President: Mary Ellen Mayo Mary Ellen Mayo has a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration. A stint as the Director of Acton Nursing Services gave her an understanding of home care. In addition, she has professional experience as an MS (multiple sclerosis) nurse specialist since 1990. Mary Ellen has experience with support services in institutions as well as in the community, as her son James was in a Northampton nursing home for three years. She and her husband, Charles, worked with a community program to set up the supports they needed to raise James at home. Mary Ellen is the Chairperson of The Arc of Massachusetts Government Affairs Committee. She is concerned about the lack of support for parents, especially single working mothers. One of the reasons she became active in The Arc is that she wanted to work on making support services more available for families. Mary Ellen and Charles live in Franklin with their three children, Katie (8), Lizzie (3), and James (16). Secretary: Christopher Andry, Ph. D.  Since 1999, Chris Andry has been Administrative Director, Department of Anatomic Pathology, at the Boston Medical Center (BMC). He developed the “Here to Help” Program at BMC, which addresses adults and elders with cognitive or intellectual disabilities. Chris continues to oversee the program as well as being active on other projects at BMC. A native of the UK, Chris lives with his wife, Virginia, and two children in Melrose. He has a brother with a disability who lives in England.  Treasurer: Daniel C. Loffreda Daniel Loffreda is an independent consultant with senior-level executive experience in the field of finance, management, strategic planning, and controls. He was previously Deputy Director of Finance for Modern Continental Company, based in Cambridge. Prior to that, he was a tenured Professor of Accounting/Finance and Management at Mount Ida College, where he received the Presidential Award for “meritorious achievements.” He also served as president and CEO of the Lodan Management Group of Boston, a consulting firm providing management and financial assistance. Daniel holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University and an MBA in Business Administration/Finance from Babson College, as well as a doctorate in Economics and Commercial Sciences from the University of Rome. Daniel and his wife live in East Boston. Immediate Past President: André Blanchet, M.D. André Blanchet is Medical Advisor to Shriver Clinical Services and Clinical Director of the Medical Safeguarding Initiative in southeast Massachusetts. He provides assistance on health-related issues to the community of persons and organizations that provides supports and services to consumers of the Department of Mental Retardation. André has served on The Arc of Massachusetts board since May 2000. André has served as President of the Canadian Association for Community Living, which is the national parents’ organization for people with developmental disabilities in Canada. He is also an Advisor to the national People First movement in Canada and to the State Self-Advocacy organization in Massachusetts. He has authored many articles and has given conferences throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. He has worked as a consultant with consumers’ organizations, agencies, and governments. Vice President: Frederick Misilo Fred Misilo is a director of the law firm of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple, P.C., with offices in Worcester and Framingham. He practices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the areas of estate planning, trust and estates, elder law, probate and real estate. He is a former Deputy Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation and Executive Director of Harbor Area Community Services, Inc. of Boston. He is a frequent lecturer on estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning and disability-related issues.  In his local community, Fred served on the Holden Board of Selectmen from 1989 to 1998. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and on the Public Safety Building Committee for the Town of Holden. Fred holds a law degree from Suffolk University Law School, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He and his wife, Sandra, live in Holden. They have two children: Geoff (23), and Jessica (13). Meet the other members of the Board of Directors