Griffin Health Services Corporation Board of Directors

Joseph Andreana

Joseph Andreana is currently the Executive Director of The Connecticut Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. His extensive business experience includes serving as President & CEO of the Oxford Economic Development Corporation and as an Adjunct Professor at the Sacred Heart University College of Business.

Andreana's history of volunteer activity and community involvement include working with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the Valley United Way, the Valley Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation, Board of Directors of the United Methodist Homes Foundation and former President of the Shelton Jaycees. 

He is a past recipient of the Service to Youth award (1994), Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal Award (2001) and Secretary of State Volunteer Award (2002). 

Andreana has served as a Corporator of Griffin Health Services since 2006. He and his wife are residents of Oxford.

Kenneth Baldyga

Kenneth Baldyga, Vice President of Human Resources for Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., received his B.S. in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University and his M.S. in Industrial Relations from the University of New Haven.

Mr. Baldyga has spent much of his career as a human resources executive. He was with Risdon AMS in Naugatuck and Thomaston for many years. He also served as an adjunct faculty instructor at Teikyo Post University. Mr. Baldyga served as the chairman for the United Way Campaign of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

He lives in Shelton.

John W. Betkoski, III

John Betkoski, Commissioner of the Department of Public Utilities Control, received his Bachelor's Degree from Sacred Heart University and Master's Degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

Mr. Betkoski served as a Connecticut State Representative for the 105th District for 10 years, where he was Chairman of the Commerce Committee and a member of the Public Health Committee.

Mr. Betkoski is a member of the United Way of Central Naugatuck Valley Campaign Cabinet, Homeless Community Center of Greater Waterbury Board of Directors, St. Michael's Men's Club and the Beacon Falls Lions Club.

Larry L. Bingaman

Mr. Bingaman is the President and CEO of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority and formerly Aquarion Senior Vice President in charge of operations for the Massachusetts/New Hampshire division. 

He has held leadership positions with Sikorsky Aircraft, United Technologies Corporation and Texaco and was a labor relations specialist with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

Patrick A. Charmel

Mr. Charmel, President and CEO of Griffin Health Services Corporation,  has been associated with Griffin Health Services Corporation since 1979 when he became a student intern while attending Quinnipiac College, where he received his bachelors degree. He received a Masters in Public Health from Yale University.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Hospital Association, the Board of Governors of the Quinnipiac Alumni Association, and the Board of Directors of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Charmel has positioned Griffin Hospital as an award-winning, innovative organization outperforming peer organizations by developing and implementing consumer-driven, patient-focused services that result in high patient satisfaction, while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Nancy DiNardo

Nancy DiNardo was a teacher in Bridgeport from 1971 to 1978 and served as School Psychologist from 1978 to 1985.  She served as an EMT on the Trumbull Emergency Medical Services and on the Trumbull Town Council, Board of Finance and Board of Health where she worked on the committee to develop the regional Hospice Program.

Nancy became a member of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1998 before becoming State Party Chair in 2005.

Joseph D. Emanuel

Joseph Emanuel is the Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Annuities at Prudential Financial, Inc.  He was previously with Jackson National Life Insurance Company where he held various positions including executive vice president and chief administration officer of Jackson National Life Distributors and National Planning Holdings as well as vice president, associate general counsel and corporate secretary while with Jackson National.  He served as assistant attorney general for the Ohio Attorney General's office.

Mr. Emanuel is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and received his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law.

He is also co-chair of the securities section of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel and a board member of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Robert A. Fox

Robert Fox received his bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from New York University and his master's degree from Stanford University. He serves on the Make A Difference Day Committee for the Town of Westport and the Corporate Volunteer Council.

Mr. Fox is a mentor in the Shelton school system.

He lives in Westport, CT.

David J. Hendricks, M.D.

Lawrence Janesky

Larry Janesky is an authority on creating and growing businesses for the benefit of business owners, employees and customers. 

He is the founder and president of Basement Systems, Inc., the author of five books and an acclaimed speaker.  He is an inventor with 24 patents and a business leader with 27 years of experience.  Larry was named Business New Haven's Businessperson of the Year in 2009.

Jean Crum Jones, MPH, RD

Jean Crum Jones, of Jones Family Farm, started the Harvest Kitchen as a way to pursue her passionate interest in teaching others about food, nutrition, and agriculture.  Jean gradually learned the ways of sustainable farming and traditional New England cooking after marrying Farmer Terry Jones (5th generation) and moving to the farm in 1969. 

Professionally, Jean has worked as a Registered Dietitian and Community Nutritionist, serving as an administrative dietitian with Yale Dining Services, as a clinical dietitian in New Haven health centers, and as an adjunct associate professor at various colleges in Connecticut.

Themis Klarides

Ms. Klarides received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Trinity College and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac College School of Law.

She was elected to the 114th Assembly District in 1998 and serves the towns of Derby, Orange and Woodbridge and currently works as an attorney with Attorney Shawn K. Splan of Shelton. She also serves as a member of the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission  and is active on the Executive Board and Fundraising Committee for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is a volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a member of the Walter Camp Foundation, a volunteer with the Derby Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force and is an incorporator with Birmingham Group Health Services.

Klarides also serves as a mentor to a local elementary school student in the Derby School Special Friends Program and is an appointed member of the legislature's Juciary, Education, and Public Health Committees.

She is a native of Seymour, CT and currently resides in Derby.

Klarides was elected to the board in January 2006.

George S. Logan

Mr. Logan received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Trinity College in 1991 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport in 1995.

He is currently the Director of Capital and Planning at the Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut.

His volunteer activities include his position as Commission Chairperson with the State of Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission, Board Member of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Trinity Engineering Advisory Council, Vice President of Programs and Board Member with Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut, Committee Chairman with Aquarion's Black History Month Committee, and Mentor with The Bridgeport Mentoring Program.

Logan was the recipient of the Bridgeport Engineering Institute Award for Distinguished Community Service in 1994, The Latimer School Award for outstanding service, in 1994, the BHC Laurel Award for Outstanding Community Service in 1994, winner of a 1997 Gold Connecticut Innovation Prize and was a recipient of the Secretary of State's 2003 Public Service Award.

Logan currently resides in Ansonia and was elected to the board in 2005.

Robert Mezzo

Robert Mezzo is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Connecticut and currently serves as Mayor of the Borough of Naugatuck.  Prior to election, he was in private practice with a concentration in real estate and probate law. 

Bob graduated from the University of Connecticut with a double major in political science and history and earned his juris doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law. 

He is a lifelong resident of Naugatuck, where he lives with his wife, Eileen and two children.

Frank M. Osak

Mr. Osak, Chairman and Executive Vice President of Derby Cellular Products and member of the Economic Development Committee, has been affiliated with Griffin Hospital since 1966 when he was elected as a corporator. He served as hospital trustee for numerous years after taking on positions as Second Vice President, First Vice President and, in 1985, chairman of the GHSC Board for four terms.

He lives in Shelton with his wife, Navia.

W. Neil Pearson, M.D.

William C. Powanda

William Powanda is currently Vice President of Support Services of Griffin Health Services Corporation and has been associated with Griffin Hospital since 1975.

Mr. Powanda received his Bachelor Degree from Quinnipiac University.

He is the chair of the Greater Valley Alliance for Economic Growth, a regional economic development coalition, and chair of the Valley Council of Health and Human Service Organizations.

Mr. Powanda lives in Seymour with his wife, Glynis. They have two sons.

Robert G. Reiss

Robert Reiss is host of The CEO Show.  The weekly program is broadcast in over 40 markets nationally, with 600,000 listeners, 51% of whom are top management.  The show is expanded in his monthly column with Forbes.com.  Robert also has a bi-monthly column with Morris Media for 5 Connecticut/New York Magazines.  He is the Chairman and emcee of the Conference Board's Senior Marketing Executive Conference, which was awarded the #4 top global C-Suite venue (and #1 in marketing) in 2009.  Reiss is the co-author of Golf and the Art of Customer Service, a business fable about hospital customer service that is being made into a motivational film.

His not-for-profit work includes being a Director of Griffin Health Services Corporation, a Director of Planetree, and a Trustee for Kingsbrook Medical Center where he was awarded the Distinguished Trustee Award by The United Hospital Fund in 2008.

Shelly Saczynski

Shelly Saczynski joined United Illuminating in June, 2001 as the Director of Economic and Community Development. 

Shelly chairs the board of Connecticut Main Street Center and serves on the Board of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy; and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. 

She is a 1977 magna cum laude graduate of Connecticut College in New London and a lifelong resident of Connecticut.

Kenneth V. Schwartz, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.P.

Dr. Kenneth V. Schwartz is President and Senior Partner of Cardiology Associates of Derby and Medical Director for Griffin Hospital. He also serves as Chief of Cardiology and Assistant Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Griffin. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Schwartz is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. He received his Bachelor Degree from Princeton University and his Medical Degree at Cornell University Medical College.

Dr. Schwartz lives in Milford with his wife, Maureen.

Gerald T. Weiner

Gerald Weiner is an Attorney with Weinstein, Weiner, Ignal, Vogel and Shapiro of Bridgeport.  He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the State Investment & Advisory Council for the State Treasurer's Office.

He lives in Woodbridge with his wife, Tina, and their three children.

John J. Zaprzalka, CPA

A Griffin Corporator since 1989, Mr. Zaprzalka is a partner in the firm, Apicella, Testa & Company, P.C., in Shelton. He received his Bachelor Degree in Accounting from Fairfield University, served as manager of accounting at Gaylord Hospital for several years and is a consultant to numerous medical practices.

He serves on the board of the Valley Community Foundation and is a corporator of both the Valley United Way and Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley. He is also a member of the Seymour Republican Town Committee, American Institute of CPAs and Connecticut Society of CPAs.

Mr. Zaprzalka is a lifelong Valley resident and currently lives in Seymour with his wife, Laura and two children, Alyssa and Andrew.