In the Field!
Karen Mastronardi, Regional Director (New York)
Karen has been directing the SCSEP in New York since 2010. She has master’s degrees in social work and public health. She’s been hiking in Patagonia, Easter Island, Bali, Machu Picchu, white water rafting on the Mendoza, skiing in the Alps, and shark diving in Hawaii– yet she says her work with SCSEP is her greatest adventure!
David Genovese, Regional Director (New York)
David is driven by compassion and gratitude. His background is in corporate training and development. After 25 years in the business world, he is grateful to now have a career that is focused on helping improve the lives of participants! He is married and has one daughter and one son. His hobbies include cars, cycling, and theme parks!
Rosanne Cappa, Regional Coordinator (New York South Central Region)
Rosanne is a proud “graduate” of the SCSEP, having enrolled in the program as a participant after 10 years out of the workforce following a serious injury. In her position at A4TD she helps people every day to get a fresh start.
John Frisch, Regional Coordinator (New York Mohawk / Catskills Region)
After graduating from SUNY Oneonta, John worked in Human Services for 10 years, then hosted a local morning radio show! Now he loves working with seniors. When he’s not at his desk, he’s hitting the trails. To date he’s run 13 half marathons and 3 marathons.
Joe Scoglio, Regional Coordinator (New York Rochester / North Country Region)
Joe is a US Navy Veteran, a graduate of St. John Fisher College, and a proud father of 3 sons. He was a restaurant and nightclub owner for 14 years, but switched to the staffing industry and eventually A4TD, once he realized where the real party was!
Sean Joyce, State Director (Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania)
Sean is a professional trainer with over 10 years of general management experience. With a background in the restaurant industry, he has extensive experience in recruiting, selecting and training new team members. He is a bagel expert, and can rate any bagel on a scale from 0-10 in 5 different categories.
Louise Wyble, Regional Coordinator (Pennsylvania North)
Throughout her career, Louise has always found ways to help those in need. Her work in north central Pennsylvania helps job seekers and nonprofit entities on a daily basis. Stop by a bluegrass or country music festival, and you might catch her!
Kimberly Roush, Regional Coordinator (Pennsylvania South)
Helping others motivates Kim. After training tutors of adults in adult basic education for 13 years, it felt like a good fit to move into a position helping mature workers. In her spare time, she is a certified therapeutic riding instructor and works with veterans and other populations to share the healing horses can bring.
Wayne Piper, Regional Coordinator (Vermont)
Wayne just can’t stay retired! He’s a retired funeral director, a retired appliance store owner, and a retired postal service worker. He joined A4TD in 2010 as a program participant, and since then has served hundreds of other Vermonters through the program. “I love my position at A4TD and have embraced their mission from my very first day.”
At the Home Office!
Pat Elmer, President & Chief Executive Officer
Pat’s background is in theatre management and teaching. She transitioned out of teaching to help kids who had dropped out of school transition into stable employment. Then in 1983, there was a growing number of school-to-work programs being developed, so she changed her focus and began to work with the other end of the age spectrum; unemployed workers age 55+, helping them to enter or re-enter the workforce. This is when she founded A4TD (originally known as Vermont Associates for Training and Development)! A4TD was awarded its first federal grant in 1983 to administer the SCSEP and has continued to successfully operate this program for 34 years. Pat is one of the longest tenured SCSEP advocates in the country. Her Master’s of Science in Administration is from St. Michael’s College, and outside of work Pat loves photography and travelling.
Thomas Saylor, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Thomas has been an executive-level manager for many years, and has extensive background in staff training, organizational expansion, industry partnership building, and workforce development. He earned his Master’s of Science in Administration and Management from St. Michael’s College, and is a Certified Professional Trainer with the American Society of Training and Development. He retains membership in many professional organizations including the American Society on Aging and the Association for Talent Development. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
John Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Administration
John has professional background in both for-profit and nonprofit administration and operations. His bachelor’s degree is in Finance and Commerce from Rider University and he has extensive expertise in grant, fiscal, and program management. He is a firefighter, a first responder, a father of two, and an accomplished horseman.
Rick Bugbee, Assistant Vice President of Program Services & Performance
Rick is a “math guy” with extensive background in project and operations management, and training program design & delivery. He has particular strengths in relationship building with both for-profit and nonprofit community partners. He’s a dog lover, an apple crisp aficionado, and can recite pi to over 100 digits.
Mary Branagan, Director of Program & Partner Affairs
Mary loves SCSEP because she knows it helps people, strengthens communities, and supports local businesses. Mary earned her MBA from Northeastern University, was recognized by Vermont Business Magazine as a “Rising Star” in 2013, and was named Vermont’s Young Professional of the Year in 2014. She enjoys barre fitness, and she works hard so her cats can have a good life.
Justin Kelley, Deputy Director, Data Services
Justin spent many years building teams to achieve and exceed the demanding goals of the retail industry. He has extensive knowledge of database management and IT systems administration. He enjoys skateboarding with his son and makes great turkey tacos.
Melita DeBellis, Employability Trainer
Melita is a training and coaching professional with a passion for helping people. She has a B.A. from UVM and a JD from George Washington University. She lives in northern Vermont with her husband and their crazy pug, Chloe.
Jon Tenney, Employability Trainer
Jon is a bilingual, passionate educator and IT professional with extensive experience in teaching, software development, and user support. He has a master’s degree in teaching, and has particular expertise in virtual training technology. He is active in Toastmasters, and has won awards for public speaking. He makes large vats of Spanish hot chocolate at work, and refuses to give his coworkers the recipe.
Kathy Lafar, Finance Services Specialist
Kathy is a finance and administrative professional who with lots of experience in payroll and file maintenance. She is an animal lover, and a longtime member of the Vermont State Guard where she currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Lynn DeMartino, Data Coordinator
Lynn has worked in human services for many years, as a program manager for mental health services, and now as a key member of our Data Team. She lives in updates NY, is a mom of 3 kids and 2 rescue dogs!
Julie Hodet, Data & Finance Services Assistant
Julie is an meticulously organized data and finance professional with a history of helping businesses keep their data up to date and accurate. She is a proud mom, makes amazing donuts, and loves bargain shopping!
Judy Pelon, Program Assistant
Judy trained as a SCSEP program participant in office administration, took advantage of multiple computer training initiatives, and we hired her as a Program Assistant in 2015! “As a former participant I know how important the program is for helping seniors get back into the workforce. SCSEP works!”
