Meet Our Volunteers
 
The volunteers of the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of SCORE have rich and varied business backgrounds. Counselors share their business expertise and knowledge in all aspects of small business. In addition, all counselors have specific areas of expertise, which are listed below.

Greg Bivona: Greg spent more than a dozen years managing, selling, and developing insurance products for Small Businesses. He brings that expertise to bear with many SCORE clients who are just starting a business, or managing an ongoing business. He has consulted as the Insurance subject matter expert with many SCORE clients that have been referred by chapter counselors. He has provided answers to the myriad of insurance questions the clients have as they work to build their businesses and business plans. He has previously served as Chapter Chairman. (2004)

Richard Blackwell: Dick's experience has been focused on consumer products marketing. He recently sold a branded produce company he built over 20 years. Prior to that, Dick held several V.P. Marketing positions at various consumer products companies, and was a brand manager at Procter & Gamble and a marketing consultant for Glendinning Associates in Westport, CT. (2009)

Robert W. Burian:  Bob has over 40 years experience of marketing experience in selling, brand management and marketing research. After positions with a marketing research and a marketing consulting firm he joined Beech-Nut Life Savers in brand management. He spent many years with IBM Corporation in a variety of marketing and training positions. (1994)

Cindy Cavoto:

Don Christie: Don operated restaurants in Connecticut as a franchisee for over 45 years. He opened his first Howard Johnson's Restaurant in Milford, CT in 1959, subsequently expanding into Ground Round and KFC Franchises. His experience includes site location determinations, restaurant construction, equipping, staffing and all aspects of human and customer relations. Don served as Chairman, Hartford/New Haven KFC Co-op Advertising Committee. (2007)

Harry J. Clark: Harry is a Certified Public Accountant with over 35 years of financial and accounting experience. He has served as CFO/Controller for a variety of small to midsized companies. He has experience in the following industries: not-for- profit, wholesale distribution, retail, international trade (import & export), and start-up technology. Harry was an independent consultant for 2 years providing accounting and tax services to country clubs and small businesses. He currently serves as Chapter Treasurer. (2007)

Michael J. Conway:  Mike held both line and staff positions with a Fortune 100 Corporation. He held domestic and international managerial positions including project management, sales, marketing, market research and strategic planning as well as competitive analysis and acquisition studies. He currently serves as Chapter Chairman. (2003)

Biaggio Coppolella: Biagio (Ben) is a Certified Public Accountant and retired university accounting professor. He has over 35 years experience in small business corporate and partnership accounting and taxation, and accounting and reporting for not-for-profit organizations. (2000)

Lincoln W. Craighead:  Linc's extensive career began as an Engineering Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Subsequently, he worked in the manufacturing industry holding positions in plant engineering, production supervision, process engineering and production management. He was Vice President - Operations in the architectural metals industry before starting his own business selling and maintaining school equipment. (1995)

Stojan Cupic: Stojan has extensive experience in international business and in education, as well as domestic sales and manufacturing support experience. He has experience in defining and optimizing web based technologies to enable businesses to gain better advantage of the web. Stojan is multilingual and holds two MA degrees. (2011)

Bob Donovan:  Bob founded, managed and sold a retail chain of specialty video stores in Fairfield County. He has devoted the past 15 years to establishing a specialized consultancy practice providing, coaching to start-up and early growth stage enterprises across a broad variety of industries. (2010)

Norm Dube: Norm spent 28 years with Union Carbide Corporation starting in specialty chemical sales he rose through the ranks in sales management and marketing into business management. He headed a $250 million dollar worldwide business unit. He left Union Carbide to buyout and become president of a former UCC product line. Norm currently serves as Chapter Secretary. (1997)

Dina Elliott: Dina specializes in business transformation, focusing on clients' strategies and plans to promote growth. She has deep experience in assessing markets, competitors, internal resources, products/services and customers for a wide range of clients. Key areas are marketing/sales optimization, product and service (re)design, repositioning, research and business intelligence. She has expertise in organizational development and has developed multiple training processes and programs for clients in the acquisition and retention of human resources, organizational relationship management and CRM. (2012)

Clodomiro Falcon

Howard Feinstein:  Howard brings more than 30 years of business expertise to his role as SCORE Counselor. He started as Assistant to the President of an Industrial Supply Company heading one of their divisions shortly thereafter. Having a strong entrepreneurial bent, he then purchased his first business.  He grew and expanded this business into Greenleaves Interior Landscaping running that company with a partner until his retirement in 2005. Howard's personal experiences in running a small business brings valuable insight to Chapter Clients. (2005)

Bob Ferraro:

Stephen P. Geyer: Steve has over 25 years sales and marketing experience with a financial services subsidiary of Citigroup and has been recognized as the top sales producer. Steve volunteers with Junior Achievement and the Mercy Learning Center. (2001)

Ray Giovanni: Ray spent most of his career managing bank offices in several towns in the Bridgeport area. Ray also taught in the Bridgeport School system. He has a Master's Degree and Sixth Year Degree from Sacred Heart University and University of Bridgeport respectively.  He organized the Beardsley Park Community Association.

Leo Hansen: Leo has over 30 years experience in various managerial capacities in information systems. He worked both in small companies and large conglomerates. His areas of expertise include system evaluation and selection, design and implementation of business systems and internal consulting. (2009)

Tom Heaney: Tom has experience as a senior executive in operations for major corporations. He has also been an entrepreneur in the financial management and real estate businesses. With SCORE, his mentoring success stories include a client who was successful in moving from concept to start-up in operations/retail, a client who increased sales as an independent businessman in insurance, and Tom introduced alternate financing for a client in real estate. 

James Hisey II: Jim is a consulting executive with a solid record of distinguished leadership and service to local government, business and cultural organizations. He is active in Rotary International, the Fairfield County Chorale and the Curtain Call Theatre.  His expertise includes identity theft protection, writing, marketing, software application development, internet strategy and implementation, market research, computer hardware and software technical support. Mr Hisey is a graduate of the University of Miami and completed graduate work in psychology and business. (2012)

Brock Hotaling

Donald S. Hutchinson: Don has experience as a small business owner in food service and retail, as a consultant in Performance Based Marketing and Sales and for 32 years as a Vice President and Financial Consultant for Merrill Lynch. He is presently self-employed advising on personal and corporate asset management. In addition to SCORE Counseling, Don is also involved in leadership roles with other charitable organizations. (2004)

Mike Iserson: Mike is the founder of three start up businesses, all in service industries. His most recent venture became the largest company of its kind in the United States. As an entrepreneur, he developed a new concept service business start-up into a multimillion dollar company. Mike has expertise in organizational development, product development, sales, customer service and finance. He has a strong belief and is committed to the importance of recruiting and training in building a business. (2011)

Eugene Kierce: Gene has an extensive background in manufacturing and automation. He was a corporate consultant with General Electric specializing in manufacturing automation for quality, manufacturing process, purchasing, inventory and management organization. Gene is currently the Bridgeport SCORE Chapter Chairman. (2000)

Ginny Klinga: Ginny has co-owned Park City Valve and Fitting since 1982. She is Vice President and CFO. The company is an industrial wholesaler of pipes, valves and fittings. Ginny has volunteered in many organizations in addition to SCORE. (2007)

Ed Kuzma: Ed has experience with small business start-up requirements that he gained from building his own management consulting organization. His functional disciplines include: Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Education and Training and Management Consulting. (2010)

Charles Lipetz

George S. Little: George has broad career experience in the credit industry. He spent 15 years as a credit analyst for GMAC Financial Services, managing collection activities, reviewing dealer wholesale lines of credit and capital loan requests. For ten years, George owned and operated General Truck Leasing a full service car and truck leasing company which included a Hertz franchise. Most recently he owned and operated County Mortgage Services an  independent mortgage broker in Fairfield, CT. (2007)

John Makar: John has over 40 years experience in engineering, laboratory and sales functions for major corporations including GE, General Foods and Ross Air Systems. His areas of expertise include new product development, process engineering and environmental controls. (2008)

Tucker Mays: Tucker's expertise is in small business sales and marketing. Sales: planning, management,forecasting, key account presentations, promotion. Marketing: planning, advertising, public relations, in store merchandising, package design, and market research. Tucker spent the first half of his career in middle and senior management roles with Fortune 500 consumer products companies, and the second half starting, building and successfully selling several outdoor products companies. (2012)

William C. McLeod: Bill gained broad experience during his 33-year career with a major energy company. Business planning, refining, marketing, new technology development and commercialization are areas of expertise he used throughout his career. Bill also led a major company-wide initiative on customer satisfaction and business process improvement. Bill has served in several leadership positions within our Chapter. He is currently Assistant District Director for SCORE in Connecticut. (2002)

John Moffitt: John is the owner of Elvin Web Marketing, a company that advises companies on their use of the internet and social media to enhance their business. He has experience as a financial planner and financial manager. (2011)

Khalid Muhammad:

Paska Nayden: Paska worked in IBM Marketing. Her areas of expertise include internet marketing, direct marketing and  business development and operations.   Currently, she is co-owner of a business coaching company, guiding entrepreneurs towards acquiring their own business utilizing the E-Myth Principles. (2008)

Joseph A. Orlando: Joe has over 35 years experience in executive positions in publicly owned technology oriented companies. Prior to his employment in the private sector, he had six years of public accounting experience. Joe worked in the computer, medical testing equipment and steel industries. He was part of a venture capital investment company for over six years. (1996)

Ramesh Patel

Bette-Lynn Paez:

Bernie Pasierb: Bernie has nearly 30 years experience in hands-on building and managing of start-up and mid-sized companies in consumer financial services, direct marketing and internet based technology. Extensive experience in P&L management, startup financing, business development, risk management and operations. He has prior small business consulting experience with Price Waterhouse & Co. and presently is an adjunct instructor in Business Management at Housatonic Community College. (2009)

Bill Pressley: Bill has over 30 years of experience working in the Information Technology area. He has held positions in sales, marketing, corporate finance, and product administration. He has worked with customers from small business to large corporations in leveraging information technology to run their businesses. Currently, Bill has his own business coaching operation. He leads diagnostic coaching sessions with small business owners to help them identify and better understand their business challenges or goals.

Ron Rubano: Ron has over 30 years sales and management experience in the textile industry where he received numerous producer awards. Currently associated with Aflac, he holds a Connecticut license for life, health and accident insurance. He is a member of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. (2009)

Eugene A. Ryan:  Gene is a marketing professional with over 40 years of progressive experience in developing and marketing regulatory compliance software systems, network switching systems and market quotation/trading execution system products to multiple industries. He has expertise in identifying product opportunities and developing and managing product programs for domestic and international markets. He is currently an adjunct accounting instructor at Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT. (2008)

Hernan A. Sanchez: Hernan is Assistant Vice President and Financial Services Manager with People’s United Bank. He volunteers as Vice-Chair for the IT committee with the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network (GBLN). He has started a couple of online retail companies, bringing private sector and small business perspective, as well as extensive knowledge in information technology to SCORE. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, an MBA (Finance) from the University of Bridgeport, and  a Master of Science in Information Technology from Sacred Heart University.

David Snyder:  David had a 33 year career in a variety of financial management positions with major corporations. Areas of responsibilty included; credit and collections, budgets and measurements, reporting and forecasting and accounts payable. In addition to his financial responsibilities, David participated in the evaluation, selection and implementation of large and small information systems. (2004)

Gail Solis: Gail is a former small retail business owner with strong consultative sales, customer service, and communication abilities. Gail is the Executive Director of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce. She has experience in finance, administration, resolution of complex problems, start-ups, and implementation of new programs and departments. (2010)

Robert E. Svensk: Bob was the founder of Exporters Insurance Company; a Bermuda based international credit and political risk insurance company.  Prior to founding Exporters, Bob was President of AIG Political Risk Inc.  He began his career in international finance. He was a Research Associate in Switzerland for Harvard Business School and has authored case studies in the areas of accounting, marketing, finance, and general management.  He is currently an Adjunct Professor of International Business at the Jack Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University. (2005)

George Unser: George brings a lot of experience with start-up companies. He held top executive positions with two start-up companies. One of the companies failed. The other  grew to become a highly successful international company with a market cap of greater than $400 million on the NY AMEX stock exchange. Prior to his small company experience, George spent most of his career in various management positions in accounting and information technology with major international corporations. (2010)

Mario Vedrich

Ray Widak: Ray spent over 35 years in Industrial Sales and Management. His first fifteen years was with Ingersoll-Rand in Sales Engineering and Branch Management. He spent ten years as Product Manager with Swiss Albe, a Swiss Company manufacturing and selling precision drilling equipment, responsible for U.S., Canada and Mexico. He finished his career as Accounts Manager for plastic purging companies selling purging compounds to the plastics industry throughout the world. (2006)

Mark Wilterding: Mark was Vice President and founding Partner of IBM Global Business Services where he held numerous executive positions. Following his retirement from IBM, he founded Innovation Management Advisors, a proprietary consultancy, dedicated to advise senior management from the public and private sectors on issues related to innovation, environmental sustainment, integrated product development, risk mitigation, and emerging markets. (2009)

Bob Wittekind: For over 40 years, Bob held management positions in Marketing and General Management with multinational corporations including Stauffer Chemical and Johnson & Johnson. Areas of expertise include; product management, marketing management, business development, national sales management and marketing communications. Industries include chemical, electrical/electronic, rubber, plastics, pharmaceutical, personal/home and auto care products, paper, industrial and retail distribution. (1999)

Martin Wolf:  Marty is a retired attorney from the Bridgeport law firm of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. in which he was a member for over 50 years. His areas of practice include representation of clients engaged in business including their formation and ongoing legal matters such as acquisitions and sales, financing on behalf of both borrowers and lenders, zoning and non-profit organizations. He continues to serve as an arbitrator in commercially related matters. (2006)

(    ) indicates year joined chapter.