GIRL SCOUTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, INC. Biographies of Nominees On the Slate for Annual Council Meeting April 2020 OFFICERS FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2022 Chair Donna Smeland – East Yaphank Member-at-Large since 2012. Ms. Smeland is a Freelance Producer with over 20 years of experience in the Entertainment industry. She has produced countless hours of television for such networks as ABC, NBC, PBS, MTV, VH1, IFC, Sundance Channel and Comedy Central. She specialized in production management for both studio and reality series, variety specials and live music events and charity benefits. Since 2006, she has been a Producer on the Emmy Award Winning Variety Telethon Night of too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs which provides education and support for local families affected by autism. Ms. Smeland has also produced events for organizations including Microsoft and the Museum of the Moving Image. She has a B.A. in Communication, with a concentration in Media Management, from the State University of New York, The College at New Paltz , graduating cum laude with departmental honors. She was an active Girl Scout from Brownie through Senior levels and an adult volunteer thereafter. She attributes much of her success to the opportunities provided to her through Girl Scouting. 1ST VICE CHAIR Jacqueline Gordon - Copiague Member-at-Large since 2010. Member of the Nominating Committee 2008-2010. Ms. Gordon is currently Councilwoman for the Town of Babylon where she serves as Chair of the Veterans Museum Project in Lindenhurst. She is the Chairperson of the Town of Babylon Beautification Committee and Chairperson of the Town of Babylon Veterans Advisory Council. Ms. Gordon received her BS in Health Education from Hunter College and after completing her Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling was offered her current position as Guidance Counselor at Wilson Technological Center in Dix Hills. Ms. Gordon is a member of the US Army Reserves and has worked her way up from Private 1st class to Lt. Colonel. 2nd VICE CHAIR Dawn A. Lott - Smithtown Elected 2nd Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 2014. Served as 3rd Vice Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2014. Member-at-Large from 2006 to 2011. Recently appointed Executive Director for the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission. 1 Partner in the law firm of Dandeneau & Lott. Ms. Lott is a member of: Amistad Black Bar Association of Long Island; Suffolk County Bar Association; Women’s Suffolk County Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; National Bar Association; and, Jack and Jill, Inc., Suffolk County Chapter (Parliamentarian). 3rd VICE CHAIR Sarah McCandless, CPA - Medford Executive VP/Chief Financial Officer for Suffolk Federal Credit Union since September 2013 where she manages and is responsible for all aspects of the accounting, finance and treasury department. Ms. McCandless has held positions in other organizations such as: VP, Controller at Bridgehampton National Bank; Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis at Screenvision; and, Equity Research Associate, Broadcasting at Banc of America Securities LLC. Ms. McCandless is a graduate of Boston College, Carrol School of Management where she received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting (cum laude). She is an inductee of the Golden Key National Honor Society. Was a DJ on WZBC-FM at Boston College and is a member of the WZBC Board of Directors. SECRETARY Jennifer Friedman – Northport Elected to the Board of Directors in 2015. Ms. Friedman is the CEO of Dominican Village since 2017. She was also with AHRC since 1996. Ms. Friedman is an accomplished, results- producing leader, offering expertise in assessing and addressing needs of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings for nonprofit organizations. Provides long-range sustainability planning and program and staff development. Master of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh. Member of Omnicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership Honor society. TREASURER Brenda Joyce Scott - St. James Member -at-Large since 2011 and Committee Chairperson of the Board Development Committee. Ms. Scott is the Executive Director of the Community Learning Academy and President of the Long Island Black Teachers Association (LIBEA). She was the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction of the North Babylon School District(ret.) and former Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Staff Development for the Center Moriches Public Schools. Ms. Scott graduated from Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Administration with a Bachelor of Arts-History and New York University School of Education with a Master of Arts . Ms. Scott has attended Harvard Principals' Institute; Brooklyn College Graduate School of Education; and Dowling College Professional Education & Administration Program. She is active in: New York State Department of Education, Bias Review Committee and the Teacher Certification Committee; is an Adjunct Professor of Arts and Sciences at Dowling College; Secretary Suffolk County African American Advisory Board; Secretary Long Island Head Start Executive Board, activist, Dignity For All Students Act Coalition, Vice President National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Suffolk 2 County Chapter. She is a member of Long Island Latino Teachers Association (LILTA), New York State Association of School Administrators and Supervisors; and National Association for Advancement of Colored People. In her spare time, Ms. Scott conducts workshops on education issues e.g. Common Core Curriculum. BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE 2020-2022 Valerie M. Cartright – Port Jefferson Station Member of the Board of Directors since 2015. Ms. Cartright was elected Councilwoman of the Town of Brookhaven in 2014. She is also an Adjunct Instructor at St. Joseph’s College, teaching “Leadership, Law and Ethics in Human Services.” Ms. Cartright is an Attorney-at-Law at several law offices practicing litigation focusing on civil rights, labor and employment, and criminal and civil law. Ms. Cartright graduated J.D., 2003, from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (admitted in New York, New Jersey, Florida and the Supreme Court of the United States). Ms. Cartright’s honors include: National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Achievement Award; Touro Law Center Contribution and Service Awards; Associate Editor-in-Chief, Day Division, Moot Court Board (2002-2003); Dean’s List, Fall 2000. Ms. Cartright is a member of: Immediate Past President of Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association; Former Chairperson of Young Lawyers Section of New York State Bar Association; Former Chairperson of the Civil Rights Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association; Former Trustee and Youth Coordinator of Rosa Parks Democratic Association; Former Board Member of ERASE Racism; Parliamentarian of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Rho Omega Zeta Chapter; Former Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Project Hope-The New Direction; and Director of Women’s Step Ministry at Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York. Nalini Durgana - Dix Hills Secretary of the Board of Directors from 2012 - 2016. Member-At Large from 2006 to 2012. Former, Chair of the Nominating Committee. Ms. Durgana is President of Davrial Enterprises Inc. in Dix Hills since 1998 and is a business teacher at Great Neck North High School. She has done extensive work for the U.S. Navy, NEC and the NYCTA. Ms. Durgana is a volunteer treasurer for the Community Presbyterian Church of Deer Park. She received her MBA from Baruch College in 1986 and did Post Graduate Studies in 1999 at NY Institute of Technology. Jennifer Friedman – Northport Elected to the Board of Directors in 2015. Ms. Friedman is the CEO of Dominican Village since 2017. She was also with AHRC since 1996. Ms. Friedman is an accomplished, results- producing leader, offering expertise in assessing and addressing needs of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings for nonprofit organizations. Provides long-range sustainability planning and program and staff development. Master of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh. Member of Omnicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership Honor society. 3 Nick LaMorte - Commack Former Member-At-Large from 2007 to 2013. Mr. LaMorte’s present post is as CSEA Long Island Region President where he is charged with ensuring that the rights of members are maintained and their work receives its due respect. He negotiated his first labor contract as chairman of the Farmingdale School District custodial unit negotiating committee in the early seventies. Mr. LaMorte was elected President of his union local in 1986. In the late eighties, he was named chair of the CSEA Special Statewide School Committee, representing the interests of 35,000 school district employees. Mr. LaMorte has repeatedly reached out to help the community during his tenure. As a member of the Long Island United Way he has served as co-chair for the State Employees Federated Appeal. He serves on the board of the Long Island Federation of Labor, which named him labor leader of the year in 1995. He was on the New York State Executive Board of the AFL- CIO and continues to serve on many town labor advisory boards. In addition, the Long Island Progressive Coalition presented Mr. LaMorte the Paul Gutierrez Award for Contributions to Human Dignity. He is a member of the Sons of Italy and received the highest NYS Award. The golden Lion recently named him Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade in the Town of Huntington. Mr. LaMorte has been named by the Long Island Press to their Power List and became the first man honored by the advocacy group Women on the Job, in recognition of his many years of dedication to the principle and practice of equality in the workplace and equal pay for equal work. Mr. LaMorte and his wife have four successful children and five grandchildren.