NAFA CEO Phil Russo, CAE: Making NAFA Connections

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The name of this publication is NAFAConnection and its purpose is to provide you a regular "connection" to the Association. We want you to feel the sense of ownership in NAFA and know what is going on. With that in mind, I often focus my monthly columns on the inner workings of NAFA, giving you my personal perspectives on some of the behind-the-scenes goings-on.

This month, I want to introduce you (or re-introduce you) to the NAFA staff. As part of making this connection with you, I think it’s important that you know about the people working for NAFA. Below is the list of staff members, their contact information, and a short description of their duties. I also asked each staff member to write something about themselves so you can get a sense of each person’s likes, dislikes, or general personality. Feel free to copy this and tack it on your office or cubicle wall for future reference whenever you need to contact us.

Sincerely,

Phil

• Phil Russo, CAE – Chief Executive Officer (prusso@nafa.org, 609-986-1055). Provides insight, direction, and vision to the staff to ensure the mission, goals, and objectives of the association are carried out. Collaborates with the Board to create the mission, goals, and objectives. Phil likes coffee, crossword puzzles, and warm weather. He is an avid NY Mets fan and Southside Johnny junkie. He has been married for nearly 30 years to the same woman (who is clearly a saint) and has four daughters, aged 23-10 (which, some would say, clearly makes him a candidate for sainthood!).

• Sheryl Martin – Chief Operations Officer (smartin@nafa.org 609-986-1052). Directs all staff operations and resources and ensures integration of all programs among NAFA departments. Collaborates with CEO to support the Board and committees, oversees NAFA budget. Sheryl has 4 men in her life, her husband of almost 16 years (whom she dated for 7 years first so wants credit for 23), two sons, ages 11 and 13, and a super cute new 4 month old puppy named Cody. Sheryl loves the beach, going to the gym, and the coffee cake at her favorite winter vacation spot (so she must go to the gym), the Woodloch Resort in Pennsylvania. Sheryl dreams of the day when she would own a vacation home in Cape May, NJ, look at the water, and do nothing but relax.

• Alexander Barton - Director of Accreditation Development (ABarton@nafa.org 847-502-3557) Recruits enrollments for NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program, serves as spokesperson for the program, and assists in NAFA’s sustainability efforts. Alexander loves to ride motorcycles, once scored 4 touchdowns in a single high school football game, has a deep passion for nature, and has been known to tread water for hours at a time.

• Joanne Marsh – Director of Member Experience (jmarsh@nafa.org 609-986-1048). Directs all membership recruitment and retention plans, develops marketing plans for NAFA’s programs and events, and oversees NAFA’s publications and communications. Joanne is a native New Yorker, who is now happily living in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey with her husband of 20 years and pack of four dogs. She is a volunteer with Blind Dog Rescue and serves as a foster home, too. She is a bit of a history nerd and a Gettysburg buff.

• Tina Lynn Mercardo, CEM – Director of Meetings and Events (tmercardo@nafa.org 609-986-1050). Directs implementation and sales efforts behind NAFA’s annual Institute & Expo, manages all pre-show and on-site logistics, and handles all logistics for Board meetings, seminars, and other events. Tina likes to travel, loves her dog and needs her coffee to survive! She has visited a dozen countries, sailed three of the seven seas, and is always planning her next cruise or adventure. An avid reader, you can often find her hiding from the family she loves in old libraries, bookstores, and reading nooks.

• Katherine Vigneau, CAFM^® – Director of Professional Development (kvigneau@nafa.org 609-986-1053). Directs development of content for all NAFA educational programs, including I&E, the CAFM^® and CAFS programs, seminars, webinars, and guides. Collaborates on the marketing and administration of all of these programs. Kate considers herself a true Maritimer and loves spending time with the whole family (7 kids, 1 grandson, and counting), cooking big meals, and summering on the beaches of Prince Edward Island. Her winter passion would be hockey, whether managing her daughter’s representative team or watching her beloved Habs. And books...Kate loves to read, preferably with a nice glass of red wine - recommendations on both welcome!

• Danielle Barrouk – Certification Assistant (dbarrouk@nafa.org 609-986-1061). Administers NAFA’s CAFM^® and CAFS programs, answers inquiries regarding enrollment, testing, and scoring. Danielle is an avid reader, loves any movie with John Wayne or Steve McQueen and likes to listen to classic rock. She is a Journalism major from Rider University and enjoys spending time with her family, friends and two cats Nick and Nora. She is a dedicated Green Bay Packers fan (even when they may not be at their best), loves Dr. Pepper and once made it to the second round of try-outs for American Idol.

• Donald W. Dunphy – Communications Manager/Editor (ddunphy@nafa.org 609-986-1063). Produces NAFA’s magazine, e-newsletter, press releases, and other communications pieces, and handles a great deal of NAFA’s graphic design and website work. Don is usually the first in the office every day (like, 5 am early) and is known to require very little sleep. When not in the office, he writes for entertainment websites and magazines and has recorded several music albums independently. He wrote and recorded the score for the independent short film (Outlive).

• Christine Goyette – Chapter Membership Marketing and Customer Relationship Manager (cgoyette@nafa.org 609-986-1047). Assists chapters in strategic and administrative functions, recruits new members and affiliates, ensures member satisfaction. Chris loves to travel near or far in a tent or hotel by airplane or car! Some of her other favorite things include the beach, watching soccer, and live music. Chris is happily married, has a 14-year-old son who is the light of her life, one dog, and one cat.

• Scott Groves – Member & Chapter Liaison (sgroves@nafa.org 609-986-1049). Recruits new Members and Affiliates and assists chapters in their administration functions. Scott Groves lives in downtown Atlanta with his spouse Chris and has a 20-year-old son. Scott is an avid Atlanta Braves and Auburn Tigers Fan!

• William Romba – Marketing and Communications Assistant (bromba@nafa.org 609-986-1054). Assists with all of NAFA’s print and e-communications and marketing research. Bill joined NAFA in January. Bill is a die-hard sports fan, pulling for the New York Mets, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New York Islanders. He is also a passionate NASCAR fan who loves anything and everything to do with cars. He started and still maintains two sports blogs (one about the NFL and one about NASCAR), listens to classic rock and country music, and loves spending time with his family and his girlfriend Ashley.

• Maureen Smith – Membership Database Coordinator (msmith@nafa.org 609-986-1049). Maintains NAFA membership database, answers membership inquiries, and is responsible for NAFA’s Career Network services. Maureen has been with NAFA over 23 years. She loves to read and ride rollercoasters. She was even married on the Coney Island Cyclone rollercoaster nearly 15 years ago. She is a fan of the New York Islanders, New York Giants, and New York Mets. She is also a fan of NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr., who grew up 10 minutes away from where she currently lives.

• Mallory Wymer – Education Assistant (mwymer@nafa.org 609-986-1059). – Administers NAFA’s seminar, webinars, and other educational programs. Mallory loves coffee and reading comic books, and an evening of fun for her is hanging out with her cat, Alfie. She has a degree in Art History, and she’s also a painter and muralist who has showed in exhibitions including at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts and at the Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield, NJ.

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