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Who We Are

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Our Mission…

is to promote the benefits of good character and facilitate the continual development of character excellence within ourselves and those we serve.

We serve our community by:

  • MODELING character excellence in our personal and professional interactions;
  • BUILDING awareness and understanding of the importance of personal character for sustainable success;
  • SUPPORTING individuals, families, business and the community as they strive to promote strong character;
  • PROVIDING training, resources, and support for character development initiatives within each community sector;
  • COLLABORATING with existing community resources and facilitating partnerships to enhance character visibility and strengthen character development opportunities; and
  • ACKNOWLEDGING people and/or organizations that demonstrate character excellence.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Suzanne L. Bracci

Suzanne L. Bracci

President Term expires May 2021      Suzanne L. Bracci has been an active member of the Character Council of WNY and its initiatives since 2010. She...
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Desiree Weppner

Desiree Weppner

Vice President & CHANGE Conference Co-Director Term expires 2021 Desiree Weppner began her involvement with the Character Council of WNY in 2014 through her current...
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Pete Simon

Pete Simon

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...
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Vanessa Rehac

Vanessa Rehac

Co-SecretaryTerm Expires: May 2021 Vanessa joined the Character Council of Hamburg in 2007. During her tenure, she has served as Corresponding Secretary and Media Committee...
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Lorene Boyd

Lorene Boyd

Term Expires 2023 Lorene accepted a Board of Director’s position for Character Council of WNY on June 10, 2020. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in...
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Lucas Cellino

Lucas Cellino

Term Expires 2021 Lucas Joined CCWNY in October of 18′ after being made aware of the open board seat from his former Hilbert College Business...
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Melissa Frawley

Melissa Frawley

CHANGE Conference Co Director Term Expires 2021 Melissa accepted a Board of Director’s position in September 2018, with an interest in continuing her years of...
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Denise Pacer

Denise Pacer

Term Expires 2021 Denise Pacer joined the Character Council of Western New York in May 2017. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor of...
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Jerry Parisi

Jerry Parisi

Member Schools Chair Scholarship Committee Chair Term Expires May 2021 Jerry J. Parisi began his involvement with the Character Council of WNY while serving as...
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Spencer Payne

Spencer Payne

Term Expires 2023 Spencer joined the Character Council of WNY Board of Directors in the summer of 2020. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in...
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AMBASSADORS

Elizabeth Bradley, Ed.D.

Elizabeth Bradley, Ed.D.

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...
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Dr. Michael S. Brophy

Dr. Michael S. Brophy

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...
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Vincent J. Coppola, Ed.D.

Vincent J. Coppola, Ed.D.

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...
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Michael Cornell

Michael Cornell

Superintendent, Hamburg Central School District Michael Cornell currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Hamburg Central School District, where his colleagues, the students, and...
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Jerry Deionno

Jerry Deionno

Jerry lives in Hamburg with his wife Gloria and daughter Georgia. He graduated from St. Francis High School and attended Buffalo State College.  Mr. Deionno’s...
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David Esposito

David Esposito

Managing Partner, Harvest Time Partners, Inc. David is a combat veteran, business executive, husband, father, and creator of character-building resources that help individuals, families, and...
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Andrew P. Fleming, Esq.

Andrew P. Fleming, Esq.

Andrew P. Fleming was admitted to practice in New York State in 1986. He is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo Law School and a...
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Gerald P. Glose Ed.D

Gerald P. Glose Ed.D

Gerry was born and bred in Western New York. He grew up in Amherst and attended St. Benedict’s elementary school and Canisius High School. After...
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Russ Gugino

Russ Gugino

Born and raised on Buffalo’s West Side as one of 4 children to Italian-American working class parents, Russ attended Buffalo Public Schools. After graduating from...
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Ann Heraty

Ann Heraty

Former Character Council of WNY Board of Director Ann Heraty is currently a member of the Ambassadors for Character Advisory Board of the Character Council...
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF AMBASSADORS

Our Vision

Thriving communities with positive character at their core.
“Better Me. Better We. Better Community.”

Better me – Recognizing that positive character is foundational to my journey to become my best self, and then taking action to continuously strengthen my core character.

Better we – Positively impacting, inspiring and educating those whom we work with, live with, go to school with, serve with and love. Connecting, Serving and Sharing.

Better community – The acceleration of positive character growth and development within families, neighborhoods, school communities and organizations as more and more people strive to be their best self and care for one another, resulting in safer, healthier, happier, more connected communities.

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