Board of Trustees
Our Board: Guiding the Way
OFFICERS
Monica and Roman Krawczyk
Co-Presidents
Monica and Roman Krawczyk serve as Co-Presidents of the Board of Directors of Splashes of Hope, bringing almost 30 years of unwavering dedication to the organization’s mission.
Monica and Roman believe it was destiny when, almost 30 years ago, their paths crossed with Splashes of Hope founder, Heather Buggee. After seeing Heather share her vision for Splashes of Hope on a local news broadcast, they reached out to meet her personally. Deeply inspired by her passion and purpose, they immediately offered their company’s facility as a workspace for the fledgling foundation, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the organization.
Over the years, the Krawczyks have witnessed firsthand the powerful impact Splashes of Hope’s transformative murals have had in easing anxiety and bringing comfort to patients, families, and healthcare professionals during some of life’s most stressful moments. Their involvement has remained hands-on and heartfelt, encompassing volunteer service, resource support, and strategic leadership to help advance the organization’s mission.
Splashes of Hope has long been an integral part of the Krawczyk family’s life. Monica and Roman have encouraged their parents, children, and many friends to become actively involved, fostering a multigenerational commitment to service. In recognition of their dedication and leadership, they were appointed Co-Presidents of the Board of Directors in the summer of 2020 to help guide Splashes of Hope into the future.
Professionally, Monica is a secondary educator in the West Islip School District in West Islip, New York. Roman is an entrepreneur and the owner of Point 2 Point Communications, a fiber optics and communications company. He is an electrical engineer and a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Monica and Roman are the proud parents of two children, their daughter Nicole, who is married to Adam, and their son James, who is married to Mariana, and they are the loving grandparents of their grandson, Henry.
Tom Chang Splashes of Hope's relationship with Tom Chang began in 2011 through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tom's son Ethan, a former wish child, is challenged with an extremely rare genetic brain disease (megaencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts). Ethan's wish granter, Dave Gussaroff , suggested that Splashes of Hope paint a one of a kind mural for his bedroom depicting all of his favorite things. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
Tom, a Master Solution Engineer and longtime Salesforce employee, has been instrumental in recruiting multitudes of volunteers, and encouraging them to donate their time and talents to Splashes. He currently proudly serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors.
Tom Chang
Vice President
Jennifer Coates
La Rosa
Treasurer
Jenny Coates shares the same passion for achieving her nonprofit clients’ goals as the organizations themselves. An accessible, trusted advisor, she puts excellence in client service first in guiding clients through audit and financial reporting matters.
Jenny takes a hands-on, straightforward approach, balancing the practical and technical aspects of her accounting services. Clients rely on her real-time advice on myriad complex accounting issues, from audit and financial reporting issues, new accounting standards, governance, board structure, and process improvements to public support test and the appropriate design and resources for finance departments. She plays a critical role in helping clients manage risk, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and remain compliant so they can stay focused on their missions. Jenny also oversees Lutz and Carr’s Employee Benefit Plans practice, as well as serves as treasurer for our not-for-profit organization in New York.
Before joining Lutz and Carr, Jenny led the finance department of a nonprofit organization and spent more than 15 years in public accounting, including in management positions at a “Big 4” accounting firm and a large regional public accounting firm. Her broad experience enables her to see situations from her client’s perspective and understand the nuances of each organization
Patricia brings a unique blend of experience in education, business, and the arts to her role at Splashes of Hope. In the early 2000s, Patricia met founder Heather Buggee while participating in a student exchange programan encounter that sparked a connection and eventual collaboration in the nonprofit's mission.
With a Master of Science in Education and an Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership from Dowling College, Patricia has been a dedicated Business Education Teacher at West Islip High School since 2000. She has developed and taught a wide range of college-level courses in marketing, business communications, and investing, and has proudly guided students as a DECA Chapter Advisor, Driver Education Coordinator, International Baccalaureate Instructor, and Virtual Enterprise Facilitator. In 2023, Patricia was awarded “Long Island Business Education Teacher of the Year”. Prior to her career in education, she served as Branch Supervisor at NYNEX Mobile Communications, where she led operations, staff development, and customer engagement.
Patricia is also the proud mother of an adult son who is an artist, further deepening her personal connection to the power of creative expression in healing and education.
Patricia Stack
Secretary
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JILL NICOLOIS, CFMP
Assistant Vice President & Marketing Manager
Jill Nicolois is Assistant Vice President & Marketing Manager for Maspeth Federal Savings, where she has worked since 2012.
DOMINIQUE WALKER, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Dominique Walker is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and works with those suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship/family difficulties, and life's stress.
STEVEN STARK
Sales and Marketing Consultant
In Steven's own words:
"I am a sales and marketing consultant who is passionate about brand building for companies that want to stress the 'why to buy' for their organization.
CHRISTINA ZANCA, CFMP
Marketing Professional
Christina Zanca is a seasoned marketing professional with long-time experience in the banking industry.
THERESA PATNODE SANTMANN
Entrepreneur, Inventor & Philanthropist
Theresa Patnode Santmann started life in humble surroundings, growing up on a farm in upstate New York.
JILL NICOLOIS, CFMP
Assistant Vice President & Marketing Manager for Maspeth Federal Savings, where she has worked since 2012. Currently, she is an active member of the Middle Village Kiwanis, Saint Stanislaus Kostka Educational Endowment Committee and Forest Hills Women’s Club. Raised in Middle Village, NY, Jill earned her Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University and Master of Science degree from Fordham University. She is a graduate of the ABA School of Bank Marketing and, in 2014, she earned her CFMP from the American Bankers Association. Since 2019 she has served on the ABA’s CFMP Working Group committee. Jill is the proud parent of two sons. She and her husband reside in Forest Hills, NY.
DOMINIQUE WALKER, LMHC
She is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and works with those suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship/family difficulties, and life's stress.
Dominique has over ten years of experience in residential, psychiatric facility and in home therapy.
Her therapy approaches is designed uniquely to the person or couple. She enjoys incorporating different techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, therapeutic games, art and even music. Dominique takes pride in being a support and guide to her clients and providing a safe place for discovery, hope and growth!
STEVEN STARK
In Steven's own words:
"I am a sales and marketing consultant who is passionate about brand building for companies that want to stress the 'why to buy" for their organization. I believe that custom codifying the marketing process will stretch a company's brand to amazing through transparency and measurable goals. I have developed a deep understanding of the customer behavior and driven by 'wants' and how to build his/her plan to gain acceptance.
I believe that one's code of ethics is the cornerstone of the brand. Strong brands provide a sense of wellness and a healthy environment to encourage positive employee engagement.
I am dedicated to giving to those in need through proper support. I am a leader who is passionate about exceeding goals and inspiring employees to achieve their own objectives based on the vision of the organization."
Steven Stark has over 35 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing, including 18 years at Sony Corporation . Steven holds relationships across a myriad of businesses, outsource PR, media, distributors, and retail entities.
Christina Zanca, CFMP
She is a seasoned marketing professional with long-time experience in the banking industry. She served as Vice President and Director of Marketing for Maspeth Federal Savings in Queens, where she led the strategy and operations of the Marketing function. Christina was a member of the Bank’s Executive Management team and ALCO committee and served as a liaison between the Bank and the Community, managing the philanthropic efforts and charitable giving programs for the Bank.
She started her career at Ridgewood Savings Bank in 2004, while attending St. John’s University. There she worked briefly for the Bank’s Mortgage Department before transitioning to the Marketing Department in 2005. During her seven-year career with RSB, she honed her Marketing skills and worked on several successful Marketing and Sales campaigns – all while continuing her education as a full-time student. After leaving RSB in 2011, she spent three years as AVP and Marketing Manager at Hudson Valley Bank in Westchester. Her time there was focused on building the social media and digital marketing strategy from the ground up, along with crafting campaigns to build the Bank’s mortgage business. In 2014, Christina moved on to JPMorgan Chase in Midtown. In her role there she worked on the Global Recruitment Marketing team where she was responsible for branding and creative marketing campaigns, content development and experiential programs.
Christina holds an Executive MBA in Management from Pace University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. John’s University. In 2017, she graduated from the American Bankers Association Bank School of Marketing and earned her CFMP certification. She continues to attend industry leading conferences and network with industry professionals.
In her spare time, Christina enjoys spending time with family and friends, is an avid reader and enjoys yoga and DIY projects. She is member of the Barnum Woods PTA and enjoys giving back to her community. She lives in East Meadow with her husband and daughter.
Theresa Patnode Santmann
Theresa Patnode Santmann started life in humble surroundings, growing up on a farm in upstate New York. She began her professional career as a registered nurse, and through hard work and determination, Santmann became a highly successful entrepreneur, inventor and business woman. She was the founder and executive director of two nursing homes in Suffolk County, Little Flower Nursing and rehabilitation in East Islip and Petite Fleur Nursing Home in Sayville. Additionally she created “In Katie’s Care”, a respite center named for her granddaughter, for the Suffolk County Girl Scouts Council.
Philanthropically, the personal commitment and generosity of Theresa Santmann has reverberated throughout Long Island and includes a $ 1, 000,000 gift in support of Winthrop University Hospital’s innovative research program. This contribution is aimed at finding the cause and a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) know as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Santmann’s interest in research resulted when her late husband, John, was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 30 and succumbed to the illness 18 years later.
In the year of 2011 President Keen of Farmingdale College announced the largest single gift in the history of the college, $ 1,000,000 donated by Theresa Patnode Santmann. The gift is creating four scholarships spread over the program in nursing, bioscience, dental hygiene and medical technology and will also support faculty research and the enhancing of student research.Theresa Santmann is also active in her community, having served as president of the Babylon village School Board, president of the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce and president of the Babylon Village Youth Project. She also served as vice president of Splashes of Hope.
Over the years Theresa Santmann has received numerous awards for her humanitarian efforts. In 1998, she was an honoree for the March of Dimes Woman of Distinction. In 1999, she received an honorary Doctor of Science degree and a distinguished Citizen award from Dowling College. Having been named one of Long Island’s top 50 women three times, she was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” by Long Island Business News. In 2006 she was honored by the Suffolk County Clerk and the law firm Siben and Siben at a fund raiser to benefit Hospice Care Network.
Theresa Santmann’s accomplishments are multiple and diverse, including a published autobiography entitled "In Gratitude to My Guardian Angel". In 1993, in an effort to make the patients in her nursing homes more comfortable, she developed a walker with a folding pivoting seat and harness, for which she holds a patent.
From 1998 to 2011 she sponsored 37 students in order for them to attend St. Lukes School in the Bronx.
For many years, she has served on the Splashes of Hope advisory board and as a Vice President on the board of directors. She has been very generous in sponsoring numerous Splashes of Hope projects, nationally and internationally, most notably of an orphanage in the Ukraine. Our sincere appreciation, Theresa!
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
BOB BIGLER
Bob Bigler joined the Splashes of Hope Board of Directors in 2015.
Catherine and Russ Brown
Catherine Brown holds degrees in Fine Arts and Advertising Design from Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island.
Christopher Fasano, CPA
Christopher Fasano is a Senior Manager at EisnerAmper LLP with more than ten years of public accounting experience.
Patrice L. Frank
Patrice has been a development professional for more than 30 years. She worked at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts since 2001.
Christine Gagnon
Christine Gagnon is an Audit Director with nearly 15 years of public accounting experience.
David Gussaroff
David Gussaroff is a longtime resident of Lloyd Harbor and dedicated supporter of our nonprofit organization.
Cathy Jusino
Cathy Jusino is a Realtor with Signature Premier Properties and is very active in the Long Island market.
Al La Rosa
A partner based out of Withum’s New York office, Al has over 30 years of professional accounting experience.
Greg Laupheimer
As a Social Media Marketing Advisor for Splashes of Hope, Greg brings a wealth of experience and passion to the nonprofit organization dedicated to brightening the world with art.
Steven A. Martello, MBA, J.D. PhD
Steven A. Martello currently serves as the Managing Director and Chairman of Delta Strategic Solutions Inc. (“Delta”)
Veronica "Ronnie" Shauder
Veronica Schauder is retired from Honeywell International-ADI, the largest distributor of security equipment in North America, in December of 2013.
Patricia Rossi, ESQ
Patty Rossi is an attorney, published author and freelance artist. Her written works have been featured in magazines, newspapers and literary journals.
Frank Trifaro
Vivian Youngblood
Chris Wright
Chris Wright is the head of the New York office of Protiviti Consulting and is the Regional Managing Director for the firm’s Eastern United States operations.
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