Board of Directors

Allied’s Board of Directors brings together leaders in business, community organizing, technology, finance, and advocacy.

Allied for a Purpose

Ryan Lawless

Chair

Ryan Lawless has been a member of Allied’s Board of Directors since January 2017. He currently works for NFP as a Senior Consultant, a role he has held since 2021. In this position, Ryan oversees all aspects of client relationships and ensures the successful delivery of services provided by NFP. Prior to joining NFP, Ryan worked for The Schuster Group as a senior consultant, where he managed client engagements and service delivery. Before that, he spent seven years at Prudential Financial specializing in employee communications.

Ryan is a past member of Anthem’s advisory board. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending quality time with his family.

Jerry Sullivan

Vice-Chair

Jerry Sullivan leads the PEMA team at Beazley, where he oversees the firm’s architects and engineers, lawyers, environmental liability, and M&A businesses. He has worked in professional liability for more than three decades and joined Beazley in 2005 after senior roles at Lexington Insurance and Executive Risk. He serves on several Beazley boards and has chaired the U.S. Management Committee.

Jerry serves on Allied’s Board because he believes strongly in its mission of supporting people with disabilities and sees the work as a meaningful way to give back to the community he and his family have been part of for many years. He brings extensive experience in risk management, governance, and leadership to the Board, along with a history of nonprofit engagement.

Rich Tkacz

Treasurer

Rich Tkacz is owner of Rich’s Oil Service and Rich’s Heating and Cooling in Enfield, CT. He has served on Allied’s Board since 2004. Rich is chairman and commissioner of the Hazardville Fire District, and previously served as director of United Bank and Rockville Bank.

Katie Collamore

Katie Collamore is a certified public accountant and certified internal auditor at the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, where she works in their Internal Audit department. She brings over a decade of public accounting experience specializing in the nonprofit sector, making her financial expertise invaluable to Allied’s Board of Directors. Katie has served on Allied’s Board since 2019, providing critical oversight and guidance on fiscal management and compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Assumption University and a master’s degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University.

Judy McNally

Judy McNally retired after a 36-year career at a major international bank, where she held leadership roles across loan servicing, accounting, and finance. She brings both professional expertise and personal experience to Allied’s board—she has advocated for her autistic grandson’s education and also grew up with an aunt with physical disabilities.

Judy received her MBA from the University of Hartford in 2010 and a master’s degree in cybersecurity management in 2015 from Bay Path University. Judy served for several years on a local condominium board in numerous leadership positions including president and secretary.

Karen Foley O’Connor

Karen Foley O’Connor is CEO of The Network Against Domestic Abuse, a nonprofit in Enfield, CT, providing free, confidential services to survivors of domestic violence. She joined the organization in 2020 after retiring as a sergeant with the Connecticut State Police, where she served from 1994 to 2020.

Karen is a POSTC-certified polygraph examiner and instructor, teaching law enforcement in criminal investigations, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from Central Connecticut State University and a master’s in forensic science from the University of New Haven. She graduated from the National Polygraph Academy in 2014. Active in her community, Karen is a member of Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Ashford with her three children.

Dwayne Samuels

Dwayne Samuels has proudly served on Allied’s Board since 2024, guided by their mission to provide individuals with disabilities or other challenges, the opportunity to live and enjoy a productive, independent, and fulfilling life. With six years of experience as a real estate agent, Dwayne brings a strong understanding of people, their unique needs, and the importance of creating stable, supportive environments. Dwayne’s connection to Allied’s vision of creating opportunities for people runs deep, and he is committed to ensuring each person has the support and resources they deserve. Backed by a trusted network of professionals, Dwayne approaches every situation with care, solutions, and a genuine desire to give back to the community in meaningful ways.

Anne Tingley

Anne Tingley, is senior branch manager at M&T Bank, bringing over 39 years of banking industry experience to her role. She oversees branch operations, customer and employee experience, deposit growth and retention, and community engagement. Anne has served on Allied’s Board of Directors since 2023, where her financial expertise and deep roots in the Enfield, CT, community—where she was born and raised—serve the organization. Anne enjoys spending time with her two daughters, three granddaughters, and grandson, and vacationing in Aruba.

Jo Ann Walk

Jo Ann Walk, owner of the State Farm Agency in Enfield, CT, has served on the Allied Board of Directors since 2013. Jo Ann is active in the Enfield community, where she is a member of the Enfield Rotary Club and the North Central CT Chamber of Commerce (NCCCC). She has also served on many boards, including the NCCCC, The Enfield Rotary Club, and Educational Resources for Children, Inc (ERFC). Jo Ann is an active community volunteer, dedicating time to numerous local events and causes, with particular commitment to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. Jo Ann enjoys hiking, golf, volleyball, and many activities that keep her moving.

Email us at board@alliedgroup.org.

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