Companion Star Board of Directors
Victoria Anne Cassano, MD, MPH, FACPM, CAPT MC USN (RET)
Board President
victoria.cassano@companionstar.org
Dr. Cassano is currently the Director of Radiation and Physical Exposures in the Veterans Health Administrations Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards. Her career in Occupational and Environmental Medicine spans over twenty years. Dr. Cassano is board certified in both Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. In addition, she has a Master of Philosophy in Human Genetics from Columbia University. She serves on various committees at the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Cassano has always had a keen interest in prevention and treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses of performers. She has consulted with stage producers, symphonies and dance and vocal organizations regarding ergonomic issues and has treated numerous artists suffering from overuse syndromes. As an avid choral singer, she has been a member of various choirs throughout her career. She is a member of the Women Diver's Hall of Fame.
Christopher Ross, Esquire
Board Member
christopher.ross@companionstar.org
Mr. Ross is a founding partner in Mayer, Ross & Hagan where he maintains an active caseload in both the Federal and State Courts covering numerous areas of law including Entertainment and Intellectual Properties. He is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. Previously Mr. Ross was a Producer for ABC Sports and ESPN.com where he was responsible for program initiatives and development for several online properties, including ABC College Football and The Triple Crown. Prior to arriving at ABC Sports he was Director of Information Services for the Women's Sports Foundation. His primary responsibilities included the physical and electronic dissemination of the organization's educational, research and promotional materials as well as management of the Foundation's internship program. Mr. Ross earned his Bachelor in Sports Studies with a minor in law from Ithaca College in 1996 and his Jurist Doctor from New York Law School in 2002 at night while working at ABC Sports.
Joseph Skelly
Secretary
joseph.skelly@companionstar.org
Joseph Skelly is VP of Marketing and Communications at CapitalStar Systems, the OTC broking systems provider. Mr. Skelly has contributed to our web site, marketing collateral and production materials since Companion Star's inception. His expertise includes print and online media production, user experience and interface design. Joseph has a bachelor of arts from Rider College and accreditation in financial analysis from the New York Institute of Finance.
Douglas Roddin, CPA
Treasurer
douglas.roddin@companionstar.org
Douglas Roddin is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years experience in accounting, taxes and financial matters. A graduate of Hofstra University with a BBA degree, he has held several positions over the years with the Internal Revenue Service, public accounting firms as well as private industries. He was employed eighteen years as a Tax Manager and accounting analyst by Newsday, a major newspaper publishing company located in Melville, NY. He is also a member of the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) and the NY State Society of Accountants. Doug is currently running his own tax and accounting practice with clients located throughout the United States.
Heather Wallace
Board Member
heather.wallace@companionstar.org
Heather Wallace currently serves as the Director of Marketing for City Harvest, New York City's only food rescue organizations. She joined City Harvest seven years ago as Direct Mail Manager and has since doubled the program's revenue. As Director of Marketing Heather is charged with the integration of the organization's brand image and messaging across all channels that reach the general public including direct mail, website, social media, ad campaign and general organizational materials. Prior to working at City Harvest Heather served as Direct Mail manager for the Rainforest Alliance where she launched their direct mail program and she worked on the ASPCA's program overseeing their monthly giving and premium programs.
Laura Lee Everett
Board Member
lauralee.everett@companionstar.org
Laura Lee Everett has spent the last two decades "wearing black clothing and being hidden from audience view" in opera houses across the United States. As an opera Production Stage Manager, she ensured that singers sang and orchestras played at all the appropriate moments in Anchorage, Aspen, Columbus, Costa Mesa, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Baltimore, and all points in-between. She has had the pleasure of working with some of the most renowned conductors, directors, designers and, of course, singers in contemporary opera.
Born and raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, Ms. Everett was "schooled early in the art of the Southern Comic Monologue." As such, she has always been on the lookout for a good story to relate to a captive audience; and during her years on the road, she amassed an impressive collection of backstage opera tales that rival the very best onstage storylines. In addition to overseeing productions at the nation's leading opera companies, Ms. Everett has long been passionate about mentoring young artists. After eight summer seasons as the Opera Administrator at the Aspen Music Festival and School, she joined the staff of the University of Maryland School of Music, where, as Studio Manager for the Maryland Opera Studio, her duties include serving as de facto "Den Mother to the Graduate Program" – and she couldn't be happier about it. During the summers, Ms. Everett works with up-and-coming young artists at the Wolf Trap Opera Company as well.
Ms. Everett is also a singer and pianist, can say "Will the Maestro report to the pit, please" in a variety of languages, makes excellent coffee, and is a proud resident of Baltimore City.
Advisory Board Members
Peter L. Kingan, Ph.D.
Board President
peter.kingan@companionstar.org
Dr. Kingan brings a wealth of experience in collaboration and organization of board work to our company. His board work has included president of the Dalmatian Organization of Houston, a board member of the Brookhaven Roe YMCA and chairperson for many community and college faculty/staff committee. He has been practicing as a licensed psychologist in Patchogue, New York for fifteen years and has been in the mental health field for nearly thirty five years. He is a specialist in group therapy and group dynamics, a member of US Masters Swimming with fifteen gold medals to his credit.
Keith Turnbull
Keith Turnbull is the Executive Director for Le Chien qui chante, a professional performing arts company in Montreal. He is a director, dramaturge and producer committed to contemporary work in both theatre and opera. He was the Artistic Director/Executive Producer of the Banff Centre's Theatre Arts and Song program for 15 years and is Canada's most experienced producer and director of contemporary opera.
Mary Ella Collins, Ph. D.
Mary Ella Collins holds a doctorate in music, has taught singers for over 40 years, and enjoyed a performing career. As the president of Mary Ella Collins and Associates she has represented artists for 19 years. She is a Board Member of NAPAMA (North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents), Opera America, and the American Symphony League. She has worked extensively as an arts consultant for music organizations and individual artists.
Richard Armstrong
Richard Armstrong's unique experience as a pioneer of the extension of the human voice began in the sixties when, as a founding member of the Roy Hart Theatre in France, he helped create one of Europe's most influential schools of voice and body research. From that time on, his work as teacher, director, and performer has taken him to over thirty countries, and inspired a whole generation of performers and their work. Richard is associate arts professor for New York University's Experimental Theater Wing at the Tisch School of the Arts.
Linda Cox
Linda Cox has spent thirty-three years in the magazine business at Holiday, House & Garden and as Creative Director of Cosmopolitan Magazine. During her years at Cosmopolitan, the magazine reached 3,000,000 in circulation and launched thirty-five foreign editions. She also created advertising campaigns for Atlantic Records. She was a founding partner in establishing a successful franchise business in Eastern Europe and was able, through her marketing expertise, to launch a previously unknown trademark into new territory. This experience has honed her marketing and design skills and her company, Portfolio, consults with major magazines as well as guiding creative vision for branding and corporate identities.
