CAMBRIDGE CREDIT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Secretary
- Chairman of the Cambridge Credit Counseling Board of Directors
Mr. Colonna serves as the Chairman of the Cambridge Credit Counseling Board of Directors as well as the Clerk of the Corporation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central New England as well as Honor Conor, a local non-profit dedicated to stopping youth violence and providing greater opportunity through scholarships.
Mr. Colonna has earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Holyoke Community College, a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Westfield State College, and a Masters of Business Administration from Western New England University.
Mr. Colonna previously worked as a manager at the United States Postal Service for over a decade as well as serving as a mediator for the BBB, Hampshire County small claims court, The Center for Human Development, and the Mediation and Training Collaborative.
Job Titles:
- Quality Assurance, Web and Marketing Manager
Job Titles:
- Creditor Services & Relations Manager
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Director
- President
Christopher Viale is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and serves as a member of our Board of Directors. He is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the organization, including the direction and oversight of all human resource activity, educational initiatives, Financial counseling, and counselor training.
Mr. Viale has been involved in the credit counseling field for more than twenty-seven years and is one of the forerunners for its reform. Mr. Viale currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA). He has dedicated his career to enhancing transparency behind the credit counseling industry and forming best-practice working groups to further develop and foster collaborative efforts between industry professionals. He is currently working towards impactful innovative efforts that will help to propel this industry forward with the help of his dedicated team.
Mr. Viale studied psychology and sociology at William Paterson University. He is a former Cabinet Leader for the United Way, and spends most of his free time advocating for a financially fit society. He works alongside his wonderful wife, Amy, of twenty-five years before going home to enjoy family time with his brother and two young-adult children. Also, Mr. Viale continues to entertain his aptitude for bowling as he intends to pursue and support bowling as a qualified sport in future Olympic games.
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Development and Marketing at Merrimack College
- Director, Governance Committee Chair
Mr. O'Keefe is currently the Director of Athletic Development and Marketing at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA, and is responsible for all athletic marketing, branding, and revenue generating opportunities including corporate sponsorship, fundraising, advertising, and attendance driving initiatives. He is also a professor of Sport Marketing. His previous work experience includes service as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, as the Director of Marketing for Six Flags New England, and as Marketing and Events Coordinator for the U.S. Olympic Soccer Organizing Committee in 1995-96.
Mr. O'Keefe earned a B.A. in American Studies from Stonehill College, and holds a Master's Degree in Sport and Leisure Management from the University of Connecticut.
Mr. O'Keefe serves on Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s Board of Directors as a member of the Governance Committee and as a member of the Executive Compensation Committee.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Contact
- Business Development Director
Job Titles:
- Director
- President of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts
Jennifer Connolly is the President of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. Serving in this role since 2006, Ms. Connolly oversees educational programs that reach over 10,000 students annually in Western Massachusetts.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Southern Maine in 1979. She attended the Springfield Leadership Institute in 2010 and earned her MBA in Management from Elms College in 2014.
In addition to her role as President of Junior Achievement and serving as a member of Cambridge's Board of Directors, Ms. Connolly is involved with several other community organizations, including the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Regional Employment Board of Hampden County Youth Council, the Springfield Rotary, and serves as Chair of the ACCGS Education and Workforce Subcommittee.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Director, Executive Compensation Committee Chair
Mr. Connor is a partner with the Law Offices of Moriarty and Connor, LLC. He is a member of the Massachusetts and Connecticut State Bars, a member of the Massachusetts Federal District and 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Bar, and a member of the Hampden County Bar Association. Mr. Connor's firm specializes in the area of Labor and employment law.
Mr. Connor earned his B.A. in Communications and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts and his Juris Doctorate from Western New England School of Law.
In addition to serving on Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s Board of Directors as the Chairman of our Governance Committee and as a member of our Executive Compensation Committee, Mr. Connor is a member of the East Longmeadow Lion's Club and the Italian American Veteran's Association.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chairman of the Board for Strategic Information Resources, Inc
Mr. Dlugoenski is currently the Chairman of The Board for Strategic Information Resources, Inc. His previous work experience includes serving as President and Treasurer of Credit Data Services, Inc., a non-profit consumer and business credit information provider.
He also has previous work experience in the banking community working in a management capacity for Connecticut Bank and Trust and Mechanics Savings Bank.
Mr. Dlugoenski earned his B.A. at St. Anselm College and an MBA from the University of Hartford.
In addition to serving on Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s Board of Directors as a member of our Audit & Finance Committee, Mr. Dlugoenski devotes time to the Association of Credit Bureaus as a Board Representative, and to Junior Achievement as an active volunteer. He also serves as a Westfield Little League coach, and is a past Chairman of the Experian Advisory Board / Bureaus.
Job Titles:
- Bankruptcy Counseling Manager
Job Titles:
- Director
- Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Sales for NAI / Samuel D. Plotkin & Associates, Inc
Mr. Reynolds is currently the Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Sales for NAI/Samuel D. Plotkin & Associates, Inc. His previous work experience includes real estate management and development, banking operations and health insurance operations (Travelers Insurance Company).
Mr. Reynolds holds a B.A. in Political Science from Hartwick College, where he received the Clark Scholarship Award from 1979-1982.
In addition to serving on Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s Board of Directors as Chairman of the Executive Compensation Committee, Mr. Reynolds is active with a number of business and community groups, including Honor Conor, Inc., National Association of Corporate Directors, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Cathedral High School Athletic Association, Massachusetts Youth Soccer Administration, United States Tennis Association, and the Forest Park Civic Association. He is also an active high school soccer coach.
Job Titles:
- Compliance Officer, Edu. Director
Job Titles:
- Director, Audit and Finance Committee Chair
- Principal of the Certified Public Accounting
Mr. Pizzanelli is currently a principal of the Certified Public Accounting firm Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C. He has held that position since 1986. Mr. Pizzanelli's duties include management of the tax department, which involves the planning and preparation of income, estate, corporate, partnership, excise, and state tax returns.
Mr. Pizzanelli earned his Bachelor of Science degree from American International College and his Jurist Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law.
In addition to serving on Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s Board of Directors as a member of the Audit & Finance Committee, Mr. Pizzanelli is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Partner at Law Firm Buoniconti & McCary
Stephen Buoniconti is a partner at law firm Buoniconti & McCary in West Springfield Massachusetts. Prior to his current practice, Mr. Buoniconti served the residents of Hampden County as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005 and then as a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 2005 to 2011. Prior to his service in the General Court, Mr. Buoniconti served as an Assistant District Attorney in Hampden County.
Mr. Buoniconti earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Fairfield University in 1991 and went on to earn his Doctor of Law Degree in 1995 from the Western New England College School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Senior Financial Executive
Thomas Hebert joined Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. in May of 2005. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has a Master of Science degree in Professional Accounting.
Mr. Hebert earned his undergraduate degree at American International College and his Masters Degree at the University of Hartford.
Mr. Hebert has served as a senior financial executive at three 501(c)(3) organizations. He also has 14 years experience as an auditor, serving both as a public accountant and an internal auditor. Mr. Hebert also served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Job Titles:
- Credit Counseling Director
Job Titles:
- Student Loan Counseling Contact
- Student Loan Counseling Manager