The School Advisory Board provides the leadership to foster an environment that provides underlying Catholic values, long-term strategic planning and financial stability. This role of the School Advisory Board complements the school’s mission which is to nurture and foster the spiritual, moral, intellectual, physical and social growth of the student through its religious and academic curriculum and extracurricular programs.
Our Principal works interactively with the School Advisory Board to fulfill the School Advisory Board’s responsibilities in the school’s strategic planning, finance, facilities, marketing, and development activities.
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD
Father Joseph A. Marcello, Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish
Father Joseph A. Marcello is the Pastor of the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena. He is an alumnus of St. Catherine of Siena School (Class of 1990) and is the uncle of a current student and of a recent alumna. Following his studies at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Fairfield University, and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Father Marcello was ordained to the priesthood in 2003.
Father Marcello has also served the Diocese of Bridgeport as Vice Chancellor, Vicar for Clergy, Director of Seminarians, secretary of the Presbyteral Council, and on the formation faculty of the diocese’s Permanent Diaconate Formation Program. He currently serves as a member of the Presbyteral Council, of the diocese’s Building and Sacred Arts Commission, the Liturgical Commission, and the Vocation Admissions & Advisory Board. His support of the Principal is rooted in the Catholic Identity and Mission of SCSS and ensures a strong relationship between the parish and the school communities.
Michelle Powrie, Principal of St. Catherine of Siena School
Mrs. Michelle Powrie has been the principal of Saint Catherine of Siena School, bringing over 25 years of experience in education, from classroom teaching to school leadership. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Saint Thomas Aquinas and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Fordham University. With a deep commitment to Catholic education, Mrs. Powrie has dedicated her career to fostering environments where academic excellence and faith development go hand in hand.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Powrie has led school communities with a focus on collaboration, open communication, and a student-centered approach. For the decade before joining Saint Catherine of Siena, she served as principal at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and prior to that led Saint Paul’s School in Valley Cottage, New York.
Her extensive experience in both administration and early childhood education informs her approach to leading a dynamic, supportive, and faith-filled learning environment.
As a mother of twins who graduated from Catholic school, Mrs. Powrie understands the importance of nurturing students’ growth both academically and spiritually, as well as the sacrifice parents make to provide their children with a Catholic education.
She remains dedicated to building strong partnerships with faculty, staff, and parents, creating a vibrant school community where every student feels supported and inspired to reach their full potential.
CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rosario “Ross” Bacarella
Rosario “Ross” Bacarella has been the President & CEO of BTX Global Logistics, a full-service transportation and logistics organization, for the last 43 years. Ross has spearheaded the growth of BTX from a single terminal in Connecticut to a global organization with over 40 regional offices across the U.S. and Canada. Ross graduated from Nichols College in Massachusetts in 1980 with a B.S. in Marketing and Management. He has held numerous board positions within his industry and in 2018 he was named top CEO by Hearst Connecticut Media’s Top Workplaces. Ross is married to his college sweetheart, Susan, and they have six children and five grandchildren.
Ross and his family are very involved in giving back to the youth and local community. Ross has coached Trumbull Pop Warner football for 2 decades, mentored young adults and supported initiatives at St. Joseph High School. In addition to his personal philanthropic efforts, the “BTX Cares” program was established at BTX Global Logistics to mirror Ross and his family’s core belief of giving back to the community through a variety of efforts ranging from monetary donations, to the raising of supplies, and hands-on volunteering.
Ross’s expertise on business development and deep roots in the local community supporting the Principal with identifying community resources, securing expertise in board members, and he is committed to the growth and strengthening of SCSS. He is also serving on the Parish Council at St. Catherine of Siena Parish and is actively involved in supporting the efforts between the parish and the school. His children are alumni of SCSS and currently he has grandchildren attending the school. Ross is serving as the Chair of the Advisory Board of St. Catherine of Siena School and was appointed by Fr. Joseph Marcello and Bishop Frank Caggiano in 2023.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS (in alphabetical order):
Enrico “Rick” Costantini, Esq.
Rick Costantini is a Partner with the law firm of FLB Law having earned his J.D. from the Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2009 and a B.A. in Political Science from Rhode Island College. As a partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Corporate & Business Transactions Practice, Rick routinely represents clients in M&A deals, corporate governance matters, leases and financing, and real estate and development projects. Rick’s practice also involves serving as outside general counsel to privately held businesses providing both legal and strategic advice for those companies.
Rick currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Housatonic Community College Foundation, as the Board Secretary. The HCC Foundation provides financial assistance to students seeking higher education and helps enhance the learning experience for those attending the college.
In Rick’s role as an SCSS Advisory Board Member, he brings his legal acumen to the strategic planning of the school by providing legal perspectives on decisions that affect the school’s long-term goals. In addition, Rick advises the board on contractual matters and governance issues to ensure that the school’s interests are protected and that the board operates within the proper framework of its guidelines.
Rick and his wife, Erin, both attended catholic grammar and high school (St. Joseph High School Class of ’00) and chose to send their daughter to SCSS based on its reputation as a close-knit community. Rick was appointed to the SCSS Advisory Board in September 2023.
Patrick Donegan
Patrick Donegan is a Trumbull resident along with his wife, Mary Ellen, a graduate of St. Catherine of Siena School (SCSS). They are enthusiastic advocates of Catholic education and their commitment to SCSS has been an integral part of their family including all five of their children graduating from SCSS. In addition, Pat and Mary Ellen graduated from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull and keeping with their dedication to Catholic education, their four sons and daughter (Spring 2024) graduated from St. Joes.
Professionally, Pat is the Senior Managing Director at The Riverside Company – a global private equity firm. He specializes in building and leading the Go-to-Market, Sales and Marketing functions at growth businesses to create value, build high performing teams, and achieve systematic and predictable scale. Prior to joining Riverside, Pat was a Managing Director at Performance Improvement Partners and Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG). Previously, Pat worked in leadership roles at Gartner, MasterCard and LRN. He began his career at Otis Elevator Company and holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University.
Annie George-Puskar, PhD
Annie George-Puskar is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Curriculum & Teaching at Fordham University's Graduate School of Education in New York City. She earned her PhD from The University of Connecticut in Educational Psychology & Leadership with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. At Fordham, she runs a research lab and mentors several students pursuing their doctorates in education. Her research specializes in Leadership Development and Cross-Sector Policy in New York City- working closely with the New York City Department of Education and New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Prior to her time at UConn, she completed her Certification in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University. She worked at a private school for students with special education needs in Washington D.C. as a behavior specialist and program director after completing her Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees in Psychology from The Catholic University of America, where she met her husband, John.
In her role as an advisory board member, she provides support with academic curriculum, Catholic Identity efforts, policy and procedural development and efforts to improve parent communication. She is a Dame in the Order of Malta and she and her husband are the Co-Chairs for the Auxiliary members for the Connecticut area of the Order. She is also on the leadership and planning team for Malta Camp USA, an annual week-long summer camp for adults with disabilities and developmental delays. Annie and John have been members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish since 2014 when they moved to Connecticut from Washington D.C. They have two children attending SCSS, with another future Crusader biding her time for a few more years. Annie was appointed to the board by Bishop Frank Caggiano in August 2023.
Bob Hojnacki (‘Hojo’)
Bob Hojnacki (‘Hojo’) brings over 40 years of Business Development experience in the financial industry and business start up arena. He is skilled in finding, nurturing and securing new clients to build business networks.
His background includes working for global banks like CitiCorp, Chase, NatWest, and HSBC. In addition, he has worked at local community banks including helping to start the Bank of Fairfield (now Bankwell), helping to raise over $17 million in startup capital. He has also held roles at Patriot Bank. His responsibilities have included Director of Municipal and Nonprofit Banking, First Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Corporate Sales across these financial institutions. Bob also was the General Manager at the Start Up Division at The Food Network called Cooking Across America where they helped discover and build on-air talent including Emeril and Bobby Flay.
Bob has extensive knowledge in developing relationships throughout the various communities in Fairfield and New Haven and Hartford Counties. His roles have provided him to build a large network and relationships with key business and community leaders and town economic leadership throughout the state.
In his role as an advisory board member, Bob is instrumental in supporting the efforts in fundraising and advancement through his connections to members in the community. He was appointed to the board by Bishop Frank Caggiano in April of 2024. Bob earned a B.S. from St. Francis College and an MBA from St. Johns University. Bob and his wife Lynne, have lived in Fairfield for over 35 years.
Patrice Kopas
Patrice Kopas is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Mrs. Kopas received her BA from Michigan State University (Go Spartans!), her Master of Science degree from Southern Connecticut University and her Professional Certificate in Administration from Sacred Heart University. Mrs. Kopas began her career in education as a Middle School teacher at All Saints Catholic School in Norwalk. She has had the honor of serving the students of St. Catherine of Siena School first in 2009 as the Interim Principal during Sister Ann Marie’s medical leave and then again for the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, Mrs. Kopas was the Principal of Greenwich Catholic School for 13 years prior to her appointment to the Office of the Superintendent.
In her role as an advisory board member, she provides guidance and support in matters of administration, school leadership, Catholic Identity, and academics. Mrs.Kopas resides in Weston and is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Robert Marini
Robert Marini is owner and managing member of RAM Building Group, a full service general contracting and construction management company. Robert started RAM Building Group in 2003 with the conversion of the Golf Digest Building to the Park Avenue Medical Center in Trumbull. Robert has successfully managed and completed projects for major corporations such as Northwestern Mutual, AIG Trading, Bank of Austria, Pitney Bowes, Sempra Energy Trading, Merrill Lynch, and institutional organizations including Sacred Heart University, University of Bridgeport, Fairfield University, King & Low-Heywood School, New Canaan-West Elementary School, and Convent of the Sacred Heart. Prior to starting RAM Building Group, Robert was a Project Director for A.P. Construction in Stamford, CT. In addition to nearly 40 Years of construction and project management experience, Robert received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University.
Robert and his wife Sheila, a local elementary school teacher, are lifelong residents of Trumbull, where they raised their two sons, both of whom are now married and reside in Connecticut. Robert has maintained strong ties to the Trumbull community by serving on several governing boards and coaching football and lacrosse teams. His volunteerism has encompassed public service and religious enrichment.
Robert’s role on the St Catherine of Siena School advisory board is to provide expertise to Ms. Powrie in the area of facility management and building improvements to provide a safe, effective and positive environment to the St Catherine of Siena School community. Robert was appointed to the board by Bishop Frank Caggiano in August 2024.
Jeremy Nappi
Jeremy Nappi has over 20 years of nonprofit fundraising and management experience with an extensive background in fundraising campaign development and execution, one-on-one solicitation, and event planning. He is currently the Vice President of Fund Development & Operations for the Greenwich United Way. In that role, Jeremy has run many successful fundraising campaigns. This includes campaigns to launch and sustain a program that works to narrow the achievement gap from prenatal to 5 as well as to launch an intensive outpatient behavioral health program for youth and adolescents. Jeremy’s prior volunteer experience includes serving two terms as a board member for the Fairfield University Alumni Association.
Jeremy supports the principal with fundraising strategies and execution and grant writing to support the initiatives of the school. He is a current parent of a student, and he and his wife were Catholic educated from elementary through college, being one of the many reasons they chose to send their child to St. Catherine of Siena School. Jeremy was appointed for the Board by Bishop Frank Caggiano in February 2024.
Richard “Dick” Spencer (Board Chair Emeritus)
Richard “Dick” Spencer and his wife Carol have been members of St. Catherine’s parish since 1981 when they moved here from Staten Island, NY. Their daughter Marie entered 2nd grade that year and their son Matthew started kindergarten in 1988.
Professionally, Dick completed his degree in Accounting and Data Processing in 1966 he started working for Continental Can Co. in New York City as a Programmer Trainee. Over the 30 years he worked there he created and implemented multiple comprehensive Human Resources systems, managed a large unit of programmers, and was the Director of Human Resources Information System (HRIS) when Continental Can was sold in 1991. Following this Dick worked at the NY City Transit Authority as the Sr. Director HRIS for 5 years and then as a consultant at Danbury Hospital for 4 years. Dick ended his working career after 7 years at Boehringer Ingelheim Drug Co. He was a member of multiple international drug testing groups, handling all computer related aspects within the testing environment.
Dick and Carol were leaders of the Home School Association (HSA). Dick has been a firm supporter of Catholic education and a strong advocate for SCSS. A few years after Dick served on the HSA Dick was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board when it was started at the direction of the Diocese and served in that role for over 38 years, until 2023. Dick’s efforts to support SCSS were driven by a desire to express his thanks to Sr. Anne Marie and his love of Catholic education and to strengthen the bond between SCSS and the St. Catherine parish community.
John Vazzano
John Vazzano is the creator and owner of The Original Vazzy’s restaurant in Bridgeport since 1993. His successful restauranteur career has led him to multiple awards including winner of CT magazine’s Best Caterer in CT in 2020, and has grown to become the largest and most popular catering service in Fairfield County. For over 25 years, Mr. Vazzano has had his own 501c3 foundation, Mailin Goldsone Foundation, supporting the inner city causes in Bridgeport, CT. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Homes for the Brave, PCAC State Police Commissioner’s Vice President, Past Barnum Festival Ringmaster and President of the Barnum Festival.
Mr. Vazzano’s commitment to Catholic Education is seen with his service and generosity to schools in the area. He is on the board for Kolbe Cathedral High School along with serving as a board member for St. Catherine of Siena School. He supports the school with fundraising efforts and strategy for advancement. Mr. Vazzano’s family is rooted deeply in SCSS as he is a proud alumni of SCSS, his three sons attended SCSS, and currently his grandsons attend SCSS.