About Our Alumni Hall of Fame
Please note that bios appear as they were at the time of the alumni's induction.
Mark Adams ‘00
Mark is a third-generation owner of Adams Greenhouses and has been involved in many aspects of his family business since his graduation from DCC. He has served as grower, electrician, driver and carpenter. He is the recipient of the Dutchess County Farms Recognition Award and is president of the Dutchess Putnam Westchester Farm Bureau. Mark also serves on the board of the New York Farm Bureau and the Cornell Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Board. He is a charter member of Mid-Hudson Mensa.
Patrick Adams ‘81
Patrick graduated from Dutchess Community College and then Brockport University. He is a third-generation owner of Adams Fairacre Farms where he has served as CEO and was a recipient of the Poughkeepsie Journal Business Person of the Year Award in 2004 along with his father, Donald, and uncle, Ralph. Along with other family members, Patrick earned the grand award for business excellence from the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation in 2012. He has served on boards for the YMCA, the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation and Vassar Brothers Medical Center’s Foundation Board. In addition, Patrick was the chair of the 2011 Dutchess/Ulster Heart Walk.
Susan Adams ‘72
Sue graduated from DCC and went on to earn a four-year degree from Cornell University in 1974. She has headed sales and marketing for Adams Greenhouses and also designs baskets and containers for the store. Her basket designs have won six medals at Cornell. She was very active in DCC’s Alumni Association, serving as activities coordinator for 10 years and as vice president. Sue has served on the board of the New York State Flower Industries, is president of the Northeast Greenhouse Association and is involved with the Cornell Alumni Ambassador Network.
Stephen Adams ‘92
Stephen began working at Adams Fairacre Farms during his high school years and began a full-time career with his family business after graduating from DCC. A third-generation owner, he worked in Adams Landscaping department before moving into the retail aspect of the business and working in Adams’ Kingston and Newburgh stores. Stephen was promoted to general manager in 2009, overseeing the company’s three stores while focusing on the building of the fourth store in Wappingers Falls. Along with other members of his family, Stephen earned the grand award for business excellence from the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation in 2012.
Sheila U. Appel ‘76
Sheila Appel joined IBM shortly after graduating from DCC. As the corporate community relations manager for IBM she has contributed greatly to IBM’s reputation in the Hudson Valley not only as an outstanding corporate citizen, but also as a friend to the community and an innovator for improvement in education. She has received two People Management Awards from IBM; a distinct honor bestowed on IBM managers who excel in the qualities of outstanding leadership and people management skills. In addition, Sheila was recognized as one of the Top 100 IBM Women Leaders in the Hudson Valley.
Dedicated to making the Hudson Valley a community to be proud of, Sheila volunteers for many nonprofits and is on the board of the Dutchess Community College Foundation. She is always involved in fundraising drives and chairs numerous local campaigns. Sheila has received numerous awards for her professional and community accomplishments including being honored by Future Business Leaders of America with “Business Person of the Year” in 2000, and being selected by Senator Steve Saland as a 2003 New York State “Woman of Distinction.”
William H. Beale ‘99
Bill graduated from DCC with an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and went on to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Marist College.
He was elected the youngest fire company president in New York state at age 19 and later elected chief of the Hughsonville Fire Department at age 24, placing him among the youngest to hold that position in Dutchess County history. His service and experience led to his appointment as Dutchess County’s emergency management coordinator in 2014.
Bill was elected to the Town of Wappinger Council in 2006, unseating a 19-year incumbent. He was re-elected five times and has served as deputy town supervisor. He was a recipient of Dutchess County’s Forty Under 40 “Mover & Shaker” Award in 2009 and also a recipient of the Southern Dutchess Exchange Club’s Firefighter & EMT Hero Award in 2013. Bill also has been decorated with multiple lifesaving commendations and has received the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Heroism Award.
Shirley Roberts Brereton ‘88
Shirley earned an associate degree in Nursing from DCC and a BSN from Mount Saint Mary College.
She has held numerous positions in the health care industry at Putnam Hospital Center, White Plains Hospital, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Orange Regional Medical Center, St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Saint Agnes Hospital and other facilities. Her experience as a nurse and nursing supervisor spans across various units including cardiac care, radiology, intensive care and post-anesthesia care. She also has worked at the New York State Department of Corrections in the Fishkill and Albany facilities as director of nursing and nurse scheduler, respectively. She is a member of the American Diabetes Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Heart Association Scientific Council and the American Correctional Association.
Additionally, Shirley has been an active community volunteer for over four decades. She has given her time to the YWCA and Saint Andrews Episcopal Church and South Avenue Elementary School in Beacon. She is a member of the Major General Irene Trowell Harris Tuskegee Airmen Chapter in Newburgh, has served on the Hudson Valley Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Board, and has been on the Dutchess Community College Foundation Board of Directors since 2006.
Betsy H. Brockway ‘82
Betsy has been a resident of Dutchess County since 1968. After graduating from DCC she later went on to graduate from SUNY Purchase.
Dedicated to making Dutchess County a better place for all its citizens, Betsy has a long list of accomplishments in health and human services. One area of particular interest is her work with youth leadership. Betsy was the executive director of the Dutchess County Youth Bureau for 13 years. Her current position is the director of the Dutchess County Health & Human Services Cabinet.
Betsy is involved with many professional organizations and is a consummate volunteer. She has been the recipient of several awards, including the Girl Scouts of DC “Seat of Honor” in 2006 and the Dutchess Community College Alumni of the Year award in 1993.
Betsy Brown ‘64
Betsy was born and raised in Poughkeepsie and is a member of the Dutchess Community College Board of Trustees. In 1994 she was named a DCC Distinguished Alumni and was honored by the State University of New York with placement on the Alumni Honor Roll for select graduates.
Betsy has remained close to her alma mater, and in addition to serving on the Board of Trustees, she has also served as chairperson of the DCC Foundation Board. She is the innovator behind the establishment of the successful phonathon that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Foundation.
Betsy also served on or has served on various nonprofit boards and is the recipient of several community awards.
Anthony Campilii ‘60
Tony Campilii is a graduate of the first class of Dutchess Community College. He went on to earn two degrees from Marist College and began a successful 43-year career there in 1962, retiring as vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer.
Dedicated to his community, Tony has brought his business acumen to many local organizations through volunteer work as treasurer or on finance and fundraising committees. He has worked to enhance the Hudson Valley by serving on boards including the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Vassar-Warner Adult Residence and the Marist College Center for Lifetime Studies.
Tony also has a history of involvement with organizations including the Eastern/National Association of College/University Business Officers, the College/University Personnel Association, the Business Council for the State of New York and the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants.
Tony married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia DiSantis – also a graduate of DCC’s class of 1960.
James R. Campion ‘70
Jim is a native of the Hudson Valley, growing up in Hyde Park. He graduated from DCC, received a B.S. from the State University College at New Paltz and an M.S. from the University at Albany. In addition to further graduate work, he has completed the Seminar for New Presidents at Harvard as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Management Development Program. He is currently an invited lecturer with Harvard’s Institutes for Higher Education.
The recipient of many professional awards, Jim received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and was named to the State University of New York’s Alumni Honor Roll. He has been involved with numerous professional and community organizations and continues to be active in several local civic groups. He has been the president of Columbia-Greene Community College since 2000.
Frank Castella Jr. ‘99
Frank is the president and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and president of the Chamber Foundation. The Chamber has a strong and diverse membership of over 1,500 organizations throughout the Hudson Valley region, employing almost 30 full-time professionals.
Prior to taking that position in 2015, he was the owner of AM Direct Mail and part owner of Harmon and Castella Printing, Inc. During his time at the family-run firm, Frank grew business in the print shop by over 450% and in the direct mail company by over 300%. He also was integral in upgrading and expanding business capacity, bringing the total number of machines to almost 50 and updating the computer technology to feature 28 integrated systems.
He is a recipient of the 2007 United States Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Senator Steven and Linda Saland Community Service Award and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award among other industry honors.
Lisa Marie Cathie ‘86
Lisa is president, CEO and trustee of Ulster Savings Bank. The bank has 13 branch locations in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties and additional loan offices in Westchester and Suffolk Counties.
Prior to joining USB, Lisa was senior vice president and chief operating officer of Orange County Trust Company. She also served as regional vice president for Hudson United Bank; vice president for M&T Bank; assistant treasurer at the Bank of New York, and in retail, consumer and commercial real estate operations at Poughkeepsie Savings Bank, where she began her banking career.
Lisa currently serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC), is a board trustee for Marist College, a director for NY League of Independent Bankers, serves on the executive committee and board of directors for Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, and The Bardavon/ UPAC Board.
She received a bachelor of science from Marist College and an associate degree from Dutchess Community College. She is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania and completed the Strategic IQ Program at Harvard Business School.
Lisa was the recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Alumna Medal of Honor from Marist College. Marist presents this award to individuals who exemplify the college’s ideals: excellence in education, a sense of community and a commitment to service. Lisa was also a 2013 Athena Award Honoree and was recognized by Hudson Valley Magazine as one of the Region’s Top Women in Business.
A lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, she resides in Highland with her husband, Bruce, and their children, Daniel and Rachel.
John Coppola ‘82
John graduated from Dutchess Community College and then Marist College. Along with his brothers, he owns and operates businesses including Coppola's Ristorante and Coppola's on 9, a catering service, Coppola Italian Sauces and the Village Square Motel.
He is president of the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and member of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Dutchess Tourism Board. He is active with Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel and is a past Dutchess Community College Foundation board member.
Keith Daly ‘72
Keith earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts from DCC, where he also competed on the basketball team and built the foundation for his successful career. He says DCC helped him strengthen his "sense of teamwork, empathy for others, desire to win and leadership skills" that took him to the top of the athletic retail industry and inspired his commitment to all associates and consumers. Keith went on to earn his bachelor’s in physical education at Springfield College in 1975, returning in 2009 to deliver the commencement speech and receive his honorary doctorate in humanics.
Keith's illustrious career — which began with teaching high school and coaching and culminated in his role as president and CEO of Foot Locker, Kid's Foot Locker, and Footaction USA — spanned three decades and afforded him the unique opportunity to combine his passion for athletics and education with leading and guiding his corporate teams to success. Keith began working in the business sector in 1980 as associate merchandise manager at Kinney Shoe Corporation, a subsidiary of the Woolworth Corporation, and moved over to the Foot Locker division where he quickly moved up the ranks, serving as vice president in two company divisions before bringing his expertise to a specialty basketball footwear and apparel company, And 1. He returned to Foot Locker three years later as president and CEO of Lady Footlocker then Foot Locker Europe until coming home to the United States in 2007.
Retired in April 2020, Keith has actively contributed to the industry by serving as chief operating officer for DK Foot and Casual, a regional footwear and apparel retailer in Dallas. He has also served as chairman and member of the Board of Directors for the National Sporting Goods Association for many years. Recently he has joined The Board of Governors for the College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism at the University of North Texas. Keith previously served on the board of the Two Ten Foundation and played an integral role in supporting the Foot Locker Foundation, whose purpose is to support opportunities for today's youth through sports and educational initiatives.
A native of New York, Keith has lived in several cities around the world. He now resides in Dallas, Texas with Beverly, his beloved wife of 49 years. Their two sons, Chris and Craig, are both married and followed in their father's footsteps by choosing careers in the field of athletics.
Anthony DiMaso ‘65
Anthony earned an associate degree in Accounting from DCC before moving on to the University of Bridgeport where he graduated with a bachelor’s in Accounting. After college he served with honor in Vietnam, receiving the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He joined IBM in 1970 as a junior accountant, and by 1983 had worked his way up to senior financial manager, where he oversaw the Poughkeepsie Development Lab’s financial plan for hardware and software. Anthony’s career included assignments in IBM’s Division Headquarters and travel to various domestic and international locations as part of his work on plans and pricing for IBM products.
Anthony became a regular contributor to IBM’s Charitable Contributions Campaign and extended his philanthropy to include the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Habitat for Humanity, the World Wildlife Fund, the Red Cross, the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Running Strong for Indian Youth, St. Labre Indian School and St. Joseph’s Indian School. He also has volunteered for his church, his children’s schools, the Dutchess County Science Fair and has been a member of the American Legion for over 30 years.
Joan DiMaso ‘68
Joan graduated from DCC with an associate degree in Secretarial Science. She worked for 16 years as the administrative and financial assistant to the executive director of the Dutchess County chapter of the American Heart Association.
Inspired by her mother’s volunteer service, Joan devoted herself to her community by giving her time to various organizations. She has served on the boards of the Dutchess County Art Association/Barrett Art Center, Dutchess County Arts Council and Friends of the Samuel F.B. Morse Historic Site. She also has chaired events including the American Cancer Society gala, the Barrett Art Center Party with Oscar fundraiser and the Morse Historic Site annual Garden Party. Additionally, she helped plan the Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Competition’s annual fundraising luncheon.
One of Joan’s most vivid memories from her time as a student at DCC was when she joined a human chain of volunteers to help transport over 21,000 books and other pieces of educational materials from the old library location to a new facility. In recent years she has volunteered for the DCC Foundation’s annual golf tournament and joined husband Vincent as co-chair of a recent DCC Foundation gala. The couple also purchased a sculpture and donated it to DCC for placement on campus.
Additionally, Joan and Vincent were honored by the New Horizons Foundation with its annual Community Leadership Award.
Vincent J. DiMaso ‘66
Vince is a lifelong resident of Dutchess County and a member of the College’s Board of Trustees. He has served as chairperson of the DCC Foundation Board and as the college trustee representative to the DCCF Board. He was named DCC Distinguished Alumnus in 1992. He has served on and chaired several community boards. He is a graduate of Marist College to which he transferred after DCC and is the recipient of several volunteer awards. He owns a successful real estate business and is active in local and regional professional organizations.
Susan Doyle, ‘11
Susan first became a DCC student in 1970 in the Business Administration curriculum. She went on to co-found Absolute Auctions & Realty, Inc., a business that has served three states selling real estate and personal property of all kinds including antiques, vehicles, estate furnishings, business contents and inventories. The company conducts over 250 auctions a year and employs 10 local residents.
Sue is a licensed real estate broker in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and is certified by the International Society of Appraisers and the Certified Auctioneers Institute. She also is a graduate of International Auction School.
Sue served 12 years on the DCC Foundation Board of Directors including two years as chair. She has served on the Executive, Finance, Gala, Special Events and Strategic Planning committees. She and her company have consistently supported the financial goal of the DCC Foundation, which is to provide scholarships for deserving students.
Bill Duke '63
Bill was born in Poughkeepsie and after graduating from DCC went on to Boston University and New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. In 1999 he was recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as their Alumnus of the Year, a highly selective national award.
An acclaimed actor and director, he is well known for his roles in Predator, Commando, and Bird on a Wire. His directing endeavors include The Cemetery Club and Sister Act II. He has received several industry awards and published two books. Bill is very involved in nonprofit work in the Los Angeles area.
James Fedorchak ‘67
Jim was born and raised in Beacon, graduated from Dutchess Community College in 1967 and transferred to Hartwick College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1969.
After working in college administration for a year, Jim entered Loyola University New Orleans and earned a juris doctorate in 1973. He then returned to Dutchess County and became an assistant county attorney. In 1979 Jim entered private practice and for the next 30 years he specialized in civil litigation, representing clients in both state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout eastern New York state.
In 2010, Jim retired from private practice to return to the Dutchess County Department of Law as the Dutchess County attorney. Jim’s professional affiliations include membership in the Dutchess County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association, where he has served as a member of the House of Delegates for four terms.
Jim is an adjunct instructor at both DCC and Marist College, president of the Dutchess County SPCA Board of Directors, president of the Beacon Cultural Center Board of Directors, member of the St. Luke’s Church Vestry, secretary of the City of Poughkeepsie Charter Commission, member of the Stewart Airport Commission and member of Mid-Hudson Trout Unlimited.
He was named 2010 Sportsman of the Year by the Federation of Dutchess County Fish and Game Clubs for his volunteer contributions to the sporting community of Dutchess County. Jim is a past member of the DCC Board of Trustees and currently sits on the DCC Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, he delivered the keynote address at the DCC President’s Breakfast in 2010 and the College Commencement Address in 2012. He also served as chair of the DCC Foundation gala in 2013.
Jim and his wife, Nancy, reside in Poughkeepsie and have one son, Mark, who also is an alumnus of Dutchess Community College.
Angela Flesland ‘06
Angela earned an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences from DCC. In 2007 she was elected to the Dutchess County Legislature, where she tackled numerous issues from jobs creation to the opioid epidemic. She served as assistant majority leader beginning in her second term and as majority leader. Angela was chair of the legislature’s Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee in her final term and also served on the boards of the Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation. She made the decision to self-impose a 10-year term limit and did not seek re-election in 2017.
Angela’s volunteer service includes spearheading an initiative to provide holiday meals to homeless veterans at Hudson River Housing’s Liberty Station residence. She also helped pair those individuals and others with local families who provide Christmas gifts for the veterans each year.
Angela went back to school and became a registered nurse. She works in a critical care cardiothoracic unit at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla and is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing leadership.
Ellen M. Gambino ‘74
A proud graduate of Dutchess Community College, Dr. Gambino holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from SUNY New Paltz, a master’s degree with distinction in Computer Science from Pace University and a doctorate in Executive Leadership and Social Justice from Saint John Fisher College. In 2013 she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and was named a Presidential Fellow by the prestigious Aspen Institute in 2017.
Dr. Gambino has extensive experience in curriculum design, student success and retention, strategic planning, budget management, academic assessment and workforce partnerships. In the last few years, she has led the development of the College’s new associate degree programs in Public Health, Hospitality and Tourism, and Aviation Maintenance Technology. She transitioned the College from a remedial coursework model to co-requisite education model in English and mathematics, and provided the leadership and support to launch the College’s advisement center—both initiatives aimed at reducing students’ time to degree completion and increasing student achievement.
In recognition of her leadership in establishing the Think Ahead program – a multi-agency collaboration that provided a collegiate experience for intellectually and developmentally disabled young adults – she was awarded the 2019 Arc of Dutchess Peggy Martinko Trailblazer Award. Dr. Gambino is also attributed for developing the DCC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Support) program to aid in much needed wrap-around services for students helping to ensure their academic success. In 2020, Dr. Gambino was honored with an Athena Award for Women’s Leadership by the Chamber Foundation of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Ellen Gambino was acting president of Dutchess Community College from September 2020 to August 2021. She has served the College in various academic leadership roles since 2006, becoming provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Services in 2015.
Dr. Gambino is a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley where she and her husband, Larry, raised two wonderful children, Michael and Christine. She is the proud grandmother of Collin, Kylie, Sonny and Callahan.
John Genovese ‘74
John earned his A.A.S. in Retail Business Management with honors at DCC in 1974. Despite an interruption in his education when he was drafted to serve during the Vietnam conflict, John resumed his studies upon returning home, graduating at the top of his program and earning the Wall Street Journal Award. He went on to Siena College where he graduated magna cum laude in 1976 and to Ohio Northern University (ONU) College of Law where he earned his juris doctorate in 1979.
John has had a distinguished law career, beginning with a prestigious two-year clerkship with a federal district court judge in Fort Lauderdale and private practice at top law firms in Miami. In 1999, he and several lawyers founded Genovese, Joblove & Battista (GJB), which grew to have multiple offices and lawyers and has been recognized as one of the best law firms in the state of Florida. Practicing in the areas of litigation and bankruptcy reorganization, John has been included in the Best Lawyers in America since 1989 and has been recognized for many years by Chambers & Partners and Super Lawyers as a top lawyer in his specialties.
Among John’s many accomplishments are the Joseph A. Buff Award by Siena College, which he received for professional achievement and support of veterans, and an honorary Master of Laws degree from ONU. He was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Florida Eleventh Circuit Court Care program, which provides court access to children in need.
John is married to Ana Koeppel. He has 19-year-old twins, Alessandra and Stefan, and two stepchildren, Lauren and Robert.
Charles E. Liscum ‘78
Chuck is a founding partner of the architectural firm of Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis. Multi-faceted and creative in his approach, Chuck is a principal architect known for his design excellence and attention to detail.
He is involved with historic preservation and design and won an excellence in historic preservation award. Chuck has worked on some of the most important architectural landmarks in the Hudson Valley.
Outside of his architectural work, Chuck puts his education and experience to work helping others. He has been involved with rebuilding groups and nonprofits helping children.
Chuck is a member of the American Institute of Architects of New York State and the DCC Architectural Advisory Board.
Mark Mahoney ‘83
Mark earned his associate degree in communications and media Arts from DCC and transferred to Ithaca College where he earned a bachelor’s in communications management. He returned to Poughkeepsie to start his career as a radio reporter for WEOK-WPDH before becoming a legislative correspondent in Albany for Statewide News Service.
In 1988 Mark joined the Post-Star newspaper in Glens Falls, NY, serving as reporter, city/regional editor and then editorial page editor. He earned a 2009 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials about local government secrecy and citizens’ right to know.
Additionally, Mark was an editorial writing finalist in the American Society of Newspaper Editors national contest for three straight years between 2004 and 2006, winning first place in 2004. His editorials were recognized by the New York State Associated Press Association almost 20 times, and by the New York State Newspaper Publishers Association five times. In addition, he won first place in the 2011 National Headliners Awards and third place in the 2006 and 2009 contests. He also earned a 2008 award from the Associated Press for his blog on government transparency and was a Lee Enterprises President’s Award winner for editorial writing in 2003.
He has been editorial page editor for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, NY since 2014. He lives in Queensbury with his wife, Lisa Sax Mahoney.
Dr. Amelia M. Martinko ‘66
Dr. Amelia Martinko was the first of seven children born to Margaret and John Martinko in Poughkeepsie. Amy graduated from DCC with an AS degree in nursing and went on to earn a BS degree in English Literature at SUNY New Paltz. She studied at the University of Illinois and graduated from Albany Medical College of Union University.
An internist, Amy worked as chief of ambulatory care at Castle Point VA Medical Center for 10 years. During that time she also became certified in geriatric medicine. In 1996 Amy went into private practice at the Mid-Hudson Medical Group and joined the medical staff of Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Saint Francis Hospital.
At Vassar Brothers Medical Center, she has actively served on many hospital committees. In addition, she has been chair of the Internal Medicine Department, and rose through the ranks of physician leadership to be elected the first female president of the VMBC Medical/Dental Staff in 2007. Her board service includes the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Board of Mid-Hudson Medical Group.
DCC is a family affair for Amy – seven relatives are DCC graduates!
Timmian Massie ‘78
Born in Poughkeepsie, Tim graduated from DCC in 1978, and he graduated from Fordham University in 1980. He also studied at Iona College in New Rochelle, at the North American College in Vatican City, and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He has served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for Marist College since 1994. Before he launched his career in education, Tim was well known as the spokesperson for Central Hudson.
Most importantly, Tim is a terrific role model for the students. An avid volunteer, Tim is a visible figure in the community and has served on the boards of dozens of community organizations. He has had a great impact on the Hudson Valley through his involvement in and passion for our community.
Michael TJ McCormack ‘78
Mike is a founding partner of the architectural firm of Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis. He is a principal architect specializing in collegiate facilities and brings a high level of design experience and excellence to every project. He can be credited with changing the face of many educational facilities in the Hudson Valley.
Always on the run, Mike is the master of multi-tasking. He is on several boards locally and takes leadership roles in helping to shape and advance nonprofits. Mike is a valued member of the DCC Foundation Board and volunteers with organizations involved with health care, economic development and historic preservation.
Mike is a member of the American Institute of Architects of New York State, the DCC Architectural Advisory Board, the Town of Clinton Planning Board, the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board and the Dutchess County Planning Federation.
Rita McPeck ‘88
Rita graduated from Dutchess Community College with her associate degree in Business Administration and has enjoyed a distinguished career at KeyBank over the past 35 years.
Currently the assistant vice president/small business administration senior service officer for KeyBank’s Hudson Valley/Metro NY and Albany district, Rita is dedicated to serving the small businesses that drive our community forward. Rita is a six-time Signature Circle award winner for significantly exceeding KeyBank goals. She also received the Sallie Cusano Key Spirit Award in 2014 for her community involvement above and beyond her professional work.
Rita attributes this work ethic and community involvement to her parents, who immigrated with Rita and her siblings from Italy. Studying at DCC afforded her the flexibility to work full time while attending evening classes, and gain hands-on experiences needed to excel in the classroom, in the community, and in the boardroom. She relates to many of the students who are following a similar path and is grateful for her time on the DCC Foundation Board where she can give back to the community that helped launch her career.
Rita serves on the boards of the Dutchess Community College Foundation, New Horizons Resources Inc., Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. A 1998 graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Dutchess program, Rita was presented with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015; the Chamber also recognized her in 2007 as an Athena Award Honoree and in 2004 as recipient of the Community Spirit Award.
In addition to these accomplishments, Rita received accolades from the Alzheimer’s Association – the Linda and Steve Saland Award for Community Leadership (2011) and Volunteer of the Year (2001) – and the New Horizons Foundation’s Leadership Award (2010).
Rita and her daughters are lifelong residents of the Hudson Valley.
Marcus Molinaro ‘01
Marc Molinaro heard the call to public service at an early age. In 1994, when he was just 18, Marc was elected to the Tivoli Village Board of Trustees – making him the youngest person ever elected to office in the State of New York. The next year he became the youngest mayor in the United States, and in 2006 was elected to the New York State Assembly.
Now beginning his third term in the Assembly, Marc brings his passion for public service to Albany. Among other accomplishments, he has led the fight to preserve the Hudson River Valley Greenway and adopt sweeping budget and ethics reform legislation.
Marc has won praise from his constituents and the press. The Poughkeepsie Journal called him a “voice of reason”; The Albany Times Union cited him as one of Albany’s “True Reformers”; and the Hudson Register Star recognized him as a “strong advocate.”
Lisa Morris '85
Lisa earned an associate degree in communications and media arts from DCC and her bachelor’s in public relations from Mount Saint Mary College.
She has worked in marketing and public relations for many industries including financial services, manufacturing and engineering. She also was an on-air sales presenter for QVC and a stadium announcer for the Hudson Valley Renegades. Lisa currently is the assistant vice president of public relations and corporate communications for Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union where she is responsible for all PR efforts, financial literacy programs, community outreach and governmental relations.
Lisa serves as a board member for Miles of Hope and is a member of the New York Credit Union Association’s Governmental Relations Committee. She has provided marketing and public relations leadership for many local non-profits such as Dutchess Outreach, the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Foundation, the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill and New Horizons Resources, Inc. She has earned the Community Service Award and an Athena Honor from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as a Leadership Award from New Horizons Resources, Inc.
Wayne Nussbickel ‘77
Wayne Nussbickel is the president and CEO of N & S Supply, a family owned, full service plumbing, heating and air conditioning wholesaler with headquarters in Fishkill, New York. He has been with the company since 1982 and oversees the daily operations of the business. Wayne is the past board chair of The Embassy Group, LTD, of Geneva, Illinois. He is a member of the board of trustees of Ulster Savings Bank since 2005 and is the past chair of the Ulster Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. He served on the board of directors of The Distribution Point located in Moody, Alabama, from its inception in 2003 until the sale of the company in 2013. Wayne was named the Poughkeepsie Journal’s 2006 Business Person of the Year. He received the 2006 Marist College President’s Award for community service. He and his wife, Brigid, were honored at the 2008 Annual Benefit for the The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. He received the Gateway for Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2009. He and Brigid received the Dutchess County Arts Council Patron Award in 2010 and he was the 2012 Dutchess County Arts Council Fund Chairperson. Wayne and Brigid also received the Family Services Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Wayne resides in Millbrook, New York, with his wife, Brigid, who is a teacher in the Arlington Central School District. They have two daughters, Stephanie and Breanna.
Edward Pittman ‘80
Edward Pittman graduated from DCC’s honors program in 1980. As a student, he participated in the Model UN and was an orientation peer leader, in addition to excelling on the men’s basketball team. Edward went on to earn his bachelor’s in sociology (Vassar College), master’s in education (SUNY New Paltz) and doctorate in higher education management (University of Pennsylvania).
Throughout his professional career, Edward has made a broad impact on the field of higher education – especially in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. He started his career in admissions and student retention at DCC, developing and coordinating the College’s first diversity recruitment initiative. At Vassar College, he served for 31 years as a dean overseeing various campus student life services and recently retired. He was the founding director of the ALANA Cultural Center and played a key role in expanding the women’s and LGBTQ centers, as well as campus dialogue programs.
As a higher education consultant and nationally recognized equity and inclusion expert, Edward has worked with many colleges and universities and published articles in the Journal of College Student Development, Inside Higher Ed and Diverse Issues in Education. He is a founding board member and past chair of the Consortium on High Achievement and Success, the oldest liberal arts college consortium devoted to inclusion and equity. He continues to serve as an evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
In addition, Edward has an impressive history of community service. From leading a petition to establish Malcolm X Park in the summer after graduating from Poughkeepsie High School to serving as president of the Poughkeepsie City School Board 15 years later, and supporting several other local organizations and causes, Edward has made innumerable contributions to the City of Poughkeepsie and the field of education.
Edward lives in Poughkeepsie with his wife, Antionette. They have two adult daughters, Tanika and Aisha, and one teenage grandson, Ahmik.
Fred W. Schaeffer '63
Fred Schaeffer graduated from one of Dutchess Community College’s earliest classes. He went on to earn degrees from Hartwick College and Albany Law School.
In his free time, Fred’s interests include bicycling, history, photography and enjoying all that the beautiful Hudson Valley has to offer. He is passionate about making Dutchess County a better place for citizens to work and live. Fred spearheaded the Walkway over the Hudson project which transformed an old abandoned train bridge into a pedestrian walkway spanning the Hudson River. His vision and determination have made his dream a reality for the citizens of the Hudson Valley in time for the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic sail on what would become the Hudson River.
An attorney since the late 1960s, Fred has been involved in many professional groups and community organizations, has been honored for his work with Walkway over the Hudson and is the recipient of the Dutchess Award from the Dutchess County Historical Society. He is the past president of the DCC Alumni Association.
Karen Schroeder Trovato, Ph.D. '77
Karen Trovato performed innovative work for 30-plus years as a research team member for global technology company Philips and her own recently launched company. One of her early inventions led to technology that parallel parks a car without assistance from the driver – a feature now found in an increasing number of new vehicles. She even demonstrated this technology in Detroit for Henry Ford III in 1988. Additionally, she launched the first website for driving directions and made a presentation of the site to the CEO of MapQuest before the latter site went live 20 years ago.
In 2007 Karen invented the Electronic Pill after becoming interested in Michael J. Fox’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease and wondering if there was a more effective way to administer medication. The pill uses computer controls to deliver medication at the most optimal time. Currently she is working on launching a product called nested cannulas - small custom-built telescoping tubes that are designed to reach into a human lung to treat cancer without surgery. In a career spotlight feature written for her while she still worked for Philips, it was estimated that thousands of lives could be saved by the nested cannulas.
Karen’s work has earned her widespread recognition. She was named the 2005 Inventor of the Year by the New York Intellectual Property Law Association and earned Philips Research’s coveted Extraordinary Product Development Award in 1995. Also, her Electronic Pill invention was covered by major news organizations such as The New York Times and CNN. Throughout her career, her inventive thinking has resulted in the issuing of 40 patents in the U.S. and over 100 worldwide. She also has presented her work in over 30 publications in the U.S. and abroad.
Karen also received the American Association of Community Colleges’ 2017 Outstanding Alumni award. She is one of just five individuals selected from community colleges nationwide.
Jeffrey Smith '72
Jeffrey Smith, now a senior partner at a New York City law firm, blazed a new trail in the early 1970s when he became the first prisoner in New York State to earn a college degree.
That degree – from Dutchess Community College – was instrumental in Jeff’s sentence being commuted, and in the start of his long and impressive journey. Upon release from prison, he enrolled at Vassar College and proceeded to earn degrees from Princeton University and Yale Law School.
Jeff has been the lead attorney in some of the largest and most significant securities, shareholder and labor cases litigated. He has recovered well over $1 billion for stockholders, investors and employees.
Outside of his legal practice, Jeff puts his education and experience to work helping others.
He is a valued member of the DCC Foundation Board and serves on many boards in his hometown of Ossining.
Jeff is a member of the New York City Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the State Bar of California and the American Association for Justice.
Christine Sproat ‘76
Christine A. Sproat, a native of Dutchess County, graduated cum laude from Dutchess Community College with an A.A.S. in Nursery Education in 1976. She was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in November 2003 and began serving as a Supreme Court Justice in June 2004. Prior to becoming a judge, she was a principal court attorney for the Hon. Judith A. Hillery for over 12 years and in the private practice of law with Gellert & Cutler, P.C. and the law offices of Michael Haggerty, Esq.
She received her B.S. in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz in 1978 and her Juris Doctor in 1983 from Pace University School of Law.
Judge Sproat has served on numerous community organization boards and was formerly a trustee for Dutchess Community College.
William Steinhaus ‘69
Bill was born and raised in Dutchess County. He has served six terms on the DCC Foundation Board as president and was honored by the State University of New York with placement on the Alumni Honor Roll for select graduates in 1994.
In November 1991, Bill became the Dutchess County Executive. He is a graduate of SUNY Brockport. In 2005, Bill was recognized by the New York Community College Trustees as its Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
He is active locally and at the state level in many nonprofit and government-related organizations. He has held officer positions in those organizations and is the recipient of many distinguished awards.
Raymond VanVoorhis ‘78
Ray is a founding partner of the architectural firm of Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis. He is a principal architect specializing in healthcare facilities and has worked on major projects in the Hudson Valley bringing a high level of design experience and excellence to every assignment.
A committed volunteer, Ray is on several boards locally and takes leadership roles in helping to shape and advance nonprofits. His interests include kids in the arts, and supporting a firemen’s benevolent association. He is a recipient of the “Friends of the Arts Award.”
Ray is a member of the American Institute of Architects of New York State and the DCC Architectural Advisory Board.
Sandy Williams ‘60
Sandy earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences – Humanities.
He is the president and CEO of Williams Lumber, a family business founded in 1946 that is one of the largest independently owned home center chains in the northeast with eight locations employing over 250 people.
From the smallest household project to multi-million-dollar development initiatives, Sandy is a knowledgeable, hands-on leader. He knows his contractors and customers by name, providing a deep level of personal commitment and a strong desire to enable success in others.
He earned the Lumber Person of the Year award from the NRLA Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealer Association in 1996 and the Poughkeepsie Journal’s Business Person of the Year award in 2002.
Sandy has served on many boards including the Ace Hardware Board of Directors from 1988-1997. He was instrumental in bringing the 911 emergency response system to Dutchess County and has served as a volunteer for the Rhinebeck Fire Department for more than 50 years and as County Coordinator for over 45 years.
Sandy and his family participate in many philanthropic activities by contributing to national organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA and local organizations such as the Muddy Puddles Project, the Claudio Cares Foundation and Family Services.