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
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 21 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. In addition to teaching, I have been the Coordinator for Camp Invention’s Summer Camps in Fairfield for the past 4 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.

Melissa Hodges
Hi, my name is Melissa Hodges. My family and I have been members of the IHSM for the past five years. Many of you know me as I am a volunteer bartender, the chair of the volunteers for the Irish festival and a member of the activities committee. I am thankful for everyone for allowing me to be a part of this awesome club and of course, for the friends I have made here. I am excited to see what the next year brings.

Tim McNamara
I have been a member of the IHSM for five years. I have volunteered and participated in several club activities including:
President 2020-2022
Vice President 2017-2019
Bar Management Committee
Finance Audit
Irish Festival Milford St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Milford Veteran’s Day Parade
Milford Oyster Festival Beer Tent
Set up and clean up of St. Patrick’s Day and Parade Day Festivities at our clubhouse
Substitute trivia host

Irish Heritage: Clare and Galway

I have been employed by the Bridgeport Board of Education for 39 years, currently in the position of Assistant Director of Human Resources. I am also in my 18th year serving as a member of the Bridgeport City Supervisors Association Executive Board. I believe it is important to continue the good work started by our charter members 13 years ago. I look forward to the continued growth of our club and would be honored to serve in the position of President of the IHSM Board of Directors. I will continue to be involved and support the club as I continue my own growth as a member.

Patrice Dunn
Hi, my name is Patrice Dunn and I am running for the position of Parliamentarian. I have a been a member of the club for 6 years. I have performed in five plays with the Tara Theatre. I serve on the committee fundraising for the yearly Christmas family. I am one of the bartenders. I was volunteer of the month in June 2019. And recently I have been more active with my fellow gardeners. I enjoy being a part of a robust club with a variety of happenings and events, from the parades to the Irish Festival to the cultural events and road trips. I have recently retired from a 40 year teaching career and would like to contribute my time serving on the board.

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!”

Sheila Olcott
Hello fellow IHSM members! My name is Sheila Olcott and I am running for the position of trustee. I have been an IHSM member since 2016. I currently serve on the cultural committee and recently assisted Maureen Moore with the planning and organizing of the NYC Bus trip. I also volunteer as a bartender and have also volunteered my time during the Irish Festivals and St. Patrick’s Day parade along with numerous other IHSM activities and events. My mom was born in County Cork and immigrated to the U.S. along with her 12 siblings and parents when she was a small child. My mom was so proud of her Irish heritage and I am very grateful to belong to IHSM where I hope to gain more knowledge of the Irish culture. I am an insurance agent at Merit insurance in Shelton where people and businesses place their trust in me to protect them and their assets. Please know that you can have the confidence in me to do the same for our organization. I have been a Milford resident for 25 years and have raised my two grown daughters in our wonderful city. When I’m not at the clubhouse, I may be found at home, snuggling with my two dogs and two cats.

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.