Jennifer E. Schimmel has built her career on one unwavering principal – the importance of helping others. She has dedicated both her personal and professional lives to philanthropic endeavors.

As executive director of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH), Schimmel is working to increase education and advocacy in hopes of eliminating substandard housing via homeownership opportunities. She brings a wealth of nonprofit experience to her role at GSHFH, including development roles for the Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, Hartford Seminary, Wadsworth Athenaeum, and Shakespeare & Company.

In addition to her development positions, Schimmel is also committed to volunteer opportunities. She is a member of the Home Builders Association of Western MA, serves as a Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Springfield, serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Chorus of Springfield and as the Colony Coordinator for colony chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha at Southern Connecticut State University. She is a recipient of Business West’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2011.

Schimmel received a bachelor’s degree in arts management/music from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a master’s of science in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Originally from Ludlow, Mass., Schimmel is married to Jeffrey Stanley and has a beautiful 18 month old son, Jackson. They currently live in Enfield, Conn.

Debra Boronski-Burack is a 25 year veteran in Chamber of Commerce leadership in Massachusetts. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the United States Chamber of Commerce Northeast Board of Regents and is on the Board of the Council of State Chambers. She is a registered lobbyist, a professor of marketing, and a published author. She holds a MS in Management. She is the Founder of the Massachusetts Chamber of Business & Industry and the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

I am participating in this trip because I want to give in a way that many cannot nor will ever be able to. This is a life experience I look forward to with the hopes of becoming a better, more informed and compassionate human being.

Chris Mastroianni was born in Springfield, MA. He has lived in Agawam, MA with his wife Susan since 1990.

Chris graduated from Western New England College with a Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) degree. He worked for American Bosch (which was purchased by United Technologies) for several years. When AB/UTC closed in Springfield in the early 80's, Chris and a few co-workers started a company called Governors America Corporation (GAC). This company designed, manufactured, and distributed electronic speed controls for stationary engines. Over the years, GAC grew from 5 to over 130 employees. After 20 years in the industrial controls business, Chris 'retired' from the engineering world.

During this 'between careers' period, Chris occupies his time with household projects (his house and those of friends and family). He also enjoys brewing beer, refinishing furniture, helping others with computer problems, and geocaching with his dog Chester.

Chris is looking forward to his Guatemala adventure with Habitat for Humanity and expects that it will serve as a launch of many future volunteering opportunities.

Sue Mastroianni is a native of The Bronx, NY and now resides in Agawam, MA with her husband Chris and dog Chester. Their favorite places to travel are the Caribbean and DisneyWorld. Sue enjoys baking, gardening, cheering for the Red Sox but most of all spending time with her family.

Sue is a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie NY with a B.A. in Communication Arts. She has been a partner at and Director of Media Services at FitzGerald & Mastroianni Advertising in Springfield since May of 2005. Previously she had been the Media Director for FitzGerald & Robbins Advertising for 15 years.

Sue has been a member of the Rotary Club of Springfield since May 2006 and has also served on their Board of Directors. She has served on the Auction, Greeters and Attendance committees and is currently Chairperson of the Publicity Committee.

Bob has many years of experience in the audit, quality review and client service areas of public accounting. He has served as a business advisor to numerous businesses in the manufacturing, retail distribution and service industries. Bob joined Meyers Brothers in 1995. Prior to that, through his own consulting practice, he provided financial officer functions, business planning and alternative financing to closely held businesses.

Before starting his own practice in 1991, Bob was with another local firm for four years. He became Partner in Charge of the Springfield office of Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitsoli in 1987, after starting with that firm in 1982. He was an Audit Manager at Alexander Grant from 1973-1982.

Bob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. In the community, he serves as president of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, vice president of the Lacrosse Officials' Association of Western MA, board member of the Children’s Chorus of Springfield and board member of the Scantic Valley YMCA.

Amy Scott, Principal, Wild Apple Design Group LLC

After eleven years in the sales & marketing trenches of the garment industry, Amy Scott founded Wild Apple Design Group in 2000.

Boasting a unique business model as a collaborative of commercial artists. Wild Apple Design Group now serves an impressive client list and has an extensive portfolio of promotional services. Offering strategy, planning, design & implementation in all forms & mediums.

Wild Apple Design Group contributes hundreds of hours annually to non-profit organizations including MSPCA, The Forest Park Zoo, The Friends of the Homeless, Springfield, Habitat for Humanity Greater Springfield and was a key marketing advisor for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Suffield, CT build of the Hill House.

Amy presents workshops to business audiences frequently on the topic of smart & contemporary marketing & graphic design and was a BusinessWest 40 Under Forty award winner in 2011.

Wild Apple Design Group LLC
Address: 434 Wilbraham Road, Hampden, MA
Phone: 413-265-5083
Web Site: wildappledesigngroup.com
Product or Service: Marketing Strategist & Graphic Design Firm
Year founded: 2000

My name is Natalie Wilson, I was born and raised in Springfield Mass. I am currently employed as a Police Officer in the City of Springfield and have been for 14 years. I enjoy reading, traveling, and outdoor actvities. As I have no children, I do have a dog named Kino, he is a 5 year old Boxer and my buddy. When I was looking for a venue to do volunteer work for, I thought Habitat for Humanity would be ideal. I believe everyone deserves a nice house to live in and one to call home. I began my volunteer work with Habitat about 3 years ago and have enjoyed the people I met along the way, as well as the gratitude I get from working with a family to help achieve their dream.

Being a Christian, I feel it is only natural to continue this work in all parts of the world if possible. Going to Guatemala is a first step for me in this journey. I feel this trip will be a life changing experience and a spiritual uplifting. I look forward to learning a new culture and making new bonds with our brothers in sisters in Guatemala. To my team members, I look forward to traveling, working, and starting new friendships with you.

Deirdre Griffin moved to Springfield two years ago to live with a community of Sisters of Saint Joseph at the Gray House, a neighborhood center in the city’s North End. She’s a lawyer, currently working as the Operations Manager with the Massachusetts Trial Court Office of Interpreter Services. She connected with Habitat for the recent Blitz Build and looks forward to traveling to Guatemala to help with the building there and to experience the homeland of so many of our recently arrived neighbors in the North End.