
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Board of Directors

Leo Alonso
President
Leo Alonso has been an innovative advocate for inclusive learning, living and employment for people with disabilities. He was one of the founders of the Paul VI Options program, the George Mason Life program, and Porto Charities, Inc. He has a daughter, Vivian with Down Syndrome, who graduated from Paul VI Options and the George Mason LIfe program. He has brought his experience in the grocery and mortgage business to bear on Porto Charities employment and housing initiatives. Leo has always been active in community service, serving as a Special Olympics coach and a member of Porto 104.

Bill Dalgetty
Vicepresident
Bill Dalgetty spent most of his career as a senior attorney for Mobil Corporation. He is a past president and chairman of the board of Christians in Commerce, and author of Hope for the Workplace – Christ in You, published in 2013. He posts a weekly blog at www.christinlifeandwork.com. Bill and his wife, Marilynn have five children and thirteen grandchildren, and are members of St. Mark parish in Vienna. His daughter, Emily has Down syndrome and graduated from the Paul VI Options program.

John Reidt
Treasurer
John Reidt spent 26 years in the Army following his graduation from West Point. He had 2 tours in Korea and 2 tours in Germany for a total of 11.5 years overseas. After retiring from the Army in 2002, he spent 17 years working in the defense sector for several different companies before retiring from GDIT in 2019. He’s been affiliated with Porto Charities since 2008. He and his wife, Mary Jo Harvey-Reidt, have a son with special needs, Sean, who lives independently in the Fairfax area.

Bill Mundy
Secretary
Bill Mundy was a founding board member of Porto Charities Inc. and is the current Grand Commander of Porto # 104 of the Order of Alhambra. Bill served in senior wealth management positions for national and local community banks before he retired. He received a B.A. and a M.A. from Villanova University. Bill was also a CFP Certificant and he held various insurance and securities licenses. Bill and his wife, Marla, have two sons and a daughter with special needs.

Art Bennett
Director
Art Bennett is a licensed marriage and family therapist. He was a Vice President for international health at SAIC for 15 years. For 8 years he was the Executive Director and co-founder of the Alpha Omega Clinics in Virginia and Maryland which integrates mental health practices with the Catholic Faith. He was the President & CEO of Catholic Charities overseeing the 22 counties of the Diocese of Arlington for 10 years. He and his wife, Laraine, have co-authored six books on marriage, parenting and communication. He is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria and has four adult children and eight grandchildren.

Patrick Cross
Director
Patrick Cross has been a long-time advocate for inclusive education and better employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He has served as the scribe of the exchequer since 2011.

Sheila Erhardt
Director
Sheila Erhardt is a long time advocate for the community with Intellectual Disabilities. Prior to early retirement, Sheila was the Controller for Octagon Sports Marketing and Athlete Representation. She has served on the Board of Porto Charities since 2015. She also serves with several volunteer organizations, including Special Olympics, Davis Family Partnership, and Vienna Presbyterian Church. She resides in Vienna with her husband Jeff and two daughters, Emma and Grace. Emma has Down syndrome and graduated from Paul VI Options and St Mark Evangelist Program. Inclusive Education is her passion!!

Christine Fowler
Director
Christine Fowler was Clinical Nurse Specialist in Critical Care Nursing. She served on the Parent Education Committee of The Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia for 5 years. She is currently a Special Olympics Coach and serves on The Northern Virginia, Special Olympics Virginia Counsel of Area 26. Zach's experience at Paul VI provided her with the motivation to become involved with Porto Charities to help insure the continued expansion of Inclusive Catholic education and employment. Zach is currently employed by St. Leo the Great Catholic School and loving his inclusive experience as a staff member.

Paul Frommelt
Director
Paul Frommelt, Board of Directors.

Dave Hoppe
Director
Dave Hoppe holds a BA in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a MA in International Rel. from John Hopkins. He worked on Capitol Hill for 30 years in various positions, including COS to Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) in the House, AAs to Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) and COS to Senate Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Dave serves on the Board for Easter Seals of DC MD VA and is credited with salvaging to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997. He serves on the finance council for St. Luke’s Ordinariate Parish in Fort Washington, MD. He is married with three children, the youngest graduated from the Options Program at PVI in 2009.

Stewart McHie
Director
Stewart McHie spent 36 years with Exxon and ExxonMobil specializing in sales, marketing and strategic planning, including overseas assignments in Australia and England. He retired in 2010 as the Global Brand Manager for the Fuels Marketing Company based in Fairfax, Virginia. He launched a second career in academia at The Catholic University of America. Along with the Dean of the Business School, he founded, and served as Director of the Master of Science in Business Analysis program. He has served on boards of The Fairfax County School District Marketing Committee and numerous youth sports organizations. He is passionate about education and providing opportunities for young people of all abilities.

Fr. Rich Miserendino
Director
Rev. Miserendino, Board of Directors.

Gerald Pelano
Director
Jerry is a business consultant with a focus on Strategic Planning, Revenue Growth, Marketing, Process Development, Mergers, Acquisitions, Operations, Crypto and Digital Awareness. He is a retired CPA and was a founding director of the Potomac Bank of Virginia. Jerry served on the Board of Saint Paul VI HS for 18 years. At PVI Jerry served as a Finance Chair, liaison to the Arlington Diocese and Chaired a Capital Campaign. He was an Advisory Board member of GMU Athletic Department. Jerry is a prior distinguished alumni of the year at the Saunders College of Business and served on the President's Roundtable at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Jerry and his wife Pam live in Fairfax Station, Va., close to their five grandboys.

Tony Stafford
Director
Tony Stafford, Board of Directors.
Staff

Executive Director
Lawrence Rzepka
Larry Rzepka has been part of the non-profit sector for more than 35 years specializing in nonprofit management, resource development, strategic planning, external relations and governance. In addition to having served as President of the National Defense University (NDU) Foundation and the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Foundation, he has also held executive leadership positions with the Bethlehem University Foundation, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics Foundation, Gerber Memorial Health Services, and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.
Volunteers

Carmen Chiappetta, Education Chair
Carmen Chiappetta has had over 20 years of teaching experience from the preschool to the college level and she currently teaches Spanish part-time at St. Agnes School in Arlington. Throughout her career, she has been involved with program development and curriculum design. Since the birth of her son, Alex, who has Down Syndrome, she has been involved with advancing inclusive education at the Catholic Schools. Carmen has a doctorate from the University of Miami and B.A. from Villanova University. She lives with her husband and five children in Northern Virginia.

Guadalupe Williamson, Webmaster
Guadalupe was born in Mexico, where she received her degree in Communications. After graduating, Guadalupe moved to United States, and worked as a Program Coordinator for a non-profit in Washington, D.C., where she continues to work as a part-time consultant. Lupita's oldest son has an intellectual disability. She's been an outspoken advocate for children with disabilities in the local public school district, advocacy that she has carried into Catholic schools. She lives with her husband and 4 children in Northern Virginia.