Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We especially want board members who wish to raise funds and write grants for us!
Christine Guerin, Board President
Christine grew up in the Capital District and has enjoyed hosting several guests for dinner through the International Center’s program. She has traveled to many countries worldwide and has extensive experience building business relationships internationally.
She is a Consultant for Orvis. Christine holds a Business Degree from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY. She completed her master’s degree in International Relations at Norwich University in Vermont in December 2022.
Committees: Executive and Finance
Lilly Miaw, Board Vice President
Lilly Miaw has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the National Tsinghua University in Taiwan and a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Lilly worked at the GE Plastic Division in Selkirk for several years and owns a chemical analysis firm in Albany County. Lilly has a passion for volunteering and serving local communities and has been active as a community volunteer for the past 20 years.
Committees: Community Engagement and Chair, Finance
Bob Tangorre, Treasurer
Bob grew up in Elmira, New York. Robert was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the NYS Tax and Finance Department, overseeing 4,500 employees and a budget of approximately $390 million. Robert also has over 25 years of service in the military, serving in the US Navy and the Army National Guard, where he specialized in developing leadership training programs and logistical support operations.
Committees: Executive and Finance
Al Salinero, Secretary
Al’s parents emigrated to the United States from Spain, and he spent his childhood in Washington Heights – a rich mixture of Irish-American, German-Jewish, African-American, Puerto Rican, and Dominican cultures. He attended Stony Brook University and moved to the Capital Region to attend Albany Law School. He worked for the Schenectady Corporation Counsel (the city’s attorney), then moved to the New York State Department of Social Services and, from there, to the New York State Department of Health. He retired from the Health Department in the summer of 2022.
Committees: Executive, Governance and Chair, Programming
Tom Andriola
Tom Andriola is a director for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Youth Justice. He has significant experience in the executive and legislative branches of state government and the private sector and served on the Mohonasen Board of Education. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from Siena College and SUNY Albany and studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. Tom caught the travel bug and love for languages after visiting Switzerland when he was fourteen, followed by a school trip to Europe and spending the summer living with a family in France in high school. He has studied French, Italian, and German and earned an International Studies, Foreign Language, and Business Certificate from Siena College.
Committees: Chair, Fund Development and Youth Programming
Caroline Bobick
Caroline is a lobbyist for the New York State School Boards Association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Caroline has lived in Turkey, Spain, Honduras, and Nicaragua. She speaks Turkish and Spanish and has also studied Portuguese and Hebrew for several years. Caroline is passionate about women and immigrant rights. She lives in Malta with her husband and two young children.
Committees: Governance and Chair, Youth Programming
Dr. Jay Deitchman
With over twenty years of experience in International Education, Dr. Deitchman is the Coordinator for Global Initiatives at Hudson Valley Community College and has worked there since 2003. Dr. Deitchman is passionate about international education and globalization and greatly enjoys working with international students, their families, and international partners. Additionally, Dr. Deitchman is proud to have earned his Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate from the State University of New York institutions.
Committees: Community Engagement and Programming
Phil Fusco
A career educator, Dr. Fusco has served as a Grade 7-12 Social Studies teacher, K-12 principal, and program consultant. Most recently, Dr. Fusco’s work has focused on collaborating with school districts to develop character-based learning cultures that support students in achieving their maximum potential.
By creating Exc21.org, Dr. Fusco has enhanced his work with schools to build pathways to achieving excellence through character development. Dr. Fusco facilitates the N.Y.S. School of Character mentor program with Exc21.org and Character.org in Washington, D.C.
Committees: Chair, Community Engagement and Youth Programming
Tom Gatto
Tom is passionate about human rights and public health and has served as a short-term international election observer in Namangan, Uzbekistan. He recently returned to the Capital Region after living in the United Kingdom and Italy for two years and currently works as a lobbyist for Ostroff Associates in Albany.
Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany and a Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Note: he does not yet have committee assignments.
Anton Konev
Having been one of the youngest Russian-Americans elected to public office as a councilman in the City of Albany, New York (2010-14), Anton A. Konev continues to serve as a member of the County Democratic Committee and a political advisor to several local political campaigns and the Albany County Comptroller (previously serving as Confidential Assistant for Legislation). Through his civic involvement, he ensures other immigrants’ participation in our political system.
Committees: Governance and Fund Development
Dr. Hnin Wai Lwin Myo
Dr. Hnin Wai Lwin Myo is a public health researcher, advocate, and community leader committed to health equity and refugees’ and immigrants’ rights. As a Research Scientist at the New York State Department of Health, she focuses on disease prevention and health disparities. A former physician in her home country, she specializes in social drivers of health, nutrition equity, and health disparities. She earned her MBBS and Master of Public Health (MPH) before pursuing a Doctor of Public Health and an advanced graduate certificate in Health Disparities at SUNY University at Albany.
Beyond her professional work, Dr. Myo is a passionate advocate for underserved communities, an advisor on health equity, and a leader in promoting Myanmar’s multiethnic culture in the Capital Region. She actively supports democracy, human rights, and philanthropy, including fundraising for displaced children in Myanmar. She also engages in public health education through social media and shares her expertise across various platforms.
Note: she does not yet have committee assignments.
Heidi Pasos
Heidi Pasos is the Deputy Director of the Capital Region office for Empire State Development. She leads outreach efforts to expand ESD’s business grant and tax credit portfolio while ensuring effective program development and service delivery. In addition, Heidi leads the development of the Capital Region Economic Development Council’s Strategic Plan and oversees its implementation throughout the eight counties that comprise the Capital Region.
Heidi has extensive international experience, has lived in Iceland, Germany, and Turkey, and is passionate about promoting the Capital Region to a global audience.
Committees: Governance and Community Engagement
Mary-Ellen Piche
Mary-Ellen Pichè is a healthcare executive and consultant who provides services to healthcare and non-profit organizations, including strategic planning, organizational assessment/development, patient experience improvement, leadership development and coaching, high reliability, patient safety, and quality management/accreditation. In her ACHE faculty role, she delivers seminars on the patient experience and staff/physician/patient engagement. Previously, Ms. Piche was a consultant with Planetree Inc. in Derby, Conn., and CEO of the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, N.Y.
Mary-Ellen serves on the Board of Directors of Rockefeller College’s Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, giving frequent presentations to the Fellows and New Leaders programs. She also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of WMHT, the regional PBS network.
Committees: Programming and Chair, Governance
Dr. Daniel Robeson
Daniel Robeson is an Associate Professor of Management and Director of the Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Siena College in Albany, New York. He teaches Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and International Business there. Dan’s research is on discontinuous innovation practices in large firms and the commercialization of new venture offerings. Dan’s scholarly work has appeared in journals that reside at the interface of management and engineering disciplines. He has published in journals such as the Journal of Engineering and Technology Management(JET-M), the Journal of Product Innovation Management (JPIM), The Journal of High Technology Management Research, Research-Technology Management (RTM), and the Global Journal of Accounting & Finance (GJAF).
Committees: Finance and Youth
Scott Styles
Scott Styles has 25 years of public and private school experience teaching students from elementary school through adults in English, social studies, history, psychology, and philosophy. He is a Massachusetts-certified English and social studies teacher, grades 5-12, respectively, and holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Princeton and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Mr. Styles has traveled to approximately 40 countries on five continents and has experience speaking Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, having traveled to Spain, having lived in Japan, and having taught at international schools in China from 2008-2013.
Committees: Fund Development and Youth Programming