chippy

Vanessa Rehac

by Leave a Comment

Co-Secretary
Term Expires: May 2021

Vanessa joined the Character Council of Hamburg in 2007. During her tenure, she has served as Corresponding Secretary and Media Committee Liaison, as well as overseeing the updating of the Council website. Currently Vanessa holds the position of Secretary, a position that allows her to tap into her creative side by designing promotional materials for Council sponsored initiatives.

Following her Mom’s example, Vanessa is an active volunteer. In September of 2014, she will begin her 19th year as a Girl Scout Volunteer. In addition to being a Troop Leader, Vanessa has also served the Service Unit Team in many capacities, as well as volunteering on Girl Scout Council committees and as a National Delegate. Vanessa currently serves the Service Unit in a support capacity. She has also served the Blasdell PTA as an officer and event chair and has been involved with numerous fundraisers and charitable events including events for BRAINS, a not for profit that raises funds and awareness for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research, the AIDS Alliance of WNY, and Female Musicians Fighting Breast Cancer.

Vanessa is a graduate of Villa Maria College where she earned her A.A.S. in Retail Management and Marketing and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with a concentration in New Media from Empire State College where she was a founding member of the Niagara Frontier Center’s first ever Student Club. She is currently employed by Southtown Teachers’ Center where she uses her skills and experience to help educators, students and the community. Vanessa has four adult children, Brianne, Jessica, Rebecca and Paul Joseph and resides in Blasdell, with her husband of more than 30 years, Paul.

Pete Simon

by Leave a Comment

Treasurer

Champions for Character Liaison

Education Committee Liaison

Finance Committee Chairperson

Term Expires: May 2021

Peter Simon serves as the Character Council’s Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairperson, Champions for Character Liaison and is also a member of the Education Committee of the Council. Peter is a retired teacher from the Lake Shore Central School District, where he taught for 33 years. During his time at Lake Shore, Peter coached JV baseball, served as a member of the Teacher’s Union negotiations team as well as on a variety of committees. Peter is a graduate of Buffalo State College, where he earned a BS and Masters of Education degrees. Peter was born in Minnesota and later moved to Buffalo, and currently resides in Hamburg with Paula, his wife of more than 30 years and they have three adult sons, Matthew, Joseph, and John.

Peter’s interest and concern for the development of good character began long before his actual involvement in the Character Council of WNY. During his many years as a sixth grade teacher, Peter always felt that the teaching and recognition of character virtues was just as important as the teaching of Math, Language Arts or Science, and was among the first educators in his district to integrate character education into his daily lessons. Shortly after retirement, Peter was offered the opportunity to join the board of the Character Council of Hamburg. He welcomed this offer as a natural extension of his concern for the development of good character, only now he could share his passion with his community, helping and encouraging a wider range of the population to recognize and practice the various character virtues.

During his five years on the board of the Character Council, Peter has been encouraged by the growth of the board, and the dedicated work of its members that has helped to increase the focus and awareness of the importance of developing a culture of character in the Western New York community. Peter believes…“It’s up to the people who really care about our country to take a more active role in helping to determine the culture in which our children grow up. With perseverance and cooperation this goal is achievable. TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT.”

Desiree Weppner

by Leave a Comment

Vice President & CHANGE Conference Co-Director

Term expires 2021

Desiree Weppner began her involvement with the Character Council of WNY in 2014 while working as a school counselor at St. Gregory the Great School in Williamsville, NY.  Desiree accepted a Board of Directors position in February 2018, to become more involved in the character initiative and is currently Board Vice-President. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling, minor in Psychology and received the Academic Achievement Award in Mental Health Counseling from Gannon University, followed by a Master’s Degree in Elementary School Counseling from Edinboro University.

Desiree spent most of her career helping, advocating for, and educating children, beginning with the Boys and Girls Club of Erie, in the position of Social Recreation Director. Next she worked as a Wrap Around Staff Supervisor at the Sarah A Reed Children’s Center in Erie, PA. along with being an Adjunct Professor in the Counseling Department at Gannon University. Later, she took on a position as a school counselor at James W. Parker Middle School in Edinboro, PA.

Desiree returned to Buffalo in 2002 and currently works as a Client Services Specialist at Level Financial Advisors.  Here she feels at home in a work environment that supports the same mission of integrity and honesty as the CCWNY promotes. Desiree participates in the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and volunteers in her parish and community.  

Elizabeth Bradley, Ed.D.

by Leave a Comment

Elizabeth Maess Bradley was born, raised and attended college and university in Western New York. She and her husband Archie have been married for 41 years and are the proud parents of Bridgette and Daniel.  They have four wonderful grandchildren.

Elizabeth Bradley, Ed.D. was the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction of the Frontier Central School District in Hamburg, New York.  In the 23 years Dr. Bradley was with the Frontier School District, there were significant gains in student achievement.  Frontier was rated very highly by Business First newspaper and the University of Buffalo’s Study of Effective Schools.  Dr. Bradley earned her doctorate at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her work in curriculum and staff development and accountability models has been commended. She is currently the president and senior consultant of E J Bradley & Associates.

As consultant for school districts, her focus has been on creating cultures of accountability and respect. Dr. Bradley has experience handling complaints of employee misconduct, boundary-crossing behavior and sexual harassment.  She has consulted and conducted training for over 40,000 educators for school districts across New York State, Massachusetts, and Arizona on the topics of creating a culture of respect, professional behavior, harassment prevention, and handling allegations of misconduct.  Dr. Bradley was a featured speaker at New York State School Boards state conference. She served as the 2012 seminar presenter for Utica National Insurance on Preventing Misconduct and Dealing Effectively with Allegations. She has served as an expert witness in civil and employee discipline cases in New York, Indiana and Florida.

As a trainer in the private sector, she has received outstanding reviews from corporate managers and supervisors on the Leadership Skills and Effective Teams courses she developed and teaches. As a certified Franklin Covey 7 Habits and Trust Building trainer, Dr. Bradley has worked with educators, school boards and leadership teams. Dr. Bradley received the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Health Educators Association, Administrator of the Year Award from the Western New York Women in Administration Group, the Path Finders Award from the New York State Women in Administration Association, and the Distinguished Dissertation Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Path Finders award from Business First News.

Dr. Michael S. Brophy

by Leave a Comment

President, Hilbert College in Buffalo, New York

Dr. Michael S. Brophy currently serves as the president of Hilbert College in Buffalo, New York. He took office at the Hamburg college in January 2019.  Previously, he served as the president of Benedictine University (Chicago and Phoenix) and Marymount California University (Los Angeles).

He became president of Marymount in 2006 when it was a small Catholic liberal arts college in Southern California. He led the transformation of the private two-year college to a multi-site university with undergraduate and graduate degree offerings, doubling enrollment, leading successful fundraising campaigns, and spearheading facilities improvements that built new living and learning environments.

In 2015, Dr. Brophy was appointed president at Benedictine and led the University as it implemented its new strategic plan by increasing fundraising, opening a new college of business, implementing new programs, leading a program prioritization process, and growing its graduate, online, Arizona campus, and community college partnership enrollments. This strengthening of the University lead to an increased Standard & Poor’s financial rating and a reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. At both institutions, Dr. Brophy championed access and increased Hispanic student enrollment.

Prior to his presidencies, Dr. Brophy served as a campus dean within the University of Wisconsin system and as an enrollment management leader at Long Island University (New York), the State University of New York, and The Sage Colleges (New York). Dr. Brophy also served as an enrollment consultant to the Kentucky, Indiana, and Louisiana community college systems.

Dr. Brophy earned a BA in music and a MA in English from The College of Saint Rose, an MFA in writing from Long Island University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A Fulbright award recipient, Dr. Brophy has taught and conducted research in Europe and Cuba. As a filmmaker he has written, directed and edited three films that screened at film festivals, theaters, museums, universities, and foundations throughout the United States, Cuba and Europe, and has had screenplays selected to the Independent Feature Project Market in New York. As a musician, he has accompanied gospel choirs and performed with students and faculty in classical, pop, and jazz settings.

Dr. Brophy and his wife, Tara, reside in Western New York with their three children.

Vincent J. Coppola, Ed.D.

by Leave a Comment

Dr. Vincent J. Coppola, after serving seven years as the Executive Director of the Western New York Educational Service Council at the North Campus of the University at Buffalo, now serves the Council as a full-time Search Consultant.  The Western New York Educational Service Council has been in existence since 1949 and was chartered by the Board of Regents in 1966.  The Council provides educational consulting services to public and private schools throughout the Northeastern part of the United States.  The Council staff has completed approximately 400 searches for the position of school superintendent since 1966.

After spending 40 years working in the public schools as an English teacher, guidance counselor, assistant high school principal, principal of a middle school, Director of Personnel, and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Coppola retired as Superintendent of the Corning City School District in July 1998.

Dr. Coppola has taught graduate courses in administration and counselor education at Canisius College and the University at Buffalo.

Vince  has been a keynote speaker at several state-wide conferences and has participated in presenting educational seminars at the national level.  He was honored to be selected by the Executive Educator Journal as one of the top 100 administrators in North America.  He received the Top Educator Award from Phi Delta Kappa and was selected by the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce to receive the Educator of the Year Award.  He is also the recipient of the Dean’s Service Award as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo.

Dr. Coppola’s most recent honor was his selection as one of the five educators in New York State and one of 24 in the United States to receive the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award presented by the University Council for Educational Administration.