Amy Lacey
I have been a member of the Irish Heritage Society of Milford since the clubhouse opened and have volunteered and participated in several club activities including:

Co-Chair of the Cultural Committee with Maureen Moore
Co-Chair of the History Committee with Sheila Johnson
Member of the Communications Committee
Chair of The Virtual Milford Irish Arts Expo
Member of the IHSM Glow Golf Committee
Chair of the IHSM Knitting Club
Member of the IHSM Book Club
Member of the IHSM Genealogy Club
IHSM Bartender & Bartender at the Milford Oyster Festival Beer Tent
Volunteer at the IHSM Festival
Past Member of the Activities Committee

My Irish Heritage: Offaly, Laois, and Dublin

I am employed by the Fairfield Board of Education and have taught at Stratfield Elementary School for 23 years. As a Connecticut teacher, I have had the privilege to teach in all the elementary grade levels from Kindergarten through Fifth grade. I am currently a K-5 Math Science Teacher and support K-5 students with direct instruction in mathematics. In addition, I support teachers in both science and math through professional development and coaching. Also, I have been the Coordinator for Camp Invention’s Summer Camps in Fairfield for the past 5 years. I not only love to teach math and science, but I also enjoy learning and teaching all aspects of technology.

I am incredibly grateful to have been named the 2020 Irish Woman of the Year and to have been involved in many aspects of the IHSM. If elected President of the IHSM Board of Directors, I will support the fine work of past board members to further the growth of our beautiful club. Besides volunteering at the IHSM, my other interests include traveling, skiing, fifing for The Spirit of Black Rock Fife and Drum Corps, researching family genealogy…and now Irish golfing!

Noeleen Nelson
I am honored to have been nominated for the position as Vice President for the board. Since becoming a charter member of the Irish Heritage Society of Milford, I have had the opportunity to promote Irish culture through various roles that I have immersed myself in. I am one of the founders of The Tara Theatre Company and to date we have produced 12 Irish plays that provide our dedicated audiences with a glimpse of Irish humor, songs and drama.

I am currently president of Slainte which is our non-profit charitable organization which provides scholarships for students and donates to local charities. Our fundraisers have proved hugely beneficial for our recipients and also for our supporters who have enjoyed a wide variety of performances with several of the artists being of Irish descent.

As previously stated I feel humbled to have been selected as one of the nominees for the upcoming board. If elected, I will continue to work to the best of my ability to promote Irish culture and to assist the board to the best of my ability.

Go Raibh Mile Maith Agat

Noeleen Nelson

Erin Rengier
My family (husband Mike, son Brian, and daughter Lauren) and I joined the IHSM in October 2018. Mike and I have volunteered at the Irish Festival and Oyster Festival IHSM tents. I am pleased to now serve as the Treasurer starting in March 2022 and was overwhelmed with the warm welcome I received after taking the position. I am nominated for a full term this election and look to continue to help support the longevity of our club.

Irish Heritage: Cork, Roscommon

Professionally I am a Senior IT Project Manager and own Qualerin Consulting, LLC specializing in supporting companies with their IT project and portfolio management. I worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for 23 years and Bridgewater Associates for 6 years.

My local volunteer experience includes Girl Scout Troop Leader and Treasurer for Milford Pack 7 Cub Scouts. I served on my national sorority’s board of directors as Director of Alumnae. My team of 20 volunteers designed programming for over 20,000 alumnae and solicited and placed volunteers throughout the organization. I also served as judicial board chairman, parliamentarian, and collegiate advisor.

Sheila Olcott

I am honored to be nominated for the position of Secretary for the 2023-2024 term.

I have been an IHSM member since November of 2015. Since then, I have served on the Executive Board and have volunteered for various committees:

Trustee of the Executive Board (2020-2023)
Co-Chair of the Cultural Committee
Bartender since 2019
Chairperson of the Man & Woman Dinner (2022 & 2023)
Co-Chair of the Little Women’s Christmas (2022)
Volunteer of the Irish Festival and many more!

I am an Insurance Agent, employed by Gallagher Risk Management Insurance. I have 2 grown daughters and have resided in Milford since 1993.

I look forward to continuing my service on the Executive Board and promoting growth and Irish Culture in our wonderful club!

Paula McGill
2023 Membership Chairperson
I have been a member of IHSM since 2008. I am honored to be nominated to the position of the Membership Chairperson. This is an amazing organization that I am so proud to be a part of and to help promote Irish Heritage and Culture. Members make a volunteer organization such as this, which is why I have been involved with Membership since early days.
I have and continue to serve on many committees such as Activities, Cultural, Social, Membership, Book Club, Picnic, Man and Woman of the Year Dinner, Golf Tournament, Oyster Fest, Irish Fest, Club House, Greeter, Club Rules, Comhaltas, Tara Theatre. In addition, have been a chairperson and contributor to the Lyle James Golf Tournament, now the Slainte Golf Tournament. This evolved into Slainte, the non-profit arm of IHSM which provides six scholarships every year, promotes Irish Culture, and donates to many local organizations. I have served on the Slainte Board since inception. The first year I served as the treasurer, and have since served as director on the Board, participating in the Slainte fundraisers and promoting Irish Culture.
I have served as your Membership Chairperson since I was elected in 2019, which I thoroughly enjoy meeting new members and helping them get involved. During that time, the committee and I have retained approximately 95% of the members each renewal year, even during Covid! I am honored to serve as Membership Chair and would love to continue to grow and promote this wonderful organization. Thank you for your consideration and support. Slainte!!!
My Irish family hails from Killorglin, County Kerry.

Dave McGrew
I am a retired banker having spent my entire 41 year working career in bank operations, systems, customer service, mergers & acquisitions and cash management, retiring as a Vice President at Bank of America.
I served in the Connecticut Army National Guard for 6 years and served as a teacher at the American Bankers Association School and as a mentor for junior executives of the corporation.
Born in Brooklyn, I have lived in Milford since I was 9 years old, was educated in the Milford school system and local colleges. I have lived in my house off Anderson Ave since 1972, renovating it twice since then and have two children, David and Jillian.
My Irish families come from Tyrone in the north and Roscommon and West Meath in the south. Since retiring, I have spent time (maybe too much) researching my heritage. I currently have 11,403 people with 16,932 records in my tree. Unfortunately, the biggest hole is in my Irish heritage although I know my great-grandfather came to America in 1849 during An Gorta Mor from Belfast.
I have been a member of the Irish Heritage Society of Milford since 2016 and am currently a member of the Membership Committee while supporting all the worthwhile events and charities at the club.
I love that this organization is a place for making friends and enjoying the company of those that share our common heritage. It is truly a treasure.

Patrick Cornelio
Hello IHSM family and friends,
I’m so happy to be on the executive board of the Irish Heritage Society of Milford for my third year as SargeantatArms. I’ve learned so much as the First, Second, and Third Year Trustee and am ready to become the new SargeantatArms this year.
Other positions:
Communications Committee Chair
Gardening Committee Chair
Tara Theatre Company actor
Cultural Committee
Milford Irish Arts Expo Committee, Annual Craft Fair Committee

I love volunteering at different IHSM events. Aside from being an active IHSM member, I work full-time with Outdoor Ventures Group as their Group Sales Administrator for their five zipline parks around the Northeast. I’m a professional company actor with Big Apple Playback Theatre based in NYC, I have a photography business called Patrick C’s It Photography, and my family and I bought a building in Matawan, NJ that we hope to turn into a Community Center for others. “I was your trustee so you can trust me!”

Dana Garrow
Hi my name is Dana Garrow and I am running for the position of Second Year Trustee. I have been a member of the club for 10 years. As many of you know I am one of the regular volunteer bartenders at the club. I have been active with the club for many years. I have volunteered at the Irish festival for many years at the children’s tent, the beer tent & clean up. I have also volunteered at the beer tent at the Oyster festival. I have been a member of the children’s & family committee, The activities committee as well as generally volunteering when I can. I love being Irish and since joining the IHSM I have learned so much more about my heritage. I started working in retail and food service in high school and continue to do so. I worked for Macy’s department store for 21 years as a senior merchandise manager until 2018 and I’ve been a bartender at 99 Restaurant and Pub for 5 years. I believe I have the interest and willingness to serve on the board as a Trustee and be an active member in continuing the future of this club.

Jerry Hodges
I am happy and honored to be nominated as a First Year Trustee. I have been a member of the IHSM since 2014. Since then, I have been a part of the House Committee, served as a bartender/ manager, maintained security for our Irish Festival, and volunteered wherever I am needed. This past March, I received the honor of being named the 2022 ihsm Man of the Year. Along with those important accomplishments, my most covetted role: I am husband to the love of my life, Melissa, and we have two amazing sons, Mitchell and Riley.

Sheila Danehy
Hello. My name is Sheila Danehy, and I am running for the IHSM Board position of 1st Year Trustee.
I am a Milford resident and live just up the street with my husband, Glenn Chizmazia, and our children Jack (21) and Helen (17). I also work for the City of Milford as a Deputy Assessor.
I am a proud and very active member of the IHSM. Past and present positions I have held include the following:

Past Board member as Membership Chair
Current Chair and past member of the IHSM Raffle Committee for the annual Milford Irish Festival
Current Chair of the William McNamara Memorial Scholarship Committee
Current member of the By-Laws Committee
Current and past member of the cast of Tara Theatre’s annual play production
Past Chair and member of Tara Theatre’s Committee in charge of ticket sales
Past member of the Activities Committee
Past Member of the Irish History Project Committee.

In addition to the above, my husband Glenn and I regularly host Thursday’s Trivia Night.

I would be honored to serve on the upcoming IHSM Board as 1st Year Trustee. Thank you.