulatory requirements and culture. His clients have included large regional and multinational organizations.

Contri earned a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Rutgers Business School.

With decades of financial and accounting experience, Jeanna Doherty ’94 CPA serves as an Assurance Coordinating Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, with expertise in audit services for healthcare-related clients, including several multibillion-dollar health systems, academic medical centers, teaching hospitals and other organizations. As ESG Enablement Leader, Doherty leads EY Assurance environmental efforts, helping audit clients prepare for new climate disclosures, including ESG assurance, pre-assessment and gap assessment analysis. Previously, she served as the Northeast Financial Accounting Advisory Services Health Sector Leader, Americas Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services and the Americas Assurance Operations Leader and spent several years in the national Health Science Advisory Services practice, serving public and private companies.

Doherty earned her BS in Accounting and Computer Science from Quinnipiac University and is a member of the Connecticut Society of CPAs. She also served as president of the QU Alumni Association and the Board’s Alumni Representative.

Brooke Goff, JD ’14
Principal, Goff Law Group

Larry Hamdan is Chairman of Mergers & Acquisitions, Americas for Barclays Investment Bank. He previously ran Barclays M&A Americas business. He has 35 years of experience advising numerous clients on more than $500 billion of transactions such as Danaher’s $20bn acquisition of GE Biopharma and their $6bn purchase of Abcam plc, Parker-Hannifin's multi-billion dollar deals for Lord and Exotic Metals, Paper Excellence's cross-border acquisitions of Domtar and Resolute, as well as several major transactions in the US airline industry including advising US Airways on its $30 billion merger with American Airlines which created the world’s largest airline.

Hamdan serves on the Board of Directors for Services for the Underserved (SUS), one of New York City’s largest charities, which provides supportive housing as well as services focused on developmental disabilities, homelessness, behavioral health and veterans. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ANERA, a US-based non-profit, which assists Middle East refugees in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. ANERA is currently focused on the “last mile” delivery of food, medication and emergency supplies in Gaza.

Hamdan received an AB degree in economics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University; a JD degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School; and an MBA degree with high distinction from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar.

Robin Hayes is the Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He is responsible for Airbus’ commercial aircraft and commercial services businesses throughout the Americas, as well as coordination with Airbus Helicopters, the company’s market-leading helicopter business and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.
 
With thousands of employees, Airbus’ regional presence comprises corporate offices, engineering and innovation centers, training facilities, MROs, spare parts distribution centers, imagery drone services and large-scale manufacturing facilities producing commercial aircraft, helicopters and satellites. Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation for nine years, Hayes joined the airline in 2008, serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until becoming President of the airline in January 2014. He was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer in February 2015.
 
Before JetBlue, Hayes spent 19 years at British Airways, where he ascended to the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas. From 2020 to 2022, he was the Chairman of IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the air transport association’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He currently serves on the board of directors for KeyBank and Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Hayes is a University of Bath alumni, having earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Engineering and a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

David W. Keiser is the former president, chief operating officer and director of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, building the company from an early stage development firm into a highly successful, profitable and fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company. Prior to cofounding Alexion in 1992, he held senior management positions in international operations, regional management and business development for G.D. Searle & Company Limited, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Before joining Searle, he held Europe and Asia/Pacific regional management positions for the pharmaceutical companies Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. and subsequently Mundipharma AG, both headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Keiser advises and serves on the boards of several development stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He is also president and director of a private foundation and serves on the boards of a number of nonprofit charitable organizations. He received his bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and attended the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Jim Loree is the former chief executive officer of Stanley Black & Decker, a leading $16 billion global diversified industry. He led more than 60,000 employees across 60 countries who make power tools, hand tools, outdoor power equipment and industrial products. The company operates the world’s largest tool company featuring iconic brands such as DEWALT, STANLEY, BLACK+DECKER, and CRAFTSMAN. Prior to joining Stanley in 1999, Loree spent 19 years at General Electric Company in a combination of leadership positions in finance, strategic planning and operating management. Loree was most recently appointed to the United Natural Foods, Inc. board of directors and to the post-restructuring Serta Simmons Bedding board of directors. He has served on the Whirlpool Corporation board of directors since 2017 as well as numerous non-profit boards, including Hartford Hospital, Union College, Advance CT, National Association of Manufacturers and the CT Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth. Loree graduated from Union College, summa cum laude, in 1980 with a BA in Economics and was selected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Marybeth L. Noonan ’82, along with her husband, Michael, founded a fiber optic company in 1992 and sold it in 2006. Prior to that, she enjoyed successful careers in real estate sales and human resources. She was also involved in her family’s wine importing business, Global Wine Importers, for many years. She serves on the UMass Memorial Hospital and Medical School Development Council as well as many charitable boards in Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational development from Quinnipiac in 1982.

Peter Novak, a seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for Eastern European business, brings a unique perspective to the world of sports development and international relations. With a passion for fostering growth and opportunity, Novak is now the President of Vertical Hoop Europe, a leading organization dedicated to promoting the sport of vertical hooping. His recent success in organizing a highly successful tournament in Wroclaw, Poland, showcased his ability to create impactful events and platforms for athletes. His commitment to international collaboration extends beyond sports. He has a deep understanding of the cultural and business landscape between Poland and the United States, having been involved in various initiatives to strengthen ties between the two countries. Notably, he and his wife, Kasia, established the Novak Family Polish Chair at Quinnipiac University, a significant contribution to fostering academic and cultural exchange. A dedicated advocate for athlete development, Novak is actively working to create opportunities for athletes to secure scholarships in the United States. His expertise in sports promotion, combined with his understanding of international relations, positions him as a valuable asset in bridging the gap between talented athletes and educational institutions.

Lynne Pantalena, JD ’85, is the former managing director at Bank of America Private Bank. With more than 30 years of experience, she led a team of wealth management advisers to high net worth clients in the areas of estate and financial planning, tax payments, business succession and philanthropy. Formerly an attorney in private practice, she is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Connecticut Bar Association. A nationally sought-after speaker, Pantalena is a member of the Lyric Opera Planned Giving Committee and is a former trustee of La Rabida Children’s Hospital. She earned a bachelor of science degree from New Hampshire College and a master of public administration degree from New York University. She also holds a juris doctorate from Quinnipiac School of Law and a master of laws degree from Boston University.

Robert J. Potter Jr. ’91 is a former business executive who has served in leadership roles at Mandiant, FireEye, EMC/RSA, Symantec, IBM, WRQ/Attachmate, Lancope/CISCO, as well as many startups including Verodin and STS Technologies. He is recognized as a leading expert in the field of cybersecurity by several publications, trade associations and the venture capital community. He currently invests in technology and sustainability companies and serves as an adviser for several startups. He and his wife, Kathryn, have created scholarship funds at both Quinnipiac University and Georgia Southern University, offering young students financial support in the pursuit of STEM and communications degrees. They have also created the Potter Giving Foundation which contributes annually to several organizations supporting mental health, blindness, the fight against cancer and the families of fallen soldiers. Robert has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from Quinnipiac, where he was captain of the men’s ice hockey team.

Ryan Rizzo '07 is senior managing partner at Merus Global Investments, a leading proprietary trading firm. In this role, he is responsible for identifying market opportunities and also serves on the management committee. Prior to this, he began his career at First New York Securities as an international equity trader focused on catalyst-oriented strategies. Alongside his wife, he has been involved in creating and serving on various non-profit boards and committees, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island Leadership Council. A Quinnipiac University graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, Rizzo was a member of the QU baseball team and earned ESPN CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.

Vik Sawhney is Blackstone’s Chief Administrative Officer, Global Head of Institutional Client Solutions and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Since joining Blackstone in 2007, Sawhney started Blackstone Capital Markets and also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Private Equity group.  Before joining Blackstone, he worked as a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, and prior tothat at the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Sawhney represented Blackstone as a Rockefeller Fellow during 2010-2011, and currently sits on the board of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. He is also the Board Chair of Dream, an east Harlem-based educational and social services organization. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. 

Richard A. Silver, Esq., a senior partner of Silver Golub & Teitell, is recognized as a leader of the litigation bar in the state of Connecticut and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Litigation for the past 20 years. He is a past president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a prestigious organization of Connecticut plaintiff and defense trial attorneys, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune. He is also a past president of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania, Rick received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

William C. Weldon ’71 is the former chairman of the board and CEO of Johnson & Johnson. He joined the company in 1971 in the sales and marketing department of its McNeil Pharmaceutical subsidiary. In 1982, he was named manager, ICOM Regional Development Center in Southeast Asia, and later held the posts of executive vice president and managing director of Korea McNeil, managing director of Ortho-Cilag Pharmaceutical in the U.K., and vice president of sales and marketing at Janssen Pharmaceutica. In 1992, Johnson & Johnson appointed Weldon president of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. He also was named a company group chairman of J&J and worldwide franchise chairman of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. In 1998, he was promoted to the executive committee and named worldwide chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group, and then vice chairman of the board of directors in 2001 before taking the helm as chairman. Weldon is a member of the board of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., CVS Caremark and the Mountain Mission School.