STRIDE operates with a nine-person Executive Board.  Each individual brings their own strengths and attributes to the organization either in the form of financial contributions, service within their particular field of expertise or assistance with our various fundraisers, events and programs.  The Executive Board meets eight times per year to discuss items and topics relevant to sustaining the organization, including formulating and continuall updating the Strategic Plan for continued growth.

STRIDE employs three admininstrative staff members: a full-time CEO, full-time Office Manager/Program Director and a full-time Program Development Director.  They also hire various interns from local colleges during the year.

STRIDE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Mary Ellen Whitney, President
Chief Executive Officer/Founder, STRIDE Adaptive Sports
Wynantskill, NY

STRIDE's management team is led by Whitney, who took a full-time leadership role in 2006 after running the organization for 20 years as a volunteer. She also serves as President of the Executive Board. Whitney holds a MS Ed from Lehigh University in Special Education and a BS in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Adaptive Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University. She is accredited or certified through numerous national organizations including the National Therapeutic Recreation Association,  Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), American Association of Snowboard Instructors,  Disabled Sports USA,  United States Paralympics, Red Cross - Water Safety Instruction/First Aid; Special Olympics; American Heart Association, and the National Association of Underwater Instructors and is a member of the Adaptive Board of Educators for PSIA. She has been recognized for her leadership skills statewide and nationally including such honors as 2010 Excellence in Business Award given by Senator Roy McDonald, the 2006 Jefferson Award for American Institute of Public Service, the 2004 Woman's Day magazine "Woman of the Year" award, the NYS Senate "Woman of Distinction" Award, and inducted into the Muhlenberg High School Hall of Fame.  

Dr. Diane Albano, Ed.D, Vice President
LEAD Consulting and Coaching LLC, Retired Superintendent of  Ravena-Selkirk Schools
Delmar, NY

Dr. Albano is the founder of LEAD Consulting and Coaching LLC in Delmar, New York. Recently retired as an School Superintendent and educational leader, having served over 32 years in the Capital Region, Albano completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University, received an MS in Educational Administration from SUNY Albany, and holds a BS in Special and Elementary Education from Fitchburg State College. She is currently an executive coach for doctoral candidates in the Sage program, and is an adjunct instructor at SUNY Plattsburgh and the Sage College in Troy.  Dr. Albano is a certified professional coach and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).

Kathy Slater, Secretary
Parent of a STRIDE athlete with special needs
Clifton Park, NY

After being involved in various aspects of STRIDE for the last five years, Slater now joins the Executive Board.  Slater served as Chairperson of the 25th Anniversary Committee and for the past three years on the Gala Fundraising Committee for three years.  Her work within the community and event planning experience includes serving as a parent member for the Committee on Special Education for 12 years in the Shenendehowa Central School District, as a committee member for the Special Olympics Satin, Silks and Stars annual event, and as a volunteer for the March of Dimes and the Capital District Adoptive Coalition.  Slater resides in Clifton Park with her husband, Tom, and two sons, James and Dan.  Dan is a STRIDE athlete who has participated in our skiing, golf and camping programs

Amy Earing, Treasurer
Attorney, Lavelle & Finn, LLP
Wynantskill, NY

Earing is an associate attorney with Lavelle & Finn, LLP, Attorney's at Law, in Latham NY. concentrating in estate planning, elder law planning, estate administration, corporate law, not-for-profit corporations and tax planning. Amy received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from Siena College and received her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School. Amy and her husband Chris, reside in Wynantskill with their son, Carson. 

 Patrick Fitzgerald, III, Counsel
Attorney and Partner - Girvin & Ferlazzo, P.C.
Loudonville, NY

Fitzgerald joined STRIDE in 2004.  As a partner with the law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, P.C. in Albany, he focuses his practice in the area of construction litigation, commercial and business litigation, personal injury litigation, and labor and employment law. Before returning to the Capital District in 2001, Fitzgerald was a partner in a prominent law firm in Connecticut and served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law. While in Connecticut, he was involved in many community activities and was a founder of the Bridgeport Youth Leadership Academy. In addition to his service on the board of STRIDE, Patrick currently is the President of the St. Pius X School Board, and is actively involved in a leadership position in many endeavors at the school and at St. Pius X Parish in Loudonville, NY. Fitzgerald received his Undergraduate Degree from Fairfield University (Magna Cum Laude) in 1987 and his JD from The University of Connecticut School of Law (Magna Cum Laude) in 1992. He also attended Medical School at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He and his wife, Sheila, have three children and reside Loudonville.

Michael Perrotti, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Advisor
Partner - Albany Urologic Oncology
Delmar, NY

Dr. Perrotti is one of the newest members to STRIDE's   Board,  but is a familiar face as a parent to one of our youth-athletes, daughter Margaret.    Dr. Perrotti is a Urologic Oncologist at St. Peter's Cancer Care Center, and an attending physician at numerous Capital Region hospitals including St Peter's Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Albany Medical Center. He serves as the Co-Director of the Cancer Committee at St. Peter's Cancer Care Center, and is a member of numerous professional societies. Dr. Perrotti and his wife, Jane, live in Glenmont NY with their two children.

Robert Braverman, Board Member
Attorney, Partner Braverman Greenspun
New York, NY

Braverman serves as the Managing Partner of Braverman Associates of NYC, a commercial real estate firm specializing in real estate law, with a focus on cooperatives and condominiums, litigation, transactions, construction law and commercial leasing.  His practice focuses on providing general counsel services to the firm's clients and on litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before various administrative agencies and the New York State Office of the Attorney General. Braverman is an active STRIDE volunteers, serving as one of our  Adaptive Ski Instructors and has also co-chaired fundraising events such as our annual Wounded Warrior Snow Sports Event. A graduate of Hoffstra University and the University of Michigan, Braverman resides in Weston CT with his wife, Jane, and twin sons, who are both ski racers.

Wynn Englisbe, Board Member
President & CEO, Englisbe Associates
North Greenbush, NY

Englisbe has returned to STRIDE's Executive Board after serving two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2008.  He also serves on the Board of the Capital City Rescue Mission.  As the Presdient and CEO of Englisbe Associates, a home inspection company in the Capital District, he has been an active leader in STRIDE as a Ski Instructor, corporate sponsor, and volunteer leader for over 12 years.  He recently achieved PSIA Adaptive Level II certification for ski instruction.  Englisbe lives in Slingerlands, NY with his wife, Bobbi.  They have two grown children.

STRIDE HONORARY BOARD

Greg Adams
Vice President, SABIC Innovative Plastics,  Automotive
Lenox, MA

Adams is Vice President of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Global Automotive Business, a role he assumed in January 2005. SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading global supplier of engineering thermoplastics and a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). Under Adams’ leadership, the company’s automotive team has built on its rich tradition of enabling automotive innovation – from reducing complexity and costs during vehicle production to improving fuel efficiency, lower emissions and differentiated styling. Adams joined General Electric in 1985 and progressed through a number of significant commercial and marketing management assignments. Prior to his automotive role, Adams led global marketing for GE Plastics. In 2000, he managed the acquisition and integration of Cadillac and Commercial Plastics into what is now SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Polymershapes business. Adams has held a number of significant leadership positions in Asia Pacific. From 1998 to 2000, he served as president and CEO of GE Toshiba Silicones (now Momentive Performance Materials). During that time, he was responsible for building the company’s Shanghai manufacturing facility and creating a joint venture with Shin Etsu in Thailand. From 1996 to 1998, he initiated GE Plastics’ marketing operations in Asia. Earlier, he held various roles for GE Plastics’ organization in Japan, including marketing and product management of Lexan* and Cycoloy* resins. Adams earned a BS in Technology Education from the State University of New York at Oswego.  He resides in Lenox, MA with his wife, Michelle, and their two children.

Phil Bayly
Anchor, WNYT NewsChannel 13, NBC Affiliate
Clifton Park, NY

Bayly has been reporting for television and radio since 1975. He has been a member of the news staff at WNYT since June 1986, and currently is the Morning News Anchor.  He grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.  When he graduated from Colorado State University, Bayly was already a reporter for KHOW Radio in Denver. He also worked as a reporter for KLOV Radio and KRNK/NBC All News Radio before he moved to television.  At KJCT-TV in Grand Junction, Colorado, Bayly won numerous Associated Press awards for his reporting and rose to News Director. Metroland named him ‘Best Television Reporter’. For many years, Bayly served as WNYT’s political reporter as well as a general assignment reporter.  Bayly raced on the ski team at Colorado State University and continues to race on the masters level. He serves in various capacities for the STRIDE organization, including the Master of Ceremonies for such fundraising events as the annual Gala and Silent Auction and Wounded Warrior Snowsports Event.

CSM Frank Wicks
NY National Guard Command Sergeant Major
West Sand Lake, NY

Command Sergeant Major Frank Wicks was born in Troy, New York. He entered the Army in November 1982 and attended Basic Training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Command Sergeant Major Wicks has served in every leadership position from Team Leader to Command Sergeant Major. He has also served as an Instructor at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. 

Command Sergeant Major Wicks’ awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster), Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (“M” device 4th award, bronze hourglass), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

CSM Wicks is currently on a leave of absence from his civilian employer, the New York State Police, to serve as the New York State Command Sergeant Major. He is married to the former Beth Johnson from Clifton Park, NY. They have two children, Jake and Julia and reside in West Sand Lake, NY.

James P. Furlong II, MD (retired)
West Sand Lake, NY

Dr. Furlong is a graduate of Albany Medical College and completed his residencey in Orthopaedic Surgery at the New York Medical College in New York City.  Having practiced since 1979, Dr. Furlong specialized in joint replacement surgery and sports injuries.  He is affiliated with the American Adademy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Rensselaer County Medical Society, and the Lake Placid Sports Medicine Society.  Dr. Furlong has long been the Chairman of the Credentials Committee at Samaritan Hopsital in Troy and former orthopaedic surgeon for the Albany River Rats Hockey Team.  He was awarded the "Founder's Award" in January 2009 from Northeast Health System for his many years of servcie and leadership at Samaritan Hospital.  Furlong continues to be an active volunteer with STRIDE including the Wounded Warrior, CampSTRIDE and adaptive skiing programs.

Thomas Haffner
Attorney at Law
Niskayuna, NY

Haffner, a long time resident of the Capital District, received a BA in Sociology from Hartwick College and a Masters of Health, Physical Education from East Stroudsburg State University. After a  body surfing accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, he returned to school and received his JD from Western New England School of Law where he was awarded the Marjorie Sullivan Scholarship Award for Academic Achievement.  A former High School Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher in Pennsylvania, Haffner returned to the Capital Region to work for United Community Insurance Co. as a Staff Attorney, handling various aspects of Civil Litigation and Subrogation. For the past eight years, he has been self-employed in a private law practice. Haffner also serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of Schenectady, is involved in pro-bono work and counsels newly injured spinal cord patients at local hospitals.

Michael Hart
CEO & Founder, Troy Management Group, Inc.
Brunswick, NY

Hart is the CEO and founder of his own company, Troy Management Group Inc. which specializes in Construction Management and Pre-Engineered Buildings,  completing construction projects for schools, churches, offices, retail stores, processing plants as well as auto dealerships and television stations. They have a long list of repeat customers such as AAA Hudson Valley, Our Lady of Victory Church & School, Clear Channel Television and Keeler Motor Car Company. Hart has served as Chairman of the Pittstown Planning Board, President of the former Brittonkill Kiwanis, Committee Chairman for the Mahikan District of the Twin Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Building Committee for the Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy during their expansion, as the Committee Chairman for Cub Scout Pack 537 in Brunswick for the past seven years, and coached soccer for Brunswick Soccer Club for 14 seasons. Hart became involved with STRIDE after seeing an advertisement for the STRIDE program in a Ski Expo supplement of the newspaper, after which he registered his oldest son, Joe, for adaptive ski lessons. He served as a corporate sponsor for various STRIDE events.  Hart received an AAS in Construction from Hudson Valley Community College, and then worked for a capital area commercial building contractor as an estimator. He was soon promoted to project management, heading their sales and design departments before being promoted to Vice President of Sales. Hart  resides in Brunswick with his wife, Kerin, and their children.

Doug Henry
Professional Motocross & Snow cross Racer; Champion Adaptive Snow-cross 2013 X-Games
Torrington, CT

One of the most popular AMA motocross racers ever, Henry had his first major success in 1993 as a member of Team Honda, where he claimed the 125 East Supercross and the 125 National Championship. In 1994, he repeated as champion in the nationals.  He moved to the premier 250cc division for 1995, where he was immediately competitive, winning supercross mains and outdoor overalls, before a devastating injury at Budds Creek, MD ended his season. Henry was slipping off the back of the bike on the face of a hill, inadvertently applying full throttle, launching him off the hill, causing him to fall from nearly 80 feet in the air to flat ground. Henry's back was broken, but miraculously he suffered no paralysis. Amazingly, he fought back to race again. Team Yamaha took a chance on him for the 1996 season. By the end of the Nationals, Henry was winning once again. In 1997, Yamaha approached Henry with the idea of riding their prototype YZM400 four-stroke in competition.  He gained national attention by winning the gold medal in the 2005 X-Games Supermoto race. He followed that with a bronze in 2006. Henry was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2005. He broke his back on March 4, 2007, in a Supermoto race, he now suffers partial paralysis from the waist down, and is working very hard toward yet another recovery.

• 1993 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
• 1993 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion
• 1994 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
• 1998 AMA 250 Motocross Champion
• 1998 AMA Professional Athlete of the Year
• 25 AMA Supercross/Motocross overall wins

Henry recently won the bronze medal in 2010 Adaptive Snow-cross X-games. He resides in Torrington CT with his wife, Stacy, and their three children.

Brian P. McLane
CEO Paradigm Solutions
Syracuse, NY

McLane is one of five people nationwide to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Individuals with Disabilities in 2000.  During his 11-year tenure at VESID, nearly 150,000 individuals with disabilities joined the State's workforce with the help of VESID services. He has participated in advocacy efforts that led to the development of laws and regulations that greatly expanded employment and independent living opportunities for adults with disabilities and have strengthened programs and raised academic standards for students with disabilities in New York State. Before coming to VESID, McLane served as Assistant Commissioner in the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. He also served as Senior Executive Assistant to NY Assemblyman Melvin Zimmer. A longtime advocate and consultant for the rights of persons with disabilities, McLane served as a New York delegate to the 1977 White House Conference on the Disabled, and as Chairman of the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. He has served as a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on the Handicapped, the NYS Mental Hygiene Planning Council, the Governor's Disability Constituency Cabinet Workgroup, and the Governor's Task Force on Accessibility - 1980 Winter Olympic Games. McLane has also served on the Onondaga County Cerebral Palsy Center Board of Directors and on the Onondaga County Task Force on the Handicapped.  McLane's has a long list of many distinguished awards and honors. A graduate of Syracuse University, McLane also holds a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. He has been active as a basketball coach at the semiprofessional level and is a member of countless sports and community associations.

Dr. Ann Myers, Ed.D.
Director of Doctoral Programs, The Sage Colleges
Rensselaer, NY

Ann has a rich history with STRIDE as a community partner when she served as District Superintendent for Questar III BOCES. After retirement, she joined the Board in 2002.

John Robinson
CEO Our Ability
Glenmont, NY

STRIDE is thrilled to announce the addition of Robinson to our Honorary Board, a truly inspirational and motivational individual.  Robinson was born a congenital amputee, without extension of his arms and leges.  Only 26 out of every 100,000 children have congenital amputations, and in most cases it is only one or two limbs.  Despite his challenges, Robinson has reached insurmountable success, which lead to his decision to write "Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage and Determination" to share his inspirational story.  Robinson was the subject of a 60 minute documentary created by and featured on WMHT, and served as the Keynote Speaker for STRIDE's 25th Silver Anniversary Celebration.  In 2001, John was selected to carry the Olympic torch as it passed through Albany on its way to Salt Lake City for the 2002 games. Robinson acknowledges the importance of first impressions as the best way to make people just as comfortable about his body as he is.  Married to his wife Andrea and a father of three, Robinson enjoys playing golf in his spare time. He graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. 

Alexi Kovalev
Professional Ice Hockey Player

NHL Florida Panther's Russian Professional Right Winger and 1994 Stanley Cup Champion Alexei Kovalev will become the 12^th member of STRIDE Adaptive Sports’ Honorary Board.  Kovalev’s career highlights include playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, and the New York Rangers, with whom he was originally drafted in 1991, and with whom he won the Stanley Cup, finishing with the third-most points for New York in the playoffs.   He became the first Russian born player to be drafted in the first round in the history of the NHL, to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, and to be named captain of an All-Star Team.  His accomplishments include being named World Championship Best Forward in 2005, winning the Molson Cup (season) in 2008, and playing in the NHL All-Star Game in 2001, 2003, and 2009- in which he won the MVP Award. Off the ice, Kovalev is a licensed aircraft pilot and is a prominent endorsee of Warrior Hockey, making use of their range of products as a trademark which includes his own signature stick, the AK27. At age 8, Kovalev was diagnosed with a heart disorder that prevented him from playing hockey for two years while he underwent treatment. In March 2008, Kovalev released a two-disc DVD titled My Hockey Tips and Training Methods and donates 100% of the DVD sale profits to charities that promote cardiac care for children

STRIDE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Kristen Kelley
Program Development Director

Kelley is no stranger to the STRIDE organization. Her commitment to STRIDE includes being a volunteer for eight years in various capacities including the camping program, ski instructor, being a member of various committees and currently serves as the Program Director for the Adaptive Golf Program.  Kelley was named as STRIDE's Volunteer of the Year 2010. Most recently, Kelley has been helping the organization as a part-time grant writer before assuming the full-time role as Program Development Director.  Prior to STRIDE, Kelley was a Banking Manager in New York and Colorado.  She received both her BS and MS in Special Education from The College of Saint Rose and was a Special Education Teacher at QUESTAR III and the City School District of Albany.  She resides in Averill Park, NY where she loves to spend time with her horse, dogs and family.

Mark Moran
Office Manager/Program Director

STRIDE welcomes Moran as our full-time Office Manager/Program Director.  He comes to STRIDE as a veteran volunteer, working in the Wounded Warrior program and serving on the Event Committee for the last three years. After 20 years as a Senior Sales Development Executive for EcoLab, a commercial cleaning and sanitation systems company, Moran recently retired to pursue other personal and professional interests. With a strong background in marketing and advertising, STRIDE will use his talents to develop growth, balance and professionalism in many facets of the organization, specifically in marketing and strategic planning.  Moran graduated with an Associates Degree in Advertising Design and Marketing from Mohawk Valley Community College.  He is an active parent volunteer in the Mohonosen Central School District, where he is currently serving on the School Board. He resides in Schenectady with his wife Suzi, who is also a STRIDE volunteer and graphic designer, and their two children.