John A. Graziano, Jr.
President
John Graziano is an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He began working with nonprofit organizations when he was a just a teenager and quickly learned the keys to successful non-profit management. He is credited with helping several organizations to reinvent themselves for survival. John has developed a unique association management organization which uses experience and tradition, technology, market awareness, and quality employees to assist organizations in achieving success.
Denise Sheehan
Executive Vice President
Denise Sheehan is an experienced leader in both government and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining CHMS, she successfully led the international non-profit organization, The Climate Registry, and was responsible for managing the organization’s $2.5 million budget, as well as ensuring the organization’s success in a challenging economic environment. Denise also has 20 years experience in New York State government. She previously served for ten years in senior management positions at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including two years as Commissioner. Denise also served for ten years at the NYS Division of the Budget and she has served on several public authority and non-profit Boards.
Ralph Bizzarro
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Ralph Bizzarro currently serves as Vice President for Finance and Operations at CHMS. Ralph leads our North Carolina Office and oversees all of the financial activities involving CHMS association, non-profit, and business clients, as well as the firm’s infrastructure and information technology operations. Ralph has two decades of extensive experience in a wide variety of financial settings.
Jim Thompson, IOM, CAE
Vice President of Association Management and Strategic Development
Jim Thompson serves as Vice President of Association Management and Strategic Development where he directly oversees the day-to-day activities of the association management team in our Raleigh, North Carolina office. Jim is a Certified Association Executive with more than 20 years of experience in the field.
He most recently served for nine years as the Executive Director of the Association Executives of North Carolina where he successfully increased AENC's membership from 400 members to nearly 750 members during his tenure. Jim previously served for five years as the Director of Business Development for the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®
Thomas Coté, MBA, CAE
Strategic Advisor
Thomas Coté serves as Strategic Advisor, bringing his vast experience as an Executive Director for state and national associations to our clients. Serving in an advisory capacity, Thomas offers his unique expertise in problem-solving, best practices, and strategic development to assist clients in achieving optimal performance. Thomas is a Certified Association Executive, serves as a Commissioner on the CAE Commission, a DELP Scholar at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and a Former Board Chair of the Empire State Society of Association (ESSAE) as well as the ASAE Young Professionals Committee.
Thomas is often invited to present on many association management topics, such as strengthening relationships between national and affiliated organizations, diversity and inclusion, board governance best practices, volunteer engagement, and association leadership. He enjoys facilitating strategic planning sessions to guide organizations toward delivering upon their mission.
Rebecca Miller
Director of Government Affairs
Becky Miller serves as Director of Government Affairs at Capitol Hill Management Services. In that role, Ms. Miller works directly with clients to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to accomplish their policy goals. Becky served as Association Manager and Government Affairs Coordinator at CHMS. As an Association Manager, Becky served as Executive Director of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND), while managing several other clients.
In her capacity as Government Affairs Coordinator, Becky worked with a multitude of government affairs clients as an advocate, managing lobby days and grassroots advocacy, as well as monitoring and tracking legislation and ensuring clients’ needs were met. Becky also served as Director of Communications for a state-wide political party, where she coordinated state-wide campaign communications and events, wrote, distributed and monitored press releases and communications, developed effective communications strategies, and managed daily public relations operations. Becky holds a Master of Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University at Albany.
Donna Johnson, CMP, CMM
Director of Meetings and Events
Donnna Johnson is a Certified Meeting Planner with over 20 years of demonstrated success in the planning and execution of meetings, trade shows, conferences, and events. Donna assists with site selection, contract negotiation, manages budgets, develops programs, manages exhibitions, and provides complete oversight of all aspects of meeting planning and production for CHMS.
Donna attained the Certified Meeting Professional in 2007, and in 2010 received her Certification in Meeting Management, which is the premier designation achieved by experienced and highly accomplished members of the global meeting industry community, showing the business standard of excellence for meeting professionals, held by less than 1,000 Meeting Planners worldwide.
Sarah Quinn
Director of Communications and Marketing
Sarah Quinn serves as Director of Communications and Marketing providing counseling and industry expertise to our clients. She works with the association manager and client to provide overall communication and marketing direction to make sure the organization is showcased in the most effective and efficient way. Sarah oversees all marketing services pertaining to websites, email blasts, advertising, collateral, digital/print newsletters, and social media. Sarah’s greatest strengths are her creativity, drive, and leadership which propel her to accomplish any business objective.
Sarah’s experience includes working as the Director of Sales for a hospitality company managing the sales and marketing efforts for 13 properties for just under 10 years. Sarah graduated from Bay Path University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Meagan Bowker, CAE
Director of Association Management
Meagan Bowker is a Senior Association Manager and Section Head with Capitol Hill Management Services where she currently oversees the Association Management Department and serves as the Executive Director of the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE), Executive Director of the American College of Epidemiology (ACE), and Executive Director of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP). Ms. Bowker has demonstrated success in overseeing strategic planning and the implementation of her association partners’ long and short-term goals.
Ms. Bowker is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and was named the 2019 Rising Star by the Empire State Society of Association Executives for demonstrating extraordinary potential for future leadership in association management. She is also a graduate of the Empire State Society of Association Executives Association Leadership Academy.
Meagan serves as a Director of the Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Strategic Partnership & Marketing Engagement Committee.
Victoria Palasieski, CMP
Director of Association Management
Victoria Palasieski is a Senior Association Manager and Section Head at Capitol Hill Management Services where she provides oversight and support to the Association Managers. Ms. Palasieski currently serves as the Executive Director for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND) and the Executive Director for the New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians (NYSAVT). Ms. Palasieski also provides administrative services to the New York State Adult Day Services Association (NYSADSA) and Automotive Recyclers Association of New York (ARANY).
Ms. Palasieski earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credentials in 2018 and is a Meeting Planners International (MPI) New Member Scholarship Recipient. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Psychology, with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology, from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She is a graduate of the Empire State Society of Association Executives 2019-2020 Association Leadership Academy.
Karen Miles, CAE, CMP
Director of Association Management
Karen Miles, CAE, CMP is the Director of Association Management with Capitol Hill Management Services in our North Carolina office where she provides oversight and support to the Association Managers and serves as the Executive Director of the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering.
Ms. Miles is a proven leader and has over 20 years of experience with integrating technology and project management resources to lead strategic planning, budget development, conference and program planning, marketing and membership retention goals.
Ms. Miles is both a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), and is a graduate of University of Maryland and has a degree in Business Administration.
She is an active member of the Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
