2011 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States is the governing board of the organization as stipulated in Article IV of the “PALCUS Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws”.  Its function is to set policy for and to ensure the sound management of the organization.

Directors of the Board serve without any personal compensation for their service.  The Board strives to represent the diverse cross-section of the Portuguese-American community of the United States in regard to geography, gender. age and region of origin as well as area of expertise and experience. All Directors are members in good standing of the organization.

Chair:  Fernando Gonçalves Rosa, – Connecticut
Deputy Director, Hartford Economic Development Corp. (HEDCo)
PALCUS Member since 1995

Executive Committee

Vice –Chair:  Marie R. Fraley – Rhode Island
Interim Director, Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone Studies at Rhode Island College
PALCUS Member since 2003

Secretary:  Angela Costa Simões – California
Senior Manager, Corporate Public Relations, Autodesk
PALCUS Member since 1998

Treasurer:  Manuel Geraldo, Esq. – Maryland
Robinson & Geraldo, Attorneys at Law
PALCUS Member since 1992

Assistant Treasurer:  Alda Petitti, C.P.A. – Massachusetts
Director, CBIZ Tofias & Principal, MHM  Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. – Tofias New England Division
PALCUS Chair, 2004-2006
PALCUS Member since 1994

Board of Directors

Odete Amarelo, Ph.D. – Massachusetts
Professor, Division of Humanities and Education, Bristol Community College
PALCUS Member since 1996

Onésimo T. Almeida, Ph.D. – Rhode Island
Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, Brown University
PALCUS Member since 2007

John Bento – California
Principal, MJB Designs, Architecture & Design
PALCUS Chair, 2007-2009
PALCUS Member since 2005

Pilar Coelho – Rhode Island – Youth Representative
Benefits Analyst, FM Global
PALCUS Member since 2010

António Gato – New Jersey
General Manager,  Banco Espirito Santo e Comercial de Lisboa, Inc.
PALCUS Member since 2005

Cynthia M. Russo, Esq. – New Jersey
Attorney  at Law, Specializing in Immigration Law
PALCUS Member since 2003

José C. Sousa – District of Columbia
Project Manager, Office of Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, District of Columbia
PALCUS Member since 2001

 

Staff:

Elisabete  Martins,  Administrative Assistant