My Family
I was born in Amsterdam, NY, and raised in the small rural town of Perth, NY, where everyone knew each other. My parents, Lena and Biagio, owned a meat market/grocery store similar to our village's Gabriels. As the middle child of five, I have an older sister and brother, as well as a younger sister and brother. We enjoyed a tight-knit family life, gathering every Saturday night after the store closed for dinner and games with relatives from both sides of the family. Being athletic kept us busy, too. I still see my high school friends and semi-pro football brothers frequently. Later, when my wife Linda and I got married, we sought a home in a small village with the services we for a safe, comfortable life and a quality school district. Scotia became that place and remains so. We have three children: Erica, who lives in Florida with her husband Kyle and our grandsons Parker and Tanner; our eldest son Bruce, who is relocating to Hagaman with his fiancée; and our youngest son Alex, who resides in Rotterdam with his partner Nick. Our extended family is large and close-knit, and we cherish spending holidays and weekends together. Family is very important to us.
Who I Am
My career has been shaped by a wide range of work experiences that helped develop my work ethic, leadership abilities, and commitment to serving others. While working my way through college, I held a variety of jobs, including positions in the mills in Amsterdam, a machine shop specializing in high-end electronics, landscaping, and my parents’ family store. These early experiences provided a strong foundation for my professional life.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Siena College, I worked as a chemical reactor-room manager. Following a series of personal and family events, I decided to pursue a career focused on helping others. I joined the New York State Office of Mental Health, where I held numerous positions over more than 30 years. During that time, I managed multimillion-dollar budgets, worked with all levels of government, and contributed to the development and delivery of behavioral health services. I ultimately retired as Director of Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
Following my retirement, I was invited to join Foothold Technology, an electronic health record company specializing in behavioral health. More recently, I was appointed to the Board of Advisors of Radicle Health, Foothold Technology’s parent company. In addition to my board and advisory responsibilities, I provide consulting services to behavioral health agencies and stakeholder groups, drawing on my extensive experience in public service, service delivery, and health information technology.
I have also been actively involved with the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA), serving as Vice Chair, Co-Chair of the Opioid Crisis Taskforce, Co-Chair of the Public Health Workgroup, and Chair of the Membership Committee. Through this work, I have collaborated with staff from the U.S. Congress and several federal agencies on issues affecting health information technology, public health, and behavioral health.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to gain experience in a broad range of areas, including budgeting and financial management, project management, team building, leadership development, personnel development, long-term planning, service design, regulatory development, and revenue management. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of collaboration, thoughtful planning, and practical solutions that improve services and outcomes for the people and communities they serve.
I remain committed to supporting the continued advancement of behavioral health services and technology, helping organizations navigate complex challenges, and sharing the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my career. However now my focus is being your mayor, a role of great importance to me and role that I do not take lightly, and I am honored to serve as your mayor.