Gina Fedele
President
Gina Fedele began her involvement with Putnam Service Dogs in 2020, after learning about the organization and finding that our mission, values and vision are very closely aligned with her own. She’s a 2020 graduate of Leadership Westchester, a rigorous nine-month program oriented towards nonprofit leadership. Gina is also a proud member of Impact 100 Westchester, a women’s giving collective to support local non-profits, and commits her time and talents to many local non-profits.
Currently Gina is the Senior Advisor to the New Rochelle Y CEO.
Gina earned a Master’s Degree in Energy Policy and Programs from the University of Pennsylvania, and had a 20-year career in New York State’s electric utility industry before leaving the field to raise her twins. She, and her family, along with 3 dogs and 2 cats, reside in Pelham.
In addition to her role as Board President, Gina is spear heading a multi-year campaign to build a Training Center for Putnam Service Dogs.
David Bruen
Vice President
David Bruen was owner and President of Bruen Deldin DiDio Associates, Inc, an insurance brokerage firm with offices in Brewster, NY, Rocky Hill CT, and Coventry, RI.. Bruen Deldin DiDio specialized in Business, Personal insurance, Bonding, and Employee Benefits. David has recently retired from 43 years in the insurance business.
His community interests are Rotary Club of Brewster and Peach Lake Environmental Coalition. He enjoys fishing, golf, hunting, skiing and racquetball as well as family and friends. His Labrador Retriever Harley is always at his side.
Justin Kilian
Treasurer
Justin Kilian is a seasoned lending professional with over 20 years of experience in the financial service industry. Justin recently transitioned to Arlington Financial as a Senior Loan Officer, where he continues his dedication to assisting first time home buyers, experienced home buyers, and anyone looking for more information on the home buying process. Justin has served as the Treasurer for Putnam Service Dogs since 2018, has run their annual Funminster Dog Show Event in 2021 & 2022, and has volunteered at their Golf outings. An active member of The Greater Mahopac Carmel Chamber for over five years,
Justin has served as a chamber board member since 2019 and as the Vice Chairman since April 2022.
He has participated in various chamber committees including Mahopac Street Fair, Carmel Street Fair and Holiday in the Park. He is also a Master Networks Community Council Member and is on the Board of the Putnam County Business Council.
Originally an Astoria, Queens native (yet a Yankees fan), Justin has lived in Putnam County for the past ten years with his wife Kristen and two children, James and Erin.
Susan Mensi
Board Member
Susan has been an attorney for the past 25 years. By way of education, she first attended Pace University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, and she then went on to Pace Law School, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate degree. As a practicing attorney, she has focused primarily on medical malpractice, personal injury and litigation and has worked in both a large city law firm as well as small local firms. Susan has also been an active volunteer for several different entities, including various different schools and sports organizations. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and three children as well as their golden retriever, Charlie. Susan has been an avid dog lover her whole life, and she feels strongly that the combination of her legal experience, volunteerism and her passion for dogs will collectively help Putnam Service Dogs achieve its’ goals and deliver services to its’ clients.
Cindy Haas
Board Member
Cindy Haas has been a resident of Somers for 27 years, and a real estate professional for the past 18 years. She combines her knowledge of her community with her extensive business experience and saavy to good use: she’s been a consistent Top Producer at the William Raveis Office in Somers since 2002. Cindy has gained sales and marketing experience as she’s progressed in her career. She managed a sales staff of 30 before joining William Raveis, ran a Dancewear Company for 15 years, and now runs a very successful real estate practice. Cindy is a passionate dog lover and brings her focus, and zeal to the Board of Putnam Service Dogs.
Mike Hermoza
Board Member
Mike is an accomplished and experienced Treasury professional with expertise in global capital markets, risk management, strategic initiatives, among others. He received a BS in Accounting from Fordham University in 2006 and has been on an impressive upward trajectory in various financial management corporations. Mike was drawn to Putnam Service Dogs during a Volunteer New York intensive training seminar for professionals who want to dedicate their time and talents to New York nonprofits. In his current role at Tronox Holdings PLC Mike is covering clients and partnering with management across six continents to optimize working capital needs.
Mike has made a personal commitment to run a marathon in each of the seven continents and use these marathons to raise awareness and donations for Putnam Service Dogs!
Marty McGinnity
Board Member
“Our service dogs change lives.” This mission statement is what caught Marty’s attention and got her interested in Putnam Service Dogs. Marty graduated from St. Mary’s of Notre Dame and moved to New York City shortly after graduation to start working for IBM. A long and diverse career at IBM took her across several cross-functional assignments in areas such as finance and human resources with a major career focus on sales and marketing. She also served in an executive leadership position at FatWire, a software startup company. Her broad business background and strong leadership experience has helped her launch her own marketing consulting company Marty currently serves as a Board member for a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for Feeding Westchester and is an active participant in Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer events.
She lives in Tarrytown where she spends time with family, friends, and her seven-year-old Labrador, Murphy.
Nancy Teague
Founder/CEO
Ms. Teague holds both a B.A. in Business Administration (BBA) and a Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA) from the University of Michigan, graduating with distinction both times. She pursued a two-year MHA degree, rather than the one-year MBA as she wanted to help people. After sitting through too many meetings, she left the field of Hospital Administration. She sold various complex products – art, pianos, NYC residential real estate – matching people with products.
She found her life’s calling 15 years ago. She trained her mixed breed dog to be a therapy dog. When they visited their local hospital, she saw how much her dog helped people.
She then volunteered for Guiding Eyes for The Blind for 3 years. She fostered a brood dog, raised several puppies, and was an Early Puppy Socializer. She learned a lot about service dogs, and service dog schools.
She then joined the NE Board of Canine Companions for Independence for 3 years. (the largest Service Dog organization in the US). Their waiting list is over two years long. She saw the unmet need for service dogs for people with physical disabilities other than blindness.
Ms. Teague founded Putnam Service Dogs in 2016. She blended her long time support for mixed breed rescue dogs with the mission of Putnam Service Dog – changing lives through highly trained service dogs. Our trainers carefully select dogs from rescue organizations to train as our life enhancing service dogs. For further inquires, Ms. Teague can be reached at: nteague@putnamservicedogs.org