2019-2020 Board of Directors

George W. Shuster, Chair - George Shuster is the retired CEO and Chairman of Cranston Printworks, the nation’s oldest textile company. He is also former Chairman of Care New England, Chairman of the National Textile Association, Chairman of the Textile Hall of Fame in Lowell, Massachusetts, and immediate past President of the Narragansett Council of the BSA. He also served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the US Navy. When he was in college, George worked as a boating instructor at Camp Hoffman for two summers. He was formerly a partner at Edwards and Angell. He received a BA from Yale College, an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a JD from Yale Law School. He is the past chairman of Kent Hospital and co-chair of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. He is the past secretary of the Yale Crew Association. He has been recognized nationally for his quilts made of clothing labels and internationally for his studies of sperm whale populations. George currently serves as the Chair of the GSSNE Council.

Joanne Lynch, 1st Vice Chair - Joanne is currently the Assistant Dean of Admissions at the University of Rhode Island.  She has been a higher education professional for more than 25 years, and past positions include Associate Director of Admissions at Northern Arizona University, and Director of Student Services at Northeastern University School of Law. She earned a B.S. in English and M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from Northeastern University, and the M.A. in Counseling from Northern Arizona University She also serves as President of the Board of the Jonnycake Center of PeaceDale RI.  In 2017, she was recognized as a Wild Woman awardee by the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County. Joanne was a Brownie, Junior, and Cadette in Warren, MA. Joanne will be starting her second full term as 1st Vice Chair, Chaired the Board Development Committee for two years, and served as Chair of the CEO Search Committee.

Michael D. Lynch, Esq, 2nd Vice Chair - Mike is Vice-President Legal at The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company and has been for eighteen years. Before then, Mike was a Partner in the Providence law firm of Higgins Cavanagh & Cooney. Mike has helped lead a number of non-profit entities over the years, in both the private and public sector, and he has been very active in a number of youth sports and religious activities. Mike is married to Mary and has two children. His daughter Rosalie is a recipient of the Gold Award. His son Connor is an Eagle Scout. Mike is currently serving as a 2nd vice chair for GSSNE and is the chair of the Audit Committee.

Janice DiPietro, Treasuer - Driven by a passion for helping people and organizations succeed, Janice has successfully led and consulted to companies for over 25 years. She has experience in many diverse and complex industries, with a focus on women-led and family enterprises. A lifelong student of leadership and human behavior, Janice believes by empowering people to do their best, exceptional results are possible. Janice founded E.L.I. to channel that passion and experience in a powerful new way, bringing together an exceptional team of C-level executives to guide clients successfully through periods of growth, performance improvement and leadership and ownership transitions. Janice holds an MBA and doctoral degree from Boston University and graduated summa cum laude from Bentley University with a BS in Accountancy. Janice enjoys spending time with her husband of over 35 years and their expanding family — including four incredibly energetic grandchildren! An avid beach-goer, she takes full advantage of the beautiful New England coastline as often as possible.

Lori A. Basilico, Esq., Secretary - Lori is a partner attorney with the law firm of Locke Lord LLP.  She is the head of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group.  She received an LL.M in Taxation from Boston University School of Law, a JD from the University Of Denver College Of Law and a BA in government from Smith College.  She is active with the Smith College Club of Rhode Island and was a board member of the Rhode Island Lung Association.  Lori lives in Providence with her husband, Paul Adler and their two children, Griffin and Cecily.

Cindy E. Burke - Cindy E. Burke is an Attorney at Burke Law Group, LLC. and a Professor at the Community College of Rhode Island. She practices Immigration, International and Family law. She has worked extensively in matters involving undocumented immigrants, as well as asylum trials cases throughout the United States. Ms. Burke has lectured on legal topics relating primarily to U.S. regulations governing the “Know Your Rights” movement among the Hispanic community. Her primary goal in practice is the reunification of families and protection of individuals seeking refugee or asylum status. In her free time, she enjoys coaching and interview prep for males and females of all ages, be it for pageantry, industry, or business fields.

Joanne M. Daly - Joanne M. Daly is a First Vice President and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley and has more than 25 years of financial services experience. Joanne is a former CPA Tax Manager for Ernst and Young and earned an M. S. in Taxation from Bryant University.   Joanne is on the board of the Women’s Fund of RI and GFWC Women’s Club of South County, as well as a member of South County Hospital’s Development Committee, RISCPA Women’s Leadership Council, RI Estate Planning Council and United Way of RI’s Tocqueville Society Committee.  Joanne is a former Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop and her mother was a Girl Scout, as well.   Joanne lives in Narragansett with her husband .

Katie Davis - Katie Davis is an Edward R. Murrow and Associated Press award-winning investigative reporter at NBC 10.  As part of the NBC 10 I-Team, Katie investigates waste and fraud in Southern New England and holds the powerful accountable. Her most important job, though, is being a mom to her son and daughter.  When she’s not spending time with them or chasing a story, Katie loves to run and practice yoga.

Gina M. DeVecchis - Gina M. DeVecchis is a Principal at DiSanto, Priest & Co. with over 20 years of experience in public accounting, specializing in estate and trust work. In addition, she is involved in consulting for privately-held businesses and preparation of corporate and individual returns. Gina received her undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island with a concentration in accounting as well as a Master of Science in Taxation degree from Bryant University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants where she has been active on several committees. Presently, Gina is also Chair of the Financial Planning Committee which serves to educate students and adults in the area of financial literacy. In addition, she has served as Chairman of the Board and Treasurer for the Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island and as Treasurer for the Family Service of Rhode Island.

Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, PhD. - Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese is a Professor in the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, and chaired the department from 2002-2010. There she teaches Security Strategy to US military officers and their international counterparts.  She is an internationally recognized expert on space security, including the Chinese space program. She is a former member of the Space Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the International Academy of Astronautics, served on the Advisory Committee of the Secure World Foundation, and the Editorial Board of China Security. She has testified before Congress on multiple occasions and is regularly interviewed by the media, including Xinhua News Agency, CNN, CBS, ABC, The New York Times, Reuters and the BBC, on space issues. Her latest book, Space Warfare in the 21^st Century: Arming the Heavens, was published in 2016.  Dr. Johnson-Freese also teaches classes on Leadership in War & Peace, Women, Peace & Security, and Grand Strategy & US National Security at Harvard Summer & Extension Schools. She frequently also writes on gender and security issues in venues such as Joint Force Quarterly and War on the Rocks. She is currently working on a text for her Women, Peace & Security class.

Daynia Benton - Daynia Benton is the former women’s basketball coach at the University of Rhode Island and the first minority woman head-coach in Rhode Island history in any sport. Benton came to Rhode Island after spending eight seasons at Northeastern, where she took over a struggling program and made it competitive in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). A 1995 graduate of Georgetown with a degree in psychology, Benton was a four-year letter-winner for the Hoyas. As a sophomore, she was part of the 1993 Big East Championship team, helping lead the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. An active member of the National Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association, La-Force earned a master’s degree in school psychology from LIU in 2000. Benton has two sons, Terrance and Martin. Daynia was a 2015 recipient of GSSNE’s first Leading Women of Distinction Award.

Carrie Majewski - Carrie Majewski is committed to affecting change. Whether that means helping a company originate and execute a best-of-breed marketing and branding strategy, leading a seminar on the importance of redefining leadership, or creating safe space for female trailblazers to come together to connect, she is fueled by desire to take action. Carrie is the Founder and CEO of the Women in Leadership Nexus, an organization committed to empowering women to recognize that title and hierarchy do not define a leader. She is also the Principal of Marketing of Trilix, an application development and systems integration company helping clients reach workplace excellence. Carrie was named to the 2017 Rhode Island “40 Under 40” list and is a 2016 Rhode Island Tech10 Winner. 

Maria Markos - Maria is the Director of Retail Gross Margin Accounting and Reporting at CVS Health, a Pharmacy Innovation company with the purpose of helping people on their path to better health.  She has been with CVS Health for almost eight years in varying accounting roles.  In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing a group to accurately account for, close, budget and forecast various aspects of retail gross margin.  Prior to CVS Health, Maria was an Audit Manager at Ernst and Young, LLP.  She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as her Master of Science in Accounting.  Maria is a CPA, licensed in Rhode Island.  She currently serves as the Audit Committee Chair of the Church of the Annunciation where she has been a longtime volunteer and is responsible for the coordination, execution and reporting of the annual financial statement review.

Claire Nelson - Claire Nelson runs an independent marketing consulting business, Contemporary Clarity, where she specializes in communications for small businesses and non-profit organizations. Before moving to Middletown, Rhode Island in 2018, she was the Marketing & Communications Manager at Rogers Ford Sales in Midland, Texas. Claire graduated with honors from Texas Christian University, earning a BBA in Marketing and Minor in Music. She had the opportunity to travel abroad to Italy, Nicaragua, and Peru through her studies. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, which oversees West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. A Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, her Girl Scout Gold Award project continues to be an annual event, raising awareness for child abuse prevention in West Texas. Claire had the unique opportunity to attend a Girl Scout program called Camp CEO as a sophomore in high school, and then provide guidance to young girls ten years later as a “CEO” at the same camp. She is on the GSSNE Fund Development Committee and was on the Cookies & Cocktails Committee. Claire also volunteers with the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and Newport County, and the American Red Cross. 

Cindi Paliotta - Cindi is a native of Southern California, now living in Rhode Island with her husband John. They have three sons and a daughter. Allison, who is in her junior year at Tabor Academy, is a member of EG troop 285 and working on her gold award.

Cindi’s professional experience has primarily been in Sales and Marketing within the Hospitality industry and Event planning and management. In recent years she has concentrated her efforts on fund-raising and event planning for various non-profits. She has been involved in fund-raising for Our Lady of Mercy School and Tabor Academy where her children have attended. She founded and continues to operate Holidays for Children, non-profit supporting children in DCYF care at holiday time, now in its twelfth year.

Deborah Ricci - Deb Ricci recently retired from Carousel Industries, Exeter RI after 16 years, having held various leadership positions.  Deb’s career spanned 47 years in the telecommunication/IT industry, focusing on Service Delivery, Process Improvement, Project Management, and Employee Development. Deb worked in major corporations in managerial positions in various states while employed with Avaya, Lucent, AT&T and what is now Verizon. Deb’s experience working with people - employees, leadership teams and with customers - has focused on enhancing learning opportunities, building professional knowledge in both technical and soft skills, and coaching to accept changes in business direction.  Deb continues to support the non-profit Tech Collective where she is a member of the Women in Tech committee and is actively engaged in the mentorship program.  Deb is a board member of Women in Leadership - Nexus.

Margaret Ruggieri - Margaret Ruggieri has been a faculty member of the Providence College School of Business Accountancy Department for the past twenty years. She recently retired from the ordinary faculty.  Prior to her teaching career, Peg, a certified public accountant, worked at Ernst & Young for six years in both the audit and tax departments. She received her Bachelor of Science from Boston College and a Master in Taxation from Bryant University.  Peg currently serves on the Finance Council of St. Luke’s Parish in Barrington and is a former member of the Diocese of Providence Finance Council.  She has served on the Barrington High School Improvement Team and has been an instructor for Junior Achievement in the Life Skills Program.  Peg was a girl member and three of her four children have been involved with Scouting including a son who has the rank of Eagle Scout.  Peg and her husband John reside in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Sally A. Russell - Sally is President of Howard Russell Insurance and partner in Rhode Island Insurance Group. She and her sister, Heidi Russell Duggan, own and operate their business in East Greenwich. Sally graduated with a BA degree from Denison University. She was a girl member, served as a Girl Scout adult volunteer and just completed her second term as a member of the Board of Directors. She most recently served as Chair of the Service Fee/Family Partnership Task Group and member of the Fund Development Committee. She is active in the Rotary Club of East Greenwich. She and her husband, John Prendergast, reside in East Greenwich. They have a daughter and a son who were both involved in Scouting.

Lisa St. Onge - Lisa is a Senior Assistant Vice President and Director of the Property Loss Division in the Claims Executive Department of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, Lincoln, Rhode Island. Lisa has over 25 years of experience in risk management, customer service and leadership with Amica. She currently is responsible for oversight of Amica’s homeowners and marine claimSus technical operations and catastrophe coordination.  Lisa has a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of New Hampshire. She has obtained professional designations including AIC, INS and AIM. She serves on the Property & Liability Advisory Board of the Property & Liability Research Bureau (PLRB) as well as the Board of Directors of Connecting for Children & Families, a non-profit, community based organization in Woonsocket, RI.  Lisa resides in Attleboro, MA with her husband and their two children.  She was active in Girl Scouts for many years and is a proud parent of a Cadette.

Betty Cugini - Betty Cugini has been involved in Girl Scouting in Rhode Island for 49 years. She has been on the Board of Directors since 1978 and was council President from 1986 to 1992. She is currently the chair of our museum committee, serves on our finance committee, and is an honorary board member. Betty’s received the YMCA Service to Youth Award and several of Girl Scouting’s highest awards: the Thanks Badge, the Thanks Badge II and the Mira Hoffman Award. Betty was the council’s “Partner in Philanthropy” in 1998. Betty graduated URI with a BS degree in early childhood education. Betty is married to Joseph N. Cugini and is the mother of two children, Betty-Jo and David, and the grandmother of three, Katharine, Christopher and Finley. 

Joanne M. Daly - Joanne M. Daly is a First Vice President and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley and has more than 25 years of financial services experience. Joanne is a former CPA Tax Manager for Ernst and Young and earned an M. S. in Taxation from Bryant University.   Joanne is on the board of the Women’s Fund of RI and GFWC Women’s Club of South County, as well as a member of South County Hospital’s Development Committee, RISCPA Women’s Leadership Council, RI Estate Planning Council and United Way of RI’s Tocqueville Society Committee.  Joanne is a former Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop and her mother was a Girl Scout, as well.   Joanne lives in Narragansett with her husband .

Susan L. Hannel - Susan is Chair of URI’s Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design Department and teaches the technical aspects of apparel design. Under her direction, URI’s apparel studio has had major upgrades.  In 2006 Susan was awarded a $130k Champlin Foundation Grant for an industry standard CAD system for apparel design and manufacture.  In 2010, the same foundation provided $82k for an inkjet fabric printing system. Susan was named the 2011 “Apparel All-Star” by the International Textile and Apparel Association.  The award recognizes outstanding contributions in teaching/curricular development, research, and service activities in the textile and apparel field. She possesses a PhD in History of Clothing and Textiles from Ohio State University. She was a Girl Scout in Springfield, Ohio where she had great leaders that created wonderful lifetime memories including a 4-day backpacking trip on the Jenny Wiley Trail in Kentucky. She still wears a ring she made for her jewelry-making badge!

John Houle - John Houle founded JH Communications in 2002 with the mission of offering small businesses access to high-quality, effective marketing and public relations services, and today the agency represents over 50 small businesses, medical practices, and trade associations in New England.  Active in the community, John was a principal organizer of Gateway Healthcare's Light of Hope Campaign, in which he has been responsible for providing thousands of families and children with holiday gifts. John also serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island. A graduate of Boston College (BA, 1994), John resides in Cranston, RI, with his wife, Susan, and their children, Jenna and Christopher.

Deborah Ricci - Deb Ricci recently retired from Carousel Industries, Exeter RI after 16 years, having held various leadership positions.  Deb’s career spanned 47 years in the telecommunication/IT industry, focusing on Service Delivery, Process Improvement, Project Management, and Employee Development. Deb worked in major corporations in managerial positions in various states while employed with Avaya, Lucent, AT&T and what is now Verizon. Deb’s experience working with people - employees, leadership teams and with customers - has focused on enhancing learning opportunities, building professional knowledge in both technical and soft skills, and coaching to accept changes in business direction.  Deb continues to support the non-profit Tech Collective where she is a member of the Women in Tech committee and is actively engaged in the mentorship program.  Deb is a board member of Women in Leadership - Nexus.

Sally A. Russell - Sally is President of Howard Russell Insurance and partner in Rhode Island Insurance Group. She and her sister, Heidi Russell Duggan, own and operate their business in East Greenwich. Sally graduated with a BA degree from Denison University. She was a girl member, served as a Girl Scout adult volunteer and just completed her second term as a member of the Board of Directors. She most recently served as Chair of the Service Fee/Family Partnership Task Group and member of the Fund Development Committee. She is active in the Rotary Club of East Greenwich. She and her husband, John Prendergast, reside in East Greenwich. They have a daughter and a son who were both involved in Scouting.

Margaret Ruggieri - Margaret Ruggieri has been a faculty member of the Providence College School of Business Accountancy Department for the past twenty years. She recently retired from the ordinary faculty and currently is teaching part-time.  Prior to her teaching career, Peg, a certified public accountant, worked at Ernst & Young for six years in both the audit and tax departments. She received her Bachelor of Science from Boston College and a Master in Taxation from Bryant University.  Peg currently serves on the Finance Council of St. Luke’s Parish in Barrington and is a former member of the Diocese of Providence Finance Council.  She has served on the Barrington High School Improvement Team and has been an instructor for Junior Achievement in the Life Skills Program.  Peg was a girl member and three of her four children have been involved with scouting including a son who has the rank of Eagle Scout.  Peg and her husband John reside in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Suzelle Glickman - Suzelle Glickman is a sophomore at South Kingstown High School in Wakefield, Rhode Island. She has been a Girl Scout since she was in first grade and is now a Senior Girl Scout. Suzelle enjoyed attending summer camp at Camp Hoffman, and participates in many other Girl Scout events year-round. She also volunteers with a Daisy troop. Suzelle participates in Drama Club, Ecology Club, Debate Team, and other school activities.

Pam Hyland - Pam Hyland has 40 years of progressive management experience in the not-for-profit sector. Prior to Pam’s arrival in Rhode Island as the new CEO for Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, she was previously the CEO of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways and held several leadership positions amid various Girl Scout councils in South Carolina, New York, Virginia and overseas. She formerly served as the Director for USA Girl Scouts Overseas where she managed Girl Scouting on 14 military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and Korea. Pam has been a Girl Scout since 4^th grade. Pam is thrilled to bring this culmination of experience to Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England and to champion the council as their CEO.

Kristin Scribner - Kristin was involved in Girl Scouting as a girl member and has been a Troop Leader since 2007.  She is currently the Troop Leader for Cadette, Senior, Ambassador Troop 399 and the Assistant Leader for Junior Troop 177.  She was also the Troop Leader for Daisy Troop 442 from 2013-2016. In addition to these, Kristin is the Service Unit Manager for Lincoln.  She loves seeing how the girls grow in skills, leadership, and confidence through Girl Scouting.  Team building, cooperation, and self-awareness are the areas she works most on with her troops since these skills can take you anywhere.

Lillian (Lily) Scribner - Lily is currently a homeschooled junior in high school. She has been a Girl Scout for twelve years and lives in Lincoln, RI.  She has earned both her Bronze and Silver Awards and is a member of the By Girls, For Girls Advisory Board.  She has attended Camp Cookie and Camp Hoffman, and completed both CIT I and CIT II.  She has also volunteered as a Buddy-Up at Camp Promising Acres. Lily is a former Patrol Leader and the current Senior Patrol Leader for her troop.

George Shuster - George Shuster is the retired CEO and Chairman of Cranston Printworks, the nation’s oldest textile company. He is also former Chairman of Care New England, Chairman of the National Textile Association, Chairman of the Textile Hall of Fame in Lowell, Massachusetts, and immediate past President of the Narragansett Council of the BSA. He also served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the US Navy. When he was in college, George worked as a boating instructor at Camp Hoffman for two summers. He was formerly a partner at Edwards and Angell. He received a BA from Yale College, an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a JD from Yale Law School. He is the past chairman of Kent Hospital and co-chair of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. He is the past secretary of the Yale Crew Association. He has been recognized nationally for his quilts made of clothing labels and internationally for his studies of sperm whale populations. George currently serves as the Chair of the GSSNE Council.

Grace Major - Grace Major is a sophomore at South Kingstown High School and has been in Girl Scouts for about ten years. She recently served as one of the four girl delegates representing Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England at the United Nations’ annual Commission on the Status of Women and admires all that GSUSA has done to empower girls. Grace is specifically passionate about putting an end to cultural and religious traditions that stand in the way of global gender equality, and intends to someday work in politics. In June, she will be attending Girls Get Math, a week-long math camp at Brown University, and hopes to learn more about the role of women in STEM jobs. Grace is a member of her school’s debate team, drama club, Academic Decathlons, and is currently working on starting a Model UN club at SKHS.  Grace credits Girl Scouts for her leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as the confidence Girl Scouts has given her as a young woman to achieve her goals with self-assurance.

Bethany Mascena Tracy - Bethany Mascena Tracy is a professional marketer and an innovative and creative entrepreneur. She can often be found promoting leadership roles for girls and women as well as the Girl Scout movement. As a girl member for 10 years, Bethany earned her Silver Leadership Torch, her Marian Medal and spent many summers at Camp Hoffman. Bethany has served as a troop leader for 8 years as well as served the council as a past Board Member and current co-chair of the Fund Development Committee.  She received her BA from American University in Washington, DC. She lives in Warwick with her husband and two daughters who are both Girl Scouts.