SARAH Inc.’s Board of Directors
SARAH Inc. is committed to enhancing skills and transforming lives of all individuals with differing abilities. The SARAH Inc. Board of Directors strive to further every aspect of our mission. All members of the Board are dedicated and passionate about what they do and the population we serve. If you have any questions or want to reach us at SARAH Inc. please call (860) 399-1888.
Rebecca Dunn, President
Becca has an accomplished career in which she started as a social worker and is now currently specializing in criminal and mental health law. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a master’s in social work and completed a law degree at Hofstra School of Law. As a social worker, Becca witnessed just how much the judicial systems could change a person’s life for the better. This inspired Becca to take up law. Becca is personally connected to the SARAH Inc. community through her two-year-old son who receives services from SARAH Inc.’s KIDSTEPS program. As a mother of soon to be five, her children and family are her greatest passions. Becca and her family currently reside in Niantic, CT.
Colin Dugan, Vice President
Colin has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry where he has spent his career servicing high net worth individuals and families. Colin’s positive and encouraging attitude is evident whether he is serving clients, assisting their business partners or giving back to his community. He works directly with clients attending to their day-to-day financial needs and works tirelessly behind the scenes to help out clients reach their goals. Prior to Principle Wealth Partners, Colin held relationship and operational management positions for boutique, Connecticut-based wealth management firms. Colin and his wife Liz reside in Old Saybrook with their two young children, Jack and Isla.
Claudio Denoya, Secretary
Claudio Denoya is an advocate of people with disabilities and a supporter of nature conservation. He is currently a member of the Old Lyme Land Trust Board of Directors (CT) and is a long-time member and/or supporter of over a dozen humanitarian and conservation organizations. Dr. Denoya holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, a M.S. in Biochemistry and Microbiology, and a B.S. in Clinical Analysis and Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires. He has a storied career both in the United States and internationally that includes five Pfizer Global R&D distinguished awards for his scientific and mentoring contributions and is credited with numerous distinctions, awards, patents, book chapters and journal articles.
Suzanne Erno, Treasurer
Suzanne Erno has an accomplished career in the financial industry. She is currently the First Vice President, Senior Commercial Lender at Guilford Savings Bank while working towards an MBA at UCONN with a concentration in Finance. Throughout her career, it has been important to Suzanne to stay active in the community. Some of her civic activities include participating on other Boards, including Safe Futures in New London and the Big Brothers and Sisters of Southeastern Connecticut. As a lifelong Connecticut resident, Suzanne is familiar with SARAH Inc. and the services that we provide. Now engaging as a Board member, she is excited to help us by furthering our mission and helping those in our programs. In her spare time Suzanne enjoys a myriad of activities including surfing, traveling with her children, and playing the piano.
Dan Brill, Immediate Past President
Dan is currently an advisor for H.S. Grace & Co., Inc. which specializes in helping attorneys decipher complex business issues. Dan is also board member and treasurer of MADISON Lyric Stage. As a cultural companion at IRIS , Dan helps incoming refugees to U.S. He also helps entrepreneurs at SCORE, the New Haven Business Academy and Yale University’s Office of Cooperative Research start and growth new businesses. At EMERGE in New Haven, Dan helps formerly incarcerated people earn high school degrees. He likes to golf, walk and especially visit his three children and five grandchildren. Before “retiring” in 2012, he was senior executive at Citibank responsible for leading several global businesses and risk functions.
Deb Palmer, Director
Deb is an accomplished Senior Executive and Board Member with more than 40 years of success across the legislative and domestic international insurance industries. Throughout her executive career, Deb has held leadership positions at MassMutual Financial Group, PAL Associates, LLC, and Aetna, Inc. She has been responsible for leading the turnaround of strategic people practices for a Fortune 500 Company. Thanks to her work, that company earned national recognition including ranking as a “Top 50 Company for Diversity” by Diversity, Inc., and a “Top 10 Company for Female Executives” by the National Association of Female Executives. Deb holds a B.A. in Spanish and Education from Manhattanville College, as well as an M.B.A. in Organizational Effectiveness from the University of Hartford. She has held board positions with various nonprofits and was awarded the Women of Excellence Award as a Corporate Women’s Champion by the National Association of Female Executives.
Fred Brisbois, Director
Fred is retired from a long and distinguished career in the aerospace industry where he developed world class safety programs for military and civil helicopter operations, the helicopter manufacturing industry, nuclear system safety missile programs and the International Helicopter Safety Team. He demonstrated increasing levels of responsibility at the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation where he worked for almost 40 years. Fred is a military veteran with twelve years of active duty, twelve years in the Army National Guard and one year of combat to his name. He demonstrated success as an officer and leader in the U.S. Army and is recognized as a civic leader serving in leadership roles on local Government Commissions and Non-Profit organizations. Fred has served on the SARAH Foundation Board and the SARAH Inc. Board and currently has a daughter who receives services from SARAH Inc.
Kelly Falvey, Director
Kelly Falvey is a Branford resident personally connected to the SARAH Inc. community; her sister Erin is an active participant in services at SARAH Inc.’s North Haven and Westbrook campuses. Kelly learned the organizational importance of diverse perspectives and dedicated committees through her board work with the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and her study of Nonprofit Management at Goodwin College. Kelly’s university studies, which include Southern Connecticut State University, Wesleyan University, and the University of Washington, prepared her for a range of experiences in Connecticut public education. She has served professionally as a high school Social Studies/History teacher, School Library Media Specialist, beginning teacher mentor, Technology Project Leader, and as a founding member of a magnet school. Kelly is passionate about inclusivity, equity, and personal growth.
James Baron, Director
James Baron is the William S. Beinecke Professor at the Yale School of Management. Jim joined the Yale faculty in 2006, after 24 years on the faculty at the Stanford Business School. He received his B.A. from Reed College, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on the determinants and consequences of organizational structures and human resource policies, particularly their effects on organizational performance and on workers’ careers. Jim teaches M.B.A., executive MBA, and doctoral courses on organizational behavior and human resources, as well as lecturing on management and leadership topics to audiences in the United States and abroad. Jim consults on strategic, organizational, and human resource issues to corporations, law firms, government agencies, and nonprofits. He resides in New Haven with his young son.
Chris Lofaro, Director
Christopher Lofaro is a Connecticut native who is passionate about being involved within the community. He is joining the SARAH Inc. Board with experience that will contribute to various aspects of our agency including human resources, marketing, executive management, and more. Chris is currently working in his family owned and operated business, Berkeley Exteriors in Milford. His current role covers a broad spectrum of running the business. This will be Chris’s first step into Board service. Throughout his life, Chris has gained experiences that helped him see the support networks, as well as challenges, for families with individuals with differing abilities. Because of this, he is very enthusiastic about joining SARAH Inc.’s Board and being a part of something that makes a positive impact for individuals and families.
