Craig Cascella-President
I am a United States Marine Corps veteran (Sergeant, Retired) and life member of NEPVA and PVA. After completing training (boot camp) at Parris Island, South Carolina, I was assigned to duties at Quantico, Virginia and Washington D.C. My duties included serving as a military police officer and as a Presidential Security Guard under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, respectively.
I have volunteered for the Chapter in a variety of areas to include: lobbying and advocating the rights and services for both veterans and the disabled community on local and national levels, visiting local New England schools with the Chapter’s Community Outreach Program educating students on disability and our organization, currently work with Chapter Program Directors as a liaison with the numerous Chapter programs available for our members, and in the past have served as Chapter Secretary and Vice President. I am also the Chapter's National Director (liaison to National PVA in Washington D.C.).
Some personal interests are bowling, traveling, and I am a sports enthusiast - notably the Boston Red Sox and I have been a season ticket holder for the New England Patriots since 1993.
I reside in the town of Narragansett, Rhode Island.
Debra Freed-Vice President
I began my Air Force career in January, 1981. I was exceptionally lucky to be placed in the MOS of my choice, Jet Engine Mechanic. Between 1983 and 1985, I would suffer two serious falls and require two major back surgeries. However, I would complete my tour of duty in May of 1985, and be honorably discharged as an E-4 Sgt from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. I suffer incomplete paraplegia, and arachnoiditis. These debilitating conditions have not slowed me down. My education is a BS in Library Science (1994), an MSA in Health (2000), and a paralegal certificate (2004).
I have been the chapter's Government Relations Director since 2005. I am a steering committee member of the Women Veterans’ Network, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Affairs, the Association of Chapter Government Relations Director’s Secretary and the Secretary for the New England Board of Directors. For 2009, I have accepted the nominations for Vice President, Secretary, and Board Member of the New England Chapter. A goal is to become the first female president of the New England PVA. My long term goal is to be the first female president of the National PVA. For you our members, I hope to continue advocating at the local, state, and federal level for SCI/D veterans, all veterans, and the disabled community.
Charlie Schena-Treasurer
I have been an active member of NEPVA since 1986 and have held the following positions in the chapter: BOD member, Chapter Secretary, Advocacy/Legislative Director, National Director. A graduate of UMass Boston, BA English/Philosophy, Masters in Education, Rehabilitation Counseling. I served in the United States Air Force 1970-1974. I am married with two children, Michael, 21 years old, in ROTC Louisiana State University, Stephanie, 14 years old. Also active in the community as the Treasurer of the South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. serving people of poverty and families of low income. I live in the Town of Plymouth, MA.
Brad Carlson-Sports Director
I am a United States Marine Corp Veteran. I served as a Military Police Officer, and spent three years in the Marine Corp before my injury.
I have been a member of the NEPVA since 1988, and have been serving as a Board Member since 2007. I was recently appointed Sports Director. I have attended seven Summer Veterans Games and four Winter Veterans Games in Colorado. I have been involved in Wheelchair
Sports since my onset, and have spent time on the US Developmental Olympic Team for Wheelchair Racing.
I currently own a small restaurant with my wife, Kathy. I have a nine year old son, a 23 year old step-son, and a 25 year old step-daughter, whom I am very proud of. I reside in the town of Holden. My interests include deep sea fishing, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair racing.
John Brako email
In the army, I served in an operational detachment of an airborne psychological operations unit of the first special operations command. I was trained to be an interrogator in the Russian and Italian languages. I was also trained as a reconnaissance commando in recondo school where I learned about SERE tactics (survival, escape, resistance, evasion). I also received training as a public speaker and was awarded my "competent toastmaster" certificate in 1997. I utilized this skill in the leadership program of the PVA in 1997. Earlier, I used this skill in the corporate world, where I worked as a business service supervisor in the collections/revenue and credit/activations departments of Cellular One.
I have participated in the veterans wheelchair games for the past three years as well as the 2002 winter sports clinic. I am 36 years old. My two sons will be seven and nine this year. I am the former chairperson of the Acton Commission on Disability.
Wayne Ross email
I grew up in Scituate, MA a small town on the coast between Plymouth and Boston commonly referred to as the Irish Riviera. I graduated from Scituate High School in 1984. I attended Norwich University in Northfield, VT, the nation’s oldest private military school. Upon graduation I received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force. I served three years active duty as a Nuclear Launch Control Officer on the island of Sicily and as a Transportation officer in Louisiana. I hold entries in both the Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not. I've served on the NEPVA Executive Board for two years and started the annual Las Vegas Night fundraiser. Paralyzed a C6 quadriplegic since October 1996, I was injured while bicycling from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Cape Horne Island Chile, the world’s longest continuous land mass. Since my injury I've competed in several sports at the local, regional and national level. I have attended six National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Six National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinics, Six New England Winter Sports Clinics for Disabled Veterans and several bowling tournaments. My biggest accomplishments have been in Swimming. I've attended several local and regional meets in addition to qualifying for and competing at the National Disabled Swimming Championships six times. I currently have 21 national level medals and held the 200m freestyle national record for four years. I also travel to schools, hospitals, businesses, civic and religious organizations doing motivational/educational presentations.
Dustin Soroka
I enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in April 1998. I served at various Marine Corps bases throughout the United States and Japan. In September 2004, while serving with the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company in Hawaii, I suffered a service connected spinal cord injury. After serving 7 years I was medically retired as a Sergeant/E-5 in May 2005. My level of injury is C-4 (Incomplete).
Since my injury I have participated in every New England Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans from 2005 to present. I have also attended the National Winter Sports Clinic, Colorado, in 2006 and 2008. I’m looking forward to getting more involved with my fellow New England Disabled Vets.
I grew up in Hudson, Mass but have been living in Corinna, Maine since 2007.
Jim Wallack
I was born and raised in Lawrence, Mass, along with two brothers and a sister. Two weeks after graduating from Lawrence High School in 1973, I was in boot camp in Cape May, NJ with the U.S. Coast Guard. While in the Coast Guard I served on two medium endurance cutters, the Vigilant out of New Bedford, MA and the Durable in Brownsville, TX. I also worked with the Captain of the Port of Boston. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 1976, I was retired as a Quartermaster Third Class in 1977.
After rehabilitation at WROX, I moved to So. California for the accessibility, college and the opportunity to do some coast to coast driving. After six years New England beckoned and I moved to Connecticut and became a National Service Officer for the Eastern PVA. Two years later I resigned because of an inability to travel after breaking a hip. In 1987 I found some land in New Hampshire, bought it, cleared it, and built a house. Donna Jean became my wife in 1989. Notre Dame College graduation occurred in 1993, and our son Jacob was born in 1997. Around this time I became active in the Chapter, first with the NVWG, then with Sports and Rec. Day, bowling, softball, fishing, and skiing. Our son Joshua came to live with us in 2008. I was elected to the Executive Board of the NEPVA in 2009.
Neal Williams email
I am a US Army Veteran (CWO USAR (ret)) with nearly 14 years of active duty when I was released in 1981 and subsequently retired from the reserve. My injury is as a result of combat service in the Republic of Vietnam, where I served as a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent. I continued to serve in that capacity and later as an Area Intelligence Technician. I am a life member of NEPVA, PVA, Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW, AMVETS, DAV and Vietnam Veterans of America. While I support all veterans and all organizations supporting and advocating for veterans, I have chosen to work exclusively for PVA expressly to assist those with spinal cord injury and disease. My level of injury is T-10 and I am incomplete.
I have worked tirelessly for years for my fellow Veterans, have testified before congressional committees, and lobbied for several years on behalf of Veterans in support of The Independent Budget. NEPVA has allowed me to continue to lobby in Washington on behalf of veterans where I have been able to meet with Congressmen and Senators from both sides of the aisle and from throughout New England to let them know of pending legislation and the position of NEPVA concerning that legislation. As a former national officer, and also former national service officer with another veterans organization, I bring a good deal of experience that I hope will be of value to NEPVA in the years to come.
On a more personal level, I have two children, both married, and six grandchildren. My interests include spending a good deal of my time as a worker for my Church. I also enjoy skiing as a result of my exposure to the New England Winter Sports Clinic, and being chosen to work as a volunteer at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was inspired by the athletes there.