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Board of Trustees

Leaders Working Together

Clarke’s Board brings together business, academic, philanthropic and community leaders.

Michael Budner

Michael Budner

Chair

Plymouth Meeting, PA

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Mike Budner, parent of a Clarke alum, joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2020 and was elected as Board Chair in October 2023 after serving in various leadership positions. Mike has seen firsthand the profound impact that a Clarke education can have on a child with hearing loss and her family. Mike is a partner at the firm of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C. where his practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury cases across the country resulting from construction accidents, propane and natural gas explosions, and other complex matters. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of Philadelphia VIP, a non-profit that provides pro bono legal services to individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations with civil legal issues, and volunteers his time as an attorney providing pro bono legal representation. Mike lives with his wife, Jen, and daughter, Olivia, in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Lara Zaroulis Mattina

Lara Zaroulis Mattina

Vice Chair

Jacksonville, FL

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Lara Mattina is the mother of a Clarke alum. A career prosecutor, she joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as Chief Strategic Advisor in November 2022. In her current role, she serves as an appointed member of the Sheriff’s staff, advising the Sheriff and executive staff members on agency priorities and strategic communication to the public. 

Previously, Lara served as the Director of Circuit Court for the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, and she was the first woman to serve in this position. In this role, Lara oversaw all of felony prosecution for Duval County, Florida. In addition to her supervisory duties, she served as both a member of the homicide rotation and the Officer Involved Critical Incident Review Panel. She previously served as a Special Victim’s Unit Division Chief and Circuit Court Division Chief. She was awarded “Rookie of the Year” in 2008 and was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving with the Bob Conner Memorial Award in 2010.

Andrew S. DeCastro

Andrew S. DeCastro

Treasurer

Duxbury, MA

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Andrew DeCastro joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2020 and was elected as Treasurer in 2021. Andrew is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategic Alliances at American Residential Services, a leader in the residential HVAC, plumbing and electrical space. He is responsible for all mergers and acquisitions and channel partnerships for the Company. Andrew lives with his wife, Lauren (Clarke alum), daughter, Hannah (Clarke alum), son, Wilfred, and dog, Penny, in the suburbs of Boston. He enjoys coaching youth ice hockey, playing golf, skiing and going to the beach with family as often as possible.

Robert I. Glassman

Robert I. Glassman

Clerk

Parkland, FL

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Bob Glassman is the father of Jeremy, a Clarke alum and cochlear implant user.  Bob is a retired Ernst & Young partner now enjoying his free time in Parkland, Florida, and Boston, Massachusetts. Bob brings his career experience and expertise to the Clarke Finance Committee. He was also active in the A.G. Bell Association, Massachusetts Chapter.

Mitch Benton

Mitch Benton

Trustee

Avondale, PA

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Mitch Benton brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the Clarke Board of Trustees. A long-time, active member of the Greater Philadelphia community, Mitch has been a regular volunteer and advocate for child development. He holds degrees from Pennsylvania’s Bucknell and Villanova Universities and has held director and executive positions at SEI Investments and Cloudvisor Wealth. Passionate about advancing the mission of Clarke, Mitch is committed to ensuring that all children have the resources and support they need to thrive.

Robert J. Bush, CPCU, CPIA

Robert J. Bush, CPCU, CPIA

Trustee

Ft. Washington, PA

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Bob Bush is a Senior Vice President with HUB International, the fifth largest insurance broker in the world. Bob was previously the President of Robert Bush & Associates, a strategic business development and consulting firm to the insurance and finance industry and was an executive vice president and chief advisory officer of publicly traded Beneficial Bank. Bob also sits on the boards of the Saint Joseph’s University, Maguire Academy of Insurance & Risk Management, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club and is a life member of The Union League of Philadelphia. Bob and his wife Marie have two married children and five grandchildren.

John F. Danahy

John F. Danahy

Trustee

Belmont, MA

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John Danahy is a Boston native and sibling of a Clarke alum. His sister, Anne, attended Clarke in the early 1970s, and regards her time at Clarke as life changing. John joined the Clarke board in 2017 and serves as chair of the Audit Committee. He is senior vice president at Fidelity Investments and is responsible for the firm’s digital managed advice offering, “Fidelity Go.” When not working with Fidelity or Clarke, John and his wife Alexandra, enjoy travel and keeping up to speed with the many activities and athletic events of their five children.

Siobhan Handley

Siobhan Handley

Trustee

New York, NY

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Siobhan Handley joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2021. Siobhan’s passion for Clarke’s mission was inspired by her experience as the parent of a Clarke alum. Siobhan saw how the gifted educators and specialists at Clarke provided the very best foundation for success for her child with hearing loss. Siobhan is the chief talent officer (CTO) at the law firm of Orrick LLP. Prior to becoming Orrick’s CTO in 2015, Siobhan was a litigator in the firm’s product liability and mass tort group.

Siobhan lives with her husband, Will, and children in New York City. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching and playing tennis, and traveling (including for sports with her children).

Adriene Hobdy, EdD

Adriene Hobdy, EdD

Trustee

Willow Grove, PA

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Adriene Hobdy, EdD, is a professional with extensive expertise in talent management, human resources, higher education, and finance. She holds a doctoral degree in leadership and innovation, along with master’s degrees in human resources management and an MBA in finance. Her fervor for education was sparked during her tenure at Rosemont College, where she successfully restructured the business curriculum and developed comprehensive training programs for small businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. 

Adriene has been honored with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Baird Finance Achievement Award at the Annual Women’s Lifestyle Conference, reflecting her unwavering dedication to community enrichment. Her steadfast commitment to excellence and her inspirational leadership have solidified her reputation as a highly respected figure in her field. 

Caroline D. Linz, JD

Caroline D. Linz, JD

Trustee

Haverford, PA

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Caroline Linz, parent of a Clarke alum, joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2016 after serving on the Steering Committee and Philadelphia Leadership Council since 2009. Caroline has witnessed how her son’s life was profoundly changed by the support and education he received from Clarke.

Caroline started her career as a lawyer and now serves as the Director of Development at The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, as well as the Executive Director of her family’s foundation. Raised with a strong sense of giving back and philanthropy, Caroline’s involvement spans volunteer work, board service and committee participation with organizations such as The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Haverford School, The St. George’s School, Female Association of Philadelphia, and the Professional Ski Instructor Association.

Caroline lives with her husband Brian, four sons, Charlie, Teddy (Clarke alum), William and Harry. She delights in watching her boys chase their passions through theater, skiing, football, hiking, lacrosse and surfing!

Bruce R. Maddern

Bruce R. Maddern

Trustee

Jacksonville, FL

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Bruce Maddern is a longtime advocate for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, an initial advisory board member for Clarke Florida, pediatric otolaryngologist and founder of a regional cochlear implant program.

Julie (Biron) Maletz

Julie (Biron) Maletz

Trustee

Gladwyne, PA

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Julie (Biron) Maletz, parent of a Clarke student, joined the Board in 2020 and is an independent designer specializing in industrial and user experience design. Julie was previously a senior industrial designer at Comcast where she was the lead designer of the award-winning XR15 and XR11 Voice Remotes. Julie has earned an Emmy Award, six iF Design Awards and five Red Dot Awards for her projects. She holds 10 patents for design and technology products. She has also chaired the Clarke Philadelphia Leadership Council and is very active in volunteering for Clarke. Julie is passionate about both design and accessibility and strives to bring the two together. Julie lives with her husband, two children, Jordan and Joey (Clarke student), and their dog.

Theodore Mason, MD

Theodore Mason, MD

Trustee

Springfield, MA

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Ted Mason began practicing in the field of Otology & Neurotology in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2002, specializing in medical and surgical disorders of the ears and hearing, in particular the diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing loss. He has performed over 500 cochlear implant surgeries, many of which have been for Clarke students and alums. He has been a member of the Clarke Board of Trustees since 2006.

Shawn Naugle

Shawn Naugle

President and CEO

Palm Harbor, FL

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Shawn Naugle was hired as the President & CEO of Clarke in July 2024. Shawn came to Clarke with more than 17 years of experience in non-profit leadership management, including a focus on advocating for the rights of children from many populations.  Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Denver and a master of public administration degree from Strayer University. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Shawn led his previous organization to the school’s highest student enrollment in its 11-year history. He also grew their net assets by $15 million in a three-year period and delivered a 30% increase in community and business partnerships to support operations.

Elizabeth Shingler

Elizabeth Shingler

Trustee

Richmond, VA

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Elizabeth Shingler joined Clarke’s Board of Trustees in 2019. Elizabeth is the parent of a Clarke alum and knows the value Clarke provides to its students and families. Elizabeth has seen first-hand how Clarke changes lives and wants to bring this opportunity to all interested families.

Philip Stefano

Philip Stefano

Trustee

New York, NY

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Phil Stefano resides in New York City with his wife and two children. Their daughter is a Clarke alum, having participated in speech therapy services and preschool instruction. Professionally, Phil has over 20 years in the insurance and financial services industries. His goal in participating on the Clarke Board of Trustees is to raise awareness of the organization’s mission, support with development opportunities and help to make Clarke more sustainable in hopes of ensuring that many future generations of children who are deaf or hard of hearing get the foundation they need to transition to mainstream schools.

Michael Straubel

Michael Straubel

Trustee

Chalfont, PA

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Mike Straubel, parent of a Clarke student and a Clarke alum, joined Clarke’s Board of Trustees in 2017 and went on to serve as Board co-chair from 2020 to 2023. As a current member of the Executive and Finance Committees and chair of the Investment Committee, Michael continues to dedicate his time to furthering Clarke’s mission of helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing develop the listening and spoken language skills they need to succeed.

Mike is a vice president for Victaulic before which he held key roles in corporate strategy, portfolio management and business development for several prominent publicly-traded and privately-held businesses throughout the United States and Europe.

Mike lives with his wife, Darragh, and their three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and traveling.

Brett Trevett

Brett Trevett

Trustee

Jacksonville, FL

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Brett Trevett was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. He is the founder and President of Point Properties, a full-service residential construction company and sales brokerage serving Northeast Florida. He and his wife, Patty, have three daughters and their oldest is a proud Clarke alum who is thriving in the hearing world.

Michael Budner, Plymouth Meeting, PA // Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C.

  • Partner, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C.
  • BA, History, Emory University; JD, Temple University Beasley School of Law, LLM, Trial Advocacy, Temple University Beasley School of Law
  • Parent of a Clarke alum
Mike Budner joined the Board of Trustees for the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in 2020 and was elected as the Chair of the Board of Trustees in October of 2023 after serving in various leadership positions. As the parent of a Clarke alum, Mike has seen firsthand the profound impact that a Clarke education can have on a child with hearing loss and her family. It is that direct connection that has brough Mike to champion Clarke’s mission and serve as the Chair of its Board to ensure that Clarke continues to grow and serve as many children with hearing loss as possible.
 
Mike is a partner at the firm of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C. where his practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury cases across the country resulting from construction accidents, propane and natural gas explosions, and other complex matters. Mike is a fierce advocate who has earned the respect of his colleagues and adversaries, alike, for his relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of each of his clients with the utmost care and compassion. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of Philadelphia VIP, a non-profit that provides pro bono legal services to individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations with civil legal issues, and volunteers his time as an attorney providing pro bono legal representation.
 
Mike lives with his wife, Jen, and daughter (and Clarke alum), Olivia, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and traveling.
 

Vice Chair

Lara Zaroulis Mattina, Jacksonville, FL // Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

  • Chief Strategic Advisor, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
  • JD, BA, Boston College Law School, Wellesley College
  • Parent of a Clarke student
Lara Mattina is the mother of a Clarke Florida alum. A career prosecutor, she joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as the Chief Strategic Advisor upon the election of Sheriff TK Waters in November 2022. In her current role, she serves as an appointed member of the Sheriff’s staff, advising the Sheriff and executive staff members on agency priorities and strategic communication to the public. Lara effectively communicates the Sheriff’s and the agency’s priorities and initiatives she in innovative ways to increase transparency, foster public trust, and build community partnerships. closely advises the Sheriff and executive staff members on a wide variety of matters intersecting legal, prosecutorial, and public perspectives.
 
Previously, Lara served as the Director of Circuit Court for the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, and she was the first woman to serve in this position. In this role, Lara oversaw all of felony prosecution for Duval County, Florida. In addition to her supervisory duties, she served as both a member of the homicide rotation and the Officer Involved Critical Incident Review Panel. She previously served as a Special Victim’s Unit Division Chief and Circuit Court Division Chief. She was awarded “Rookie of the Year” in 2008 and was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving with the Bob Conner Memorial Award in 2010.
 
Lara graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in 2001 with a major in English. She received her law degree from Boston College Law School in 2005, where she was honored as the Susan Grant Desmarias Award recipient, an annual award given to one student for outstanding work in clinical programs.

Treasurer

Andrew S. DeCastro, Duxbury, MA // American Residential Services
  • Senior Vice President at American Residential Services
  • MBA, Babson College; BA Hamilton College
  • Parent of a Clarke alum; spouse to a Clarke alum
Andrew DeCastro joined the Board of Trustees for the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in 2020 and was elected as the Treasurer in 2021.
 
Andrew is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategic Alliances at American Residential Services, a leader in the residential HVAC, plumbing and electrical space. He is responsible for all mergers and acquisitions and channel partnerships for the Company.
 
Andrew lives with his wife Lauren (Clarke alum), daughter Hannah (Clarke alum), son Wilfred, and dog Penny in the suburbs of Boston. He enjoys coaching youth ice hockey, playing golf, skiing, and going to the beach with family as often as possible.

Clerk

Robert I. Glassman, Parkland, FL // Ernst & Young LLP
  • Retired Ernst and Young Partner
  • MBA, NYU; BS, NYU
  • Parent of Clarke student
Bob is the father of Jeremy, a Clarke alum and Cochlear Implant user. The entire Glassman family is forever indebted to Clarke for the work they did with Jeremy and with all of us. Not only did Clarke teach Jeremy how to listen and speak, they taught us how to best work with him at home, and how important it is for him to advocate for himself. They helped us navigate the mainstream experience and remain a resource for us to this day, and Jeremy is now 25 years old!
 
Bob is a retired Ernst & Young partner now enjoying his free time in Parkland, Florida and Boston, Massachusetts.

Trustees

Mitch Benton, Avondale, PA // Cloudvisor Wealth
  • Chief Customer Officer, Cloudvisor Wealth
  • MS Computing Sciences, Villanova University; BS Mathematics, Bucknell University, 
  • Parent of a Clarke student 

Mitch Benton brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the Clarke School’s Board of Trustees. A long-time, active member of the Greater Philadelphia community, Mitch has been a regular volunteer and advocate for child development. He holds degrees from Pennsylvania’s Bucknell and Villanova Universities and has held director and executive positions at SEI Investments and Cloudvisor Wealth. Passionate about advancing the mission of Clarke School, Mitch is committed to ensuring that all children have the resources and support they need to thrive.

Robert J. Bush, CPCU, CPIA, Ft. Washington, PA // Hub International

 

  • Senior Vice President, HUB International
  • BS Insurance, Pennsylvania State University; CPCU, The Institutes; CPIA, AIMS Society
  • Parent and grandparent of Clarke alums 

Bob is a Senior Vice President with HUB International, the fifth largest Insurance Broker in the world. His focus is on Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships in the Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits and Retirement & Private Wealth sectors. Bob joined HUB through their acquisition of COSAINT Insurance Partners, a regional roll-up of Insurance Brokerage firms, where he was the President & COO. Bob was previously the President of Robert Bush & Associates, a strategic business development & consulting firm to the Insurance and Finance Industry and was an executive vice president and chief advisory officer of publicly traded Beneficial Bank. Bob was also the chairman, president & CEO of Paul Hertel & Co, Inc., a large regional property & casualty and employee benefits broker, with national and international expertise. He acquired the company through a management buy-out, and ultimately sold it to Beneficial Bank. Bob also sits on the boards of the Saint Joseph’s University Maguire Academy of Insurance & Risk Management, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club and is a life member of The Union League of Philadelphia. Bob and his wife Marie have two married children and five grandkids.

John F. Danahy, Belmont, MA // Fidelity Investments
  • Senior Vice President Fidelity Investments
  • MBA, Kellogg School at Northwestern University; BA, Harvard College
  • Sibling of a Clarke alum 

John is a Boston native and sibling of a Clarke alum – his sister, Anne, attended Clarke in the early 1970’s, and regards her time at Clarke as life changing. John joined the Clarke board in 2017 and serves as chair of the Audit Committee. Professionally, he is senior vice president at Fidelity Investments, and is responsible for the firm’s digital managed advice offering, “Fidelity Go.” When not working with Fidelity or Clarke, John and his wife Alexandra, enjoy travel and keeping up to speed with the many activities and athletic events of their five children.

Siobhan Handley, New York, NY // Orrick LLP

  • Chief Talent Officer, Orrick LLP
  • JD, New York University; BA, College of the Holy Cross
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 

Siobhan Handley joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2021. Siobhan’s passion for Clarke’s mission was inspired by her experience as the parent of a Clarke alum. Siobhan saw how the gifted educators and specialists at Clarke provided the very best foundation for success for her child with hearing loss. Siobhan is honored to be a member of the Board and to help Clarke continue to provide the critical services and support that are so crucial during the early years of a child’s hearing loss journey.  

Siobhan is the chief talent officer at the law firm of Orrick LLP. She is responsible for developing and executing talent and human resource strategies to advance the firm’s strategy and serve its clients.  In collaboration with the firm’s leadership team, she focuses on designing and implementing programs to recruit, inspire and advance the best legal and staff talent. Prior to becoming Orrick’s chief talent officer in 2015, Siobhan was a litigator in the firm’s product liability and mass tort group. 

Siobhan lives with her husband, Will, and children in New York City. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching and playing tennis, and traveling (including for sports with her children).

Caroline D. Linz, JD, Haverford, PA // The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education

  • Director of Development, The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
  • JD, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law; BA, Colby College; Deerfield Academy
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 
Caroline joined the Clarke Board of Trustees in 2016 after serving on the Steering Committee and Philadelphia Leadership Council since 2009. As the parent of a Clarke alum, Caroline has witnessed how her son’s life was profoundly changed by the support and education he received from Clarke, including early intervention, the preschool program, and itinerant support in his mainstream school. Caroline credits the teachers, staff and other Clarke families, who became like a second family, for providing all the possibilities and support that have enriched her son’s life. This strong bond has had a lasting effect on their lives, and it’s this personal experience that inspires Caroline to give back to Clarke in support of its mission and other families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 
Caroline started her career as a lawyer and now serves as the Director of Development at The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, as well as the Executive Director of her family’s foundation. Raised with a strong sense of giving back and philanthropy, Caroline’s involvement spans volunteer work, board service, and committee participation with organizations such as The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Haverford School, The St. George’s School, Female Association of Philadelphia, and the Professional Ski Instructor Association.
 
Caroline lives with her husband Brian, four sons, Charlie, Teddy (Clarke alum), William, and Harry along with their two Bernese Mountain dogs, Lotte and Burrow on the Main Line (originally from Marblehead, MA). Caroline is an avid skier and teaches skiing during the winter as a PSIA certified instructor. She delights in watching her boys chase their passions through theater, skiing, football, hiking, lacrosse and surfing!
Bruce R. Maddern, Jacksonville, FL // Retired, Physician
  • Retired, Physician
  • MD, Tulane University; Otolaryngology Residency, Tulane; Pediatric Fellowship, University of Pittsgurgh
  • Consultant Otolaryngologist, Advisory Board, Clarke Florida
Bruce is a longtime advocate for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, an initial advisory board member for Clarke Florida, pediatric otolaryngologist and founder for the regional cochlear implant program.
Julie (Biron) Maletz, Gladwyne, PA // Independent Designer

  • Independent Designer 
  • BFA, Industrial Design from Savannah College of Art and Design
  • Parent of a Clarke student 
Julie (Biron) Maletz is the parent of a child in Clarke’s Preschool Program in Philadelphia. She joined the Board in 2020 and is a independent designer  specializing in industrial and user experience design. Julie was previously a senior industrial designer at Comcast where she was the lead designer of the award-winning XR15 and XR11 Voice Remotes. Julie has earned an Emmy Award, six iF Design Awards and five Red Dot Awards for her projects. She holds 10 patents for design and technology products. She has also chaired the Clarke Philadelphia Leadership Council and is very active in volunteering for Clarke.  Julie is passionate about both design and accessibility and strives to bring the two together.
 
Julie lives with her husband and two kids, Jordan and Joey and dog. 
Theodore Mason, MD, Springfield, MA // Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeons of Western New England

  • Physician and Surgeon. Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeons of Western New England
  • BA, Cornell University; MD, University of Vermont College of Medicine
  • Physician specializing in hearing loss and cochlear implantation
Dr. Mason began practicing in the field of Otology & Neurotology in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2002, specializing in medical and surgical disorders of the ears and hearing, in particular the diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing loss. He has performed over 500 cochlear implant surgeries, many of whom have been Clarke students and alums. He has been a member of the Clarke Board of Trustees since 2006.
Shawn Naugle, Palm Harbor, FL // Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
  • President & CEO, Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
  • BA, Psychology, University of Denver; MA, Public Administration, Strayer University
Shawn was appointed as the President & CEO of Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech and started in July 2024. Shawn came to Clarke with more than 17 years of experience in non-profit leadership management,
including a focus on advocating for the rights of children from many populations. Shawn‘s passion, expertise, experience, charismatic leadership and compassion are helping steer Clarke towards even greater success in fulfilling our mission to provide children who are deaf or hard of hearing with the tools necessary to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.
 
Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Denver and a master’s of public administration from Strayer University. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Shawn led his previous organization to the school’s highest student enrollment in its 11-year history. He also grew their net assets by $15 million in a three-year period and delivered a 30% increase in community and business partnerships to support operations.
Elizabeth Shingler, Richmond, VA // KPMG
  • Senior manager, KPMG
  • JD, Brooklyn Law School; BA, Dickinson College
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 

Elizabeth joined the Board of Trustees for Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in 2019. Elizabeth is the parent of a Clarke alum and knows the value Clarke provides to its students and families. Elizabeth has seen first-hand how Clarke changes lives and wants to bring this opportunity to all interested families.

Philip Stefano, New York, NY // Essent Group Ltd
  • Vice President, Investor Relations — Essent Group Ltd
  • MBA, New York University; BS, Temple University
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 

Phil resides in New York City with his wife and two children. Their daughter is a Clarke New York alum, having participated in speech therapy services and preschool instruction. Professionally, Phil has over 20 years in the insurance and financial services industries. His goal in participating on the Clarke Board of Trustees is to help raise awareness of the organization’s mission, support in development opportunities, and help to redefine the business model to make Clarke more sustainable in hopes of ensuring that many future generations of children who are deaf or hard of hearing get the foundation they need to transition to mainstream schools.

Michael Straubel, Chalfont, PA // Victaulic
  • Vice President, Victaulic
  • BA, History. Gettysburg College; MS, Financial Services Services, Saint Joseph’s University
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 
Michael Straubel joined the Board of Trustees for the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in 2017 and went on to serve as the co-chair of Board of Trustees from 2020 to 2023. As a current member of the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and as chair of the Investment Committee, Michael continues to dedicate his time to furthering Clarke’s mission of helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing develop the listening and spoken language skills they need to succeed. As the parent of a Clarke alum, Michael has seen firsthand how with Clarke’s expertise and today’s technology, there are no limits for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 
Michael is a vice president for Victaulic, the world’s leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions. Michael brings over 15 years of global finance experience and is responsible for defining and executing Victaulic’s corporate strategy for major construction projects worldwide. Before joining Victaulic, Michael held key roles in corporate strategy, portfolio management, and business development for several prominent publicly-traded and privately-held businesses throughout the United States and Europe.
 
Michael lives with his wife, Darragh, and their three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and traveling.
 
Brett Trevett, Jacksonville, FL // Point Properties

  • Owner, Point Properties of Florida 
  • MBA, University of North Florida; BA, University of Florida
  • Parent of a Clarke alum 

Brett was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. He is the founder and President of Point Properties, a full service residential construction company and sales brokerage serving Northeast Florida. He and his wife, Patty, have three daughters and their oldest is a proud Clarke alum who is thriving in the hearing world.

Learn more about joining Clarke’s Board of Trustees