Our Board Of Directors

Steve Little, BS, MBA

Independent Director
ALC Board of Directors: Vice Chairperson
Vice Chair: Finance Committee
Member: Governance Committee; Philanthropy Strategic Planning Working Group
Chief Information Officer Xerox – Retired

Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. With more than 40 years’ experience in Information technology, Steve has spent his career in international companies, almost exclusively in management positions. Currently retired, he was most recently Corporate Vice President and Chief Information officer for Xerox, where he had responsibility for all of Xerox’s information technology activities.

Prior to Xerox, Steve spent 20 years with Schneider Electric in various Information Technology management positions, the last 7 years as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. While as CIO of Schneider Steve lived in Paris France and had extensive experience working with many different cultures, especially those in Europe and Asia. Prior to Schneider Steve spent 10 years at AON corporation as CIO of its specialty insurance businesses. Steve has many interests, one of which is helping young people get a start in life.

Kate Cryder, AGE

Independent Director
ALC Board of Directors: Acting Treasurer
Member: Finance Committee; Fundraising Working Group
Tax Collector, Town of Deep River

Currently the Tax Collector in Deep River, Kate earned her Certification as a Connecticut Municipal Collector and hopes to serve the town years into the future.

Her background is diverse and includes many years in the restaurant business; from family businesses on Long Island to Food Service Director in several private retirement communities here in Connecticut. Kate is an experienced bookkeeper and presently holds a position as accounts manager for an electronics distribution firm. Passionate about animal welfare, Kate has also been employed by SaybrookPolice Department, Animal Control Division since 2009.

Kate earned an Associates degree in general education while living in North Carolina, a non-profit certificate from Duke University and later an accounting certificate here in Connecticut.

Amy Macmillan Winchell, BA, AAS, CCTC

ALC Board of Directors: Secretary
Member: Governance Committee; Fundraising Working Group
Town Clerk, Town of Deep River

While Amy holds associate degrees in Graphic and Advertising Design and Patternmaking Technology, her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Syracuse University got her started in her career as a patternmaker for various garment manufacturers. She lived and worked in New York City, Boston and Connecticut in the garment industry for 12 years before deciding to stay home to raise her family.  While she had experienced depression, anxiety and mental illness among family members, it was her son’s diagnosis of autism at age two that set her on her path to A Little Compassion. Through family and community support the Winchell family was able to face autism head on with dramatic results.  Amy went from being her son’s greatest advocate to being a paraeducator in the Region #4 Special Education preschool where she helped 3 and 4-year old’s learn necessary social skills.

When the opportunity to run for the position of Town Clerk arose, Amy campaigned to be an elected official in her beloved hometown of Deep River. She has served unopposed in that position since November 2009 and hopes to continue to serve her community in that capacity for many more years.  Amy is also a member of the CT Town Clerks Association and serves on the Education Committee as well as Chairwoman of the Certification Committee. She is also the Treasurer of the Middlesex County Town Clerks Association.

While Amy grew up in Deep River, she returned with her husband, Dale, to raise their three children in 1997.  While she had been anxious to get out and explore the world, coming home to Deep River was the right thing to do.

Ken Chmielewski, BS

Independent Director
Member: Finance Committee; Fundraising Working Group
Licensed Financial Advisor at Edward Jones

Ken is a licensed Financial Advisor with Edward Jones whose office is located in Deep River, CT just walking distance from The Nest. He focuses on partnering with individuals, families and business owners to help them reach their long term financial goals. Ken holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

Ken’s first introduction to The Nest was through a friend who works there. Since then, he has become a huge fan of the coffee, the chicken salad sandwiches, the vibe and most importantly, the mission. When the opportunity presented itself to actually become involved in A Little Compassion and The Nest, it was not a difficult decision.

Ken is an active member of The Rotary Club of Deep River. He is also a current member and a past president of The Deep River Merchants Association. He enjoys participating in Habitat For Humanity builds and The Alzheimer’s Association.

Ken has a lifelong passion for music.  He is a songwriter and guitarist who enjoys recording original music in his home studio.  He is also a member of a local band called Butter Jones.  Ken and his bandmates frequently offer their services to help in community fundraising efforts and have played at many events over the years to benefit local groups.

Ken lives in Ivoryton, Connecticut with his two dogs Charlie and Louie. He has three adult daughters who fill him with pride and two grandchildren who fill him with joy.

Gale Dilger, BS, MS

Independent Director
Chair: Nest Gatherings and Social Activities Working Group; Alexandra Dilger Award Working Group
Member: Fundraising Working Group
Paraprofessional

Gale is a paraprofessional working with children with special needs at Essex Elementary School.

Her previous career was in human resources management with several companies including Northeast Utilities and Yankee Gas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College and a master’s degree in organizational behavior from the University of Hartford.

In between careers, she was a full-time Mom to three children, volunteering in numerous roles including president of the Deep River Elementary School Board, board member of Tri-Town Youth Services,  and TopSoccer volunteer. Currently, she is a member of the Deep River Garden Club; vice president of the Sisterhood at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in New Britain, a member of The Nest’s fundraising and Gathering committees and a member of the Killingworth Refugee Resettlement Committee.

Mary Jo Helchowski, BFA

Independent Director
Vice Chair: Nest Gatherings & Social Activities Working Group Member: Fundraising Working Group; Marketing & Public Relations Working Group
Children’s Book Illustrator

Mary Jo graduated from the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in 2014 with a BFA in illustration. She currently works not only as a freelance illustrator of children’s books, but also as a graphic designer at a printing company. She works creatively, regardless of the task, and is able to come up with unconventional solutions to difficult problems.

Though an artist by trade, Mary Jo has quite a bit of personal experience when it comes to fitting in, finding acceptance, and helping others do the same. No one has ever sat alone at a lunch table on Mary Jo’s watch.

Mary Jo is currently the youngest board member, but she is confident she brings something new and quirky to the table and gives a voice to the population ALC serves for the simple reason that she is a young adult who needs a soft place to land.

Maxwell Jones, BS

Independent Director
Chair: Marketing & Public Relations Working Group
Member: Fundraising Working Group; Philanthropy Strategic Planning Working Group
Account Director & Sr. Email Strategist – Blue Moon Digital, Inc.

Max holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology – Sports Administration with a focus in Public Relations from the University of Houston and is currently employed as an Account Director and Sr. Email Strategist with Blue Moon Digital, Inc. supporting large national retail clients with their digital marketing and paid advertising efforts.  Before his current role at Blue Moon, Max managed the email marketing program for national homebuilder David Weekley Homes, and assisted all digital media efforts such as paid advertising, website content updates, and customer care responses. He also worked with the marketing department for Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) where he supported all PR and Social Media efforts, as well as coordinated promotional events for their monthly performances and their yearly awards show.  Before his career in the marketing industry, Max worked for a non-profit organization, MetDance, which focuses on providing dance education to children across the greater Houston area.  At MetDance, he also managed their annual fundraising competition and workshop events.

Prior to completing school, Max travelled the world working professionally as a performer and entertainer. He worked with Disney Entertainment in Tokyo and Orlando, spent two years performing at sea with Celebrity Cruise Lines, and then toured the US performing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. Max enjoyed teaching dance as much as he did performing, which then led to a 10-year teaching career where he taught musical theatre and dance to students and adults of all levels and abilities.  With his personal values of family, passion, travel, and authenticity, Max is currently focused on creating as much of an impact as possible in whatever way he can. Max and his husband Jeremy have two dogs (Max (the dog) and Toby), and are enjoying spending time with their newborn daughter Addison. Texas is currently home, but family extends from Ohio to Louisiana and across the pond to England.

Carol Zierhoffer, BS, MSCIS

Independent Director
Chair: Governance Committee; Finance Committee
Senior Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer at Bechtel Corporation – Retired

Carol holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. With 35+ years’ experience in the IT industry, Carol currently is the SVP & Global Chief Information Officer at Bechtel Corporation. Carol oversees Bechtel’s Global Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) organization with responsibility for Bechtel’s IT infrastructure, operations, information security, software applications and technology solutions for Bechtel business lines and projects worldwide. Carol leads a team of approximately 1000 IT professionals focused on digital transformation, innovation, global collaboration, information security and operational efficiency.

Carol’s prior technology experience includes: Vice President & Global Chief Information Officer of Xerox Corporation (2012 – 2014), Vice President & Global Chief Information Officer of ITT Corporation (2008 – 2011), and Vice President & Chief Information Officer of 3 Northrop Grumman sectors (1988 – 2008).

Carol also serves on the board of directors of Vizient, Inc, (June 2016 – present) where she is a member of the Audit Committee and had previously served on the Board of MedAssets (April 2013 – January 2016) where she was the founding chair of the Information Technology Committee and served on the Audit Committee. In addition, she also serves on the Advisory Committee for Nutanix, Inc. (March 2019 – present).