Chuck Saia ’91, MBA ’94 is co-founder and managing member of Next Chapter Ventures (NCV). Next Chapter Ventures is a group of more than 50 seasoned executives investing in early-stage founders and providing strategic leadership guidance to help these businesses grow and scale. 

Since its inception, NCV has grown significantly, investing close to $20 million and growing from three members in 2021 to 50 today. 

Saia is chair of the advisory board for York IE, an NCV strategic partner. He is also the chair of the advisory board for SEAAV, a portfolio company of NCV. 

Prior to NCV, Saia had a distinguished career at Deloitte, where he quickly ascended to partner in 2003. In 2015, he assumed the role of chief executive officer for Deloitte's Advisory Services Business overseeing a workforce of 12,500 employees and $3 billion in revenue. His tenure was marked by the establishment of Deloitte's Ventures Fund aimed at investing in cutting-edge technologies. Through Ventures, he launched the Cybersphere – developing a state-of-the-art security operations center to meet client cyber needs. 

Prior to his CEO role, Saia was appointed as Deloitte’s chief risk and regulatory affairs officer, becoming the youngest member of the Deloitte Executive Committee at that time. In this role, he spearheaded a comprehensive transformation implementing new risk methodologies and bolstering privacy/cyber capabilities. 

Beyond his professional endeavors, Saia has been actively involved in philanthropy and education. He serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Quinnipiac and is on the board of the Rheumatology Research Foundation.  

In 2021, he published "YOU GOT THIS, KID! Words of Advice for Young Leaders,” followed by the launch of the “YOU GOT THIS, KID!” Leadership Foundation. The foundation develops young leaders and supports those with auto-immune diseases and environmental causes. His second book, "YOU GOT THIS, KID! Leadership Advice for Children,“ was released in 2023. 

Saia has conducted various leadership training sessions based on his books at major companies including Pfizer, UBS, McDonalds and Google.

John C. Abella ’83 is executive vice president with DDI Leasing Inc., cofounder and owner of DDI Leasing of New England, LLC, and cofounder and owner of BR Associates, LLC. He is a technology leasing veteran with more than 30 years of IT solution and equipment leasing sales and sales management experience. Prior to his election to the Quinnipiac Board of Trustees, Abella was an active member of the School of Business Advisory Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Quinnipiac in 1983.

Carlton L. Highsmith founded Specialized Packaging Group, a package design, marketing and engineering firm in New Haven in 1983. By 2009, SPG, with revenues of more than $180 million, had grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of consumer paperboard packaging in North America. The company was recognized as the largest minority-owned company in Connecticut. Highsmith currently serves on the board of directors of Key Bank and chairs the board of directors of the Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (CONNCAT), a nonprofit organization that provides world-class, market relevant job training and financial literacy training to underemployed and unemployed adults in the New Haven area. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded an honorary degree from Quinnipiac in 2008.

William T. Platt ’78 is the retired deputy managing partner of professional practice and retired deputy chief quality officer for Deloitte & Touche. Platt was a long-time member and the former chairman of the School of Business Advisory Board and currently chairs the President’s Advisory Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and served as an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac.

Brett M. Amendola ’91 is the managing partner of Wooster Square Advisors, a leading wealth advisory firm located in New Haven, Connecticut. Amendola’s roots in the New Haven community stretch back for three proud generations. Wooster Square was born from a desire to put down his own roots and give back to the community that raised him. With over three decades of experience at some of the world’s largest investment firms, Amendola has devoted his life’s work to problem-solving for high-net-worth families. He previously was managing partner of Aegis Wealth Partners, an agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America in New York, New York. He received Guardian’s National New Agency Recruiting Award for 2013 and the GAMA–Career Development Award. 
 
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Amendola continues his dedication and service to his community through numerous volunteer and charitable endeavors. He is chairing Quinnipiac’s $162 million comprehensive campaign, For the Ambitious. Amendola is an active contributor and presenter at Quinnipiac’s Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum, the largest student-run financial conference in the world. He was inducted into the GAME Forum Hall of Fame in 2024. He is also a contributor and presenter at the Greenwich Economic Forum. A proud Bobcat, Amendola graduated from Quinnipiac in 1991 with a bachelor’s of science in financial management.  

Patrick A. Charmel ’81 is the president and CEO of Griffin Health. Charmel has been associated with Griffin since 1979, when he served as an undergraduate intern while attending Quinnipiac University. Throughout his more than 40 years at Griffin, he has held various administrative positions leading to his appointment as chief executive officer in 1998. During his tenure, he has positioned Griffin Hospital as an innovative organization recognized as an industry leader in providing personalized, humanistic, consumer-driven health care in a healing environment. Charmel also serves as chairman of Planetree Inc., a subsidiary not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the care experience in more than 800 care sites across 27 countries. In addition, he is chairman of the Value Care Alliance, a collaboration of Connecticut hospitals, health systems and physician organizations building the infrastructure necessary to deliver high value accountable care. Under his leadership, Griffin Hospital has received numerous awards including being named one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 best companies to work for in America 10 years in a row and a 2019 Newsweek Magazine “World’s Best Hospital.” Charmel earned a bachelor’s degree in health management from Quinnipiac and a master’s degree in public health from Yale University.

Alexander Clark is the founder and chief executive officer of Technolutions. Clark founded Technolutions in 1994 while a seventh-grader in Mississippi. In 2000, while a first-year English major at Yale, Clark developed and introduced Slate, which supports the enrollment, student success, alumni and advancement operations at over 1,600 colleges and universities worldwide. Described as a higher ed "Wizard of Oz" in a feature article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Clark has continued to lead Technolutions and its Slate community through its decades of innovation and growth.

Clark has a tremendous commitment to education as the Founder of Slate School, a non-profit K-12 independent school located in North Haven on a 40-acre campus with a focus on cultivating creativity, fostering ingenuity and curiosity, and inspiring a deep passion for lifelong learning. In 2018, Clark was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Quinnipiac University for his work as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Erik M. Clemons is co-founder of Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), a subsidiary of the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), designed to explore and implement opportunities for economic development and investment in New Haven.

Prior to this, Clemons was the founding CEO and president of ConnCAT, a non-profit organization based on the model of Bill Strickland’s National Center for Arts and Technology, which is dedicated to creating empowering art-based educational environments for at-risk public-school students and workforce training programs for under- and unemployed adults.

Clemons has an extensive background in nonprofit management and organizational leadership. For more than 20 years, he has served the interests of diverse and traditionally underserved communities. He serves as an education fellow at the Aspen Institute, Yale New Haven Hospital trustee, member of the Connecticut State Board of Education, board chair of the Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) and on the Board of Directors at New Haven Bank.

With a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in theology and ethics from the Hartford Seminary, Clemons is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn.

Frank DeFrancesco ’97 is a partner and financial advisor at New Canaan Group, a wealth management and financial advisory firm headquartered in Stamford, CT. His focus is on the Employer Sponsored Markets where he is committed to helping his clients work toward their financial goals. He assists his clients by developing financial planning strategies which consist of customized investments, risk management and wealth distribution plans.
 
Prior to his work with New Canaan Group, DeFrancesco was a Vice President with the AXA Equitable Retirement Benefits Group, a specialized division of AXA Advisors, LLC, where he oversaw the building of a team that now works with over 25,000 active and retired educators in Connecticut. As a result of his work, he earned numerous company and industry awards and was inducted into the Equitable Hall of Fame.
 
DeFrancesco earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Quinnipiac University, where he played on the baseball team and was a team captain.

With decades of financial and accounting experience, Jeanna Doherty ’94 CPA serves as an Assurance Coordinating Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, with expertise in audit services for healthcare-related clients, including several multibillion-dollar health systems, academic medical centers, teaching hospitals and other organizations. As ESG Enablement Leader, Doherty leads EY Assurance environmental efforts, helping audit clients prepare for new climate disclosures, including ESG assurance, pre-assessment and gap assessment analysis. Previously, she served as the Northeast Financial Accounting Advisory Services Health Sector Leader, Americas Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services and the Americas Assurance Operations Leader and spent several years in the national Health Science Advisory Services practice, serving public and private companies.

Doherty earned her BS in Accounting and Computer Science from Quinnipiac University and is a member of the Connecticut Society of CPAs. She also served as president of the QU Alumni Association and the Board’s Alumni Representative.

Brooke Goff is a personal injury attorney and the founder and CEO of Goff Law Group in West Hartford, Conn. Goff owns the largest female-owned and operated personal injury law firm in the State of Connecticut. Goff is the recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award, has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers association and recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer Rising Star every year since 2017.
 
Goff works to empower women and young girls looking to enter male dominated fields. Coming from impoverished beginnings, she has touted the power of a good education for those for whom it is not readily available. She is a 2014 graduate of the Quinnipiac University School of Law and a 2008 graduate of the University of Bridgeport with a bachelor’s of science degree in in business administration.

Larry Hamdan is Chairman of Mergers & Acquisitions, Americas for Barclays Investment Bank. He previously ran Barclays M&A Americas business. He has 35 years of experience advising numerous clients on more than $500 billion of transactions such as Danaher’s $20bn acquisition of GE Biopharma and their $6bn purchase of Abcam plc, Parker-Hannifin's multi-billion dollar deals for Lord and Exotic Metals, Paper Excellence's cross-border acquisitions of Domtar and Resolute, as well as several major transactions in the US airline industry including advising US Airways on its $30 billion merger with American Airlines which created the world’s largest airline.

Hamdan serves on the Board of Directors for Services for the Underserved (SUS), one of New York City’s largest charities, which provides supportive housing as well as services focused on developmental disabilities, homelessness, behavioral health and veterans. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ANERA, a US-based non-profit, which assists Middle East refugees in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. ANERA is currently focused on the “last mile” delivery of food, medication and emergency supplies in Gaza.

Hamdan received an AB degree in economics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University; a JD degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School; and an MBA degree with high distinction from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar.

Robin Hayes is the Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He is responsible for Airbus’ commercial aircraft and commercial services businesses throughout the Americas, as well as coordination with Airbus Helicopters, the company’s market-leading helicopter business and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.
 
With thousands of employees, Airbus’ regional presence comprises corporate offices, engineering and innovation centers, training facilities, MROs, spare parts distribution centers, imagery drone services and large-scale manufacturing facilities producing commercial aircraft, helicopters and satellites. Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation for nine years, Hayes joined the airline in 2008, serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until becoming President of the airline in January 2014. He was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer in February 2015.
 
Before JetBlue, Hayes spent 19 years at British Airways, where he ascended to the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas. From 2020 to 2022, he was the Chairman of IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the air transport association’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He currently serves on the board of directors for KeyBank and Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Hayes is a University of Bath alumni, having earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Engineering and a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

David W. Keiser is the former president, chief operating officer and director of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, building the company from an early stage development firm into a highly successful, profitable and fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company. Prior to cofounding Alexion in 1992, he held senior management positions in international operations, regional management and business development for G.D. Searle & Company Limited, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Before joining Searle, he held Europe and Asia/Pacific regional management positions for the pharmaceutical companies Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. and subsequently Mundipharma AG, both headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Keiser advises and serves on the boards of several development stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He is also president and director of a private foundation and serves on the boards of a number of nonprofit charitable organizations. He received his bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and attended the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Marybeth L. Noonan ’82, along with her husband, Michael, founded a fiber optic company in 1992 and sold it in 2006. Prior to that, she enjoyed successful careers in real estate sales and human resources. She was also involved in her family’s wine importing business, Global Wine Importers, for many years. She serves on the UMass Memorial Hospital and Medical School Development Council as well as many charitable boards in Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational development from Quinnipiac in 1982.

Peter Novak, a seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for Eastern European business, brings a unique perspective to the world of sports development and international relations. With a passion for fostering growth and opportunity, Novak is now the President of Vertical Hoop Europe, a leading organization dedicated to promoting the sport of vertical hooping. His recent success in organizing a highly successful tournament in Wroclaw, Poland, showcased his ability to create impactful events and platforms for athletes. His commitment to international collaboration extends beyond sports. He has a deep understanding of the cultural and business landscape between Poland and the United States, having been involved in various initiatives to strengthen ties between the two countries. Notably, he and his wife, Kasia, established the Novak Family Polish Chair at Quinnipiac University, a significant contribution to fostering academic and cultural exchange. A dedicated advocate for athlete development, Novak is actively working to create opportunities for athletes to secure scholarships in the United States. His expertise in sports promotion, combined with his understanding of international relations, positions him as a valuable asset in bridging the gap between talented athletes and educational institutions.

Lynne Pantalena, JD ’85, is a former Managing Director and Division Executive at Bank of America Private Bank. With more than 30 years of experience, she led a team of wealth management advisers to high net worth clients in the areas of estate, tax and financial planning, business succession and strategic philanthropy. Formerly an attorney in private practice, she is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and its Estates and Probate Section and is a past member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. 
 
Pantalena is currently serving as a Commissioner of the New England Commission of Higher Education. Additionally, she is a past member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Planned Giving Committee, a former trustee of La Rabida Children’s Hospital, a former trustee of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, a past member of the professional advisor committee of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, a past member of the development committee of Mercy Hospital (Portland, ME), a past treasurer of Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts (ME) and a past president of the Guilford Arts Center (CT).
 
She earned a bachelor of science degree from New Hampshire College and a master of public administration degree from New York University. She also holds a juris doctorate from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and a master of laws degree from Boston University.

Ryan Rizzo '07 is senior managing partner at Merus Global Investments, a leading proprietary trading firm. In this role, he is responsible for identifying market opportunities and also serves on the management committee. Prior to this, he began his career at First New York Securities as an international equity trader focused on catalyst-oriented strategies. Alongside his wife, he has been involved in creating and serving on various non-profit boards and committees, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island Leadership Council. A Quinnipiac University graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, Rizzo was a member of the QU baseball team and earned ESPN CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.

Vik Sawhney is Blackstone’s Chief Administrative Officer, Global Head of Institutional Client Solutions and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Since joining Blackstone in 2007, Sawhney started Blackstone Capital Markets and also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Private Equity group.  Before joining Blackstone, he worked as a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, and prior tothat at the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Sawhney represented Blackstone as a Rockefeller Fellow during 2010-2011, and currently sits on the board of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. He is also the Board Chair of Dream, an east Harlem-based educational and social services organization. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. 

Richard A. Silver, Esq., a senior partner of Silver Golub & Teitell, is recognized as a leader of the litigation bar in the state of Connecticut and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Litigation for the past 20 years. He is a past president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a prestigious organization of Connecticut plaintiff and defense trial attorneys, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune. He is also a past president of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania, Rick received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.