Paul J. Piasecki, CPA The Innovative CPA Group – Partner
Many years ago, my good friend Suzanne Letso asked me to join a Board of Directors for a new school that would move forward the idea of providing educational services to children with autism. My experience with autism was very limited at the time but I saw the desire and drive behind Suzanne and Roger’s plans. How could I say no?
Fast forward 25+ years and it is incredible to see how those “sparse” beginnings in a church basement are still full steam ahead. As current Vice Chair, it is my honor to have gone along for this ride and been associated with the many amazing people at Milestones in some small way. Interestingly enough, I now have a very special grandson, Jack, who has autism, and my Board service has given me greater insights I might not have had otherwise.
Anna Friedberg
Tillid Group
Anna is currently the Board Chair for Milestones. She joined in 2020 and is passionate about supporting the organizations work and the students and families they serve. Anna is the President and founder of Tillid Group where she focuses on investigations, monitoring, mediating disputes, and devising and implementing compliance programs. She is Deputy Monitor of the Nunez Consent Decree which is focused on reducing the violence in the NYC jails, creating a safer environment for Staff and incarcerated inmates, and supporting sustainable reform to the culture of the Department of Correction. Anna also serves as the Deputy Monitor overseeing the Horizon Juvenile Detention Center, which is focused on working with the Administration of Children Services on improving the conditions of confinement for 16- and 17-year-old adolescent offenders.
Anna is an active member of her community. In addition to her work with Milestones, she serves as the Executive Director of the Skyview Acres Land Trust, working to preserve open space, forests and natural areas and limiting commercial development in Ramapo, NY. She also is a mom of two young toddlers who keep her busy and on her toes.
Heather LaTorra
Marrakech, Inc.
In a notable career that spans 39 years, Heather has risen from entry level to the position of President and CEO of Marrakech, a role she has held since 2014. Her dynamic leadership and commitment to individuals Marrakech serves has earned her many accolades and resulted in her becoming a highly regarded nonprofit leader in the New Haven region. As such she serves as Board Chair for the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the Workers Comp Trust, and the Board of Directors for Milestones Behavioral Services. In addition, Heather is a proud volunteer with the New Haven Reads Program.
Significant achievements include serving as keynote speaker at Southern Connecticut State University’s graduate commencement ceremony in 2017, recognition in New Haven Biz and the New Haven Power 50 list in 2020 as well as receiving the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce Women in Advocacy Award in 2019. Heather remains a top speaker at nonprofit funding related rallies organized by the Alliance for Community Nonprofits in Hartford. While honored to have been recognized in this way, she is most proud of her contribution to the success of the people Marrakech supports, the employees dedicated to these individuals, and the community committed to the service of individuals of all abilities.
Sundeep G. Harper, Esq. Harper Law
Sundeep Harper is an accomplished attorney and the founder of Harper Law, a solo practice based in Milford, Connecticut, providing dedicated legal services in real estate, estate planning, probate law, and business matters. Serving clients across New Haven and Fairfield counties and the Connecticut Shoreline, Sundeep brings a comprehensive understanding of complex legal issues and a client-centered approach. With a proven track record of community involvement, Sundeep previously served as a board member of the Middlesex County Bar Association, contributing to professional development and regional legal initiatives.
Sundeep’s extensive legal experience, combined with a commitment to community service and strategic problem-solving, positions her as a valuable member of the board at Milestone Behavioral Services. Sundeep is excited to bring her expertise and passion for public service to support and enhance the organization’s mission.
Mel L. Horton, Ed.D. Sacred Heart University
Dr. Mel L. Horton serves as the Dean of the Isabelle Farrington College of Education and Human Development (FCEHD) at Sacred Heart University. In this role, she manages a significant budget, leads a team of 25 full-time faculty, and oversees more than 20 programs across two campuses. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving the continued success and growth of the college.
Before assuming the deanship, Dr. Horton spent 5.5 years as the associate dean of the FCEHD, where she spearheaded new program development, accreditation efforts, and budget management. Prior to joining SHU, she held the role of associate dean at Central Connecticut State University for five years.
Dr. Horton earned her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Virginia, specializing in adapted physical education with minors in research and instructional technology. Earlier in her career, she was a tenured associate professor at both The Sage Colleges and Winthrop University. Her expertise lies in assessment and accreditation, areas where she has built a strong reputation both within and beyond SHU. A respected Lead Site Visitor for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for over a decade, she has conducted numerous reviews to ensure that educator preparation programs meet rigorous national standards. Additionally, Dr. Horton has made impactful contributions as a national academy consultant for edTPA, delivering invited workshops across the U.S. over the past eight years.
Roger Letso
Chief Financial Officer
Roger Letso is the co-founder and CFO of Milestones Behavioral Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Operations Management and Marketing from Bowling Green State University, an MBA in Finance/MIS from Case Western University, passed the CPA exam in 2002 and has taken and passed FINRA Series 7 General Securities Representative and Series 63 Uniform Security Agent exams.
Roger was a Purchasing Agent for industrial and telecommunication divisions of Exxon, Purchasing Manager for a medical device manufacturing arm of Baxter Travenol Labs, Vice President of Marketing for an import business and a Marketing Executive for appliance manufacturers Cuisinart and Waring as well having experience with a local CPA firm. Roger has extensive experience in product and business development, purchasing, company acquisitions, operations and branding and shares 3 patents. Roger has served on various boards including the Alpine Learning Center and the Newtown Public Building and Site Commission.
Roger was instrumental in Milestones’ 2010 expansion to the new Wolf Harbor Road facility in Milford, and continues to be involved with MBS’s development and expansion into new sites. Roger oversees a growing staff responsible for finance and accounting, physical plant and transportation, technology, communication, security and human resources. In recognition of Milestones 20th Anniversary, Roger received Milestones Going the Extra Miles Founders Award.
Roger is also the parent of a son with autism.
Suzanne Letso, M.A. BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT, MA, NY
Chief Executive Officer
Suzanne Letso is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Milestones Behavioral Services (formerly Connecticut Center for Child Development). Suzanne currently serves as the Vice President of the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council, as a member of the the Scientific Advisory Board for the Organization for Autism Research, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Marrakech, Inc., and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Elijah Foundation.
Suzanne has also served as the Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and has participated in the establishment and management of a number of other service organizations, autism-related initiatives, and state task forces. Suzanne was the recipient of: the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts’ 2016 Jerry Shook Award, which honors individuals whose achievements have enhanced the value of sound professional credentials in the practice of applied behavior analysis; the Marrakech Founders’ Advocacy Award in 2009; and Enterprising Women magazine’s Advocate of the Year Award in 2007. In recognition of Milestones 20th Anniversary, Suzanne received Milestones Going the Extra Miles Founders Award.
Suzanne is a registered lobbyist for the Connecticut General Assembly, and has worked as an advocate on a number of legislative issues in the states of Connecticut and Alaska. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed as a Behavior Analyst in New York and Massachusetts. She holds #000001 license in Connecticut as a Behavior Analyst.
As an expert in her field, Suzanne is invited to speak at large conferences and small events around the world. Through Milestones, Suzanne is part of the team that works to initiate or grow ABA schools and programs in other states.
She is also the parent of a son with autism.
David Crowle
Dock Street Capital Management – Managing Partner
Mr. Crowle has been a founding and Managing Partner for the past 13 years at Dock Street Capital Management (“Dock Street”). Dock Street is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor providing Asset Management, Asset Disposition, and Asset Acquisition Services to a broad range of public and private institutions and structured credit investors. Mr. Crowle has built Dock Street into the industry leader in public and private portfolio dispositions. The firm has managed the public and private liquidation and disposition of over $54 billion of structured credit securities and Credit Default Swaps for various types of financial institutions (over 16,000 unique CUSIPs/ISINs). Mr. Crowle has initiated replacement manager mandates on 120 CDO’s with an aggregate principal balance of over $18 billion (AUM as of Jan 2022 was approx. $2.65 billion across 57 deals). In addition to his new business mandates Mr. Crowle is also the Chief Compliance Officer for Dock Street and handles all of internal and external compliance responsibilities. Finally, Mr. Crowle is a Registered Representative of Beech Hill Securities and holds his Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses.
Previous to Dock Street, Mr. Crowle worked at KBC Financial Products where his responsibilities included the marketing of advisory, CDO re-structuring and replacement manager services. Prior to KBC FP, Mr. Crowle spent 7 years at MBIA across multiple capacities covering new business, portfolio management and risk management. Mr. Crowle started at MBIA in 2001 as a Vice President in the CDO and Structured Products group mainly responsible for generating new business. Over the course of 6 years, Mr. Crowle ascended in title (working up to Director) and responsibilities including new business generation (which encompassed marketing, structuring, negotiating and underwriting of CDO’s and structured products), risk management, portfolio workout, budgeting and international business management. Mr. Crowle concluded his tenor at MBIA serving as a senior risk officer responsible for creating and implementing MBIA’s Risk Management Platform for both the Structured and Municipal Finance. Prior to MBIA, Mr. Crowle spent time at BNP Paribas managing and directing the issuance of their Synthetic CLO business, totaling over $10bn. Prior to BNP Paribas, Mr. Crowle was a portfolio manager for 4 years at Bank Austria on the “buy- side” jointly managing a $7bn ABS portfolio. Mr. Crowle graduated from Sacred Heart University with a B.S. in both Finance and Business Administration.
Heather Wolsic
Behavioral Learning Network
Heather Wolsic has over twelve years of operational experience within the nightlife/hospitality industry having served as the General Manager and Director of Operations for multiple, profitable and elite venues in Hollywood including deep, Forty Deuce, Nacional, Area, Hyde, S-Bar. In 2007, she accepted the role of General Manager with the Tao Group, where she was tasked with opening Lavo Las Vegas including hiring and training 421 employees and navigating the opening during an uncertain economic time.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Ms. Wolsic founded and served as Managing Partner for Snuggg Management LLC where she was responsible for business development and brand marketing. In her role, Heather has been credited in helping to pioneer the celebrity DJ culture. To date, her artists have been featured in such publications as Variety, Us Weekly, People, Rolling Stone, OK!, and Star, as well as numerous appearances on a variety of highly-rated televisions shows including Access Hollywood, E! Entertainment, American Idol, The Voice, The Ellen Degeneres Show, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Larry King Live. Her artists performed at world renowned concerts and events including the GRAMMY Awards, BET Awards, Power House, and EDC and held exclusive venue residencies at nightclubs in cities around the world including Las Vegas, Hollywood, New York, Miami, Tokyo, Paris and Dubai.
After meeting her now husband, Dr. Gregory Elsky, CEO and Founder of Behavioral Learning Network (BLN), Heather exited the nightclub arena to assist him in building BLN into a multi-state organization that is focused on maintaining results driven applied behavior analytic treatment for children with autism. She currently serves as Executive Vice President of Business Operations of the organization overseeing all administrative functions including but not limited to structuring and strategic growth. Ms. Wolsic is deeply honored to join the Milestone’s board and is committed to further supporting Milestone’s mission of applying the power of behavior analysis to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities or other educational needs.
Martin McCann
Board Treasurer
Martin joined the Board in 2003 and is deeply committed to Milestones’ mission and community. Professionally, Martin is an attorney with over 25 years of experience in business formation, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, venture capital and private equity investment, taxation, commercial lending, real property and equipment leasing, technology licensing and other business transactions. He holds the highest peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent®), and practices in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and New York.
Over the years, Martin has been a volunteer member of a variety of charitable and nonprofit organizations including The Nichols Improvement Association, Connecticut Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Trumbull Rotary, and the Fairfield County Community Foundation. And, despite a life-long passion and years of dedication, lessons, practice and performance, Martin is an extraordinarily mediocre guitar player.
Christopher B. Carveth, Esq.
Carveth & Foley, Attorneys at Law
Chris has served on the Milestones Board since its inception, and has served as President and counsel during the expansion of programming and services from Fairfield to Milford and now to Orange.
Chris, a native of Montreal, Quebec, is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport (1972), University of Notre Dame London Centre for Legal Studies (1974) and the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1975. He believes in the mission of Milestones and has enjoyed 20+ years of volunteer service along with the executive team and fellow Board of Director members. He has assisted the school in the acquisition of the Bridgeport Avenue and Wolf Harbor Road campuses in Milford and the new Boston Post Road facility in Orange.
A practicing attorney for 44 years at Carveth & Foley, Attorneys at Law based in Milford, he also serves as a Police Commissioner in Orange where he and his wife, Attorney Kimberly Sweeney, make their home. His other community activities include serving as a Connecticut Justice of the Peace, Co-founder and President of River Park Elderly Housing in Milford, and past Lt. Governor of the New England District of Kiwanis International.
Bill Donlon
Board Chairman
Billy Donlon has been a supporter of Milestones since its inception as Connecticut Center of Child Development in 1987. He was a founding member of the Milestones Board. Billy has devoted his life to helping children and teens realize their potential by helping them increase their skills, self-acceptance and self-esteem. He retired from his first career in the NYC Police Force as a Detective in the Brooklyn Street Gang Unit. On 9-11, Billy was a First Responder to the Twin Towers attack on our nation. For over a decade, he was a Job Coach with Nassau County Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and Eden II Group Home Manager. Eden II is a not-for-profit, in East Meadow, NY, that provides the maximum help possible to the autism community through education, adult day programs, residential care and family support. As the Facility Manager for the Elija School and Farm in South Huntington, NY, Billy works to “Champion Hope” for the parents, educators, professionals and caregivers of individuals on the autism spectrum.
Always finding time for his children and neighbors, Billy has been the middle and high school girls’ lacrosse, girls’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ basketball coach in Hicksville, NY. His other volunteer activities have been with the Organization of Autism Research, Arlington, VA and the Knights of Columbus. Billy is an integral part of the Board bringing his professional experience, with autism organizations, and personal insight, from having a happy and handsome young adult son with autism, to the short and long-term decisions made for the successful growth of Milestones.