EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

    President
    John A. Graziano, Jr.

Mr. Graziano is an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He began working with nonprofit organizations when he was a just a teenager and quickly learned the keys to successful non-profit management. He is credited with helping several organizations to reinvent themselves for survival. Mr. Graziano has developed a unique association management organization which uses experience and tradition, technology, market awareness, and quality employees to assist organizations in achieving success.

    Executive Vice President
    Denise Sheehan

Ms. Sheehan is an experienced leader in both government and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining CHMS, she successfully led the international non-profit organization, The Climate Registry, and was responsible for managing the organization’s $2.5 million budget, as well as ensuring the organization’s success in a challenging economic environment. Ms. Sheehan also has 20 years experience in New York State government. She previously served for ten years in senior management positions at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including two years as Commissioner. Denise also served for ten years at the NYS Division of the Budget and she has served on several public authority and non-profit Boards.

    Vice President of Finance and Operations
    Ralph Bizzarro

Mr. Bizzarro currently serves as Vice President for Finance and Operations at CHMS. A Certified Public Account, Mr. Bizzarro leads our North Carolina Office and oversees all of the financial activities involving CHMS association, non-profit, and business clients, as well as the firm’s infrastructure and information technology operations. Mr. Bizzarro has two decades of extensive experience in a wide variety of financial settings.

    Vice President of Association Management and Strategic Development
    Jim Thompson, IOM, CAE

Mr. Thompson serves as Vice President of Association Management for CHMS's Southern Region where he directly oversees the day-to-day activities of the association management team in our Raleigh, North Carolina offices. Mr. Thompson is a Certified Association Executive with more than 14 years of experience in the field. He most recently served for nine years as the Executive Director of the Association Executives of North Carolina where he successfully increased AENC's membership from 400 members to nearly 750 members during his tenure. Mr. Thompson previously served for five years as the Director of Business Development for the North Carolina Association of Realtors.

    Vice President of Association Management and Strategic Development
    Thomas Coté, MBA, CAE

Mr. Cote serves as Vice President of Strategic Development, bringing his vast experience in all facets of association and non-profit management to our clients. Serving in an advisory capacity, Mr. Cote offers his unique expertise in problem solving, best practices, and strategic development to assist clients in achieving optimal performance. Mr. Cote is a graduate of the Empire State Society of Association (ESSAE) Executives Association Leadership Academy and was named the ESSAE Rising Star Award winner in 2012. Mr. Cote has been a speaker and panelist on association management topics, such as strengthening relationships between national and affiliated organizations and has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally  on youth leadership and inter-generational motivation.

    Director of Government Affairs
    Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Miller serves as Director of Government Affairs at Capitol Hill Management Services. In that role, Ms. Miller works directly with clients to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to accomplish their policy goals. Rebecca served as Association Manager and Government Affairs Coordinator at CHMS. As an association manager, Rebecca served as Executive Director of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND), while managing several other clients. In her capacity as Government Affairs Coordinator, Rebecca worked with a multitude of government affairs clients as an advocate, managing lobby days and grassroots advocacy, as well as monitoring and tracking legislation and ensuring clients’ needs were met. Rebecca also served as Director of Communications for the New York Republican Party, where she coordinated state-wide campaign communications and events, wrote, distributed and monitored press releases and communications, developed effective communications strategies, and managed daily public relations operations. Rebecca holds a Master of Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University at Albany. 

    Director of Meetings and Events
    Donna Johnson, CMP, CMM

Ms. Johnson is a Certified Meeting Planner with demonstrated success in the planning and execution of meetings, trade shows, conferences, and events. Ms. Johnson assists with site selection, negotiates contracts, manages budgets, develops programs, manages exhibitions, and provides complete oversight of all aspects of meeting planning and production. Ms. Johnson is a  Certified Meeting Professional and in 2007, received her Certification in Meeting Management, which is the premiere designation achieved by experienced and highly accomplished members of the global meeting industry community, showing the business standard  of excellence for meeting professionals.