Our Team

Staff

Melinda McGuigan, Executive Director

Ms. McGuigan is no stranger to KINfolk and the dedication of its wonderful volunteers. In March 2004, Melinda's son, Grant was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Grant had the use of a KINfolk computer during his many stays at A.I. duPont Hospital in Wilmington. During his treatment, Grant had two goals that kept him motivated and helped him stay on course for his chemotherapy. One goal was to return to the lacrosse field. He accomplished that by playing Varsity Lacrosse for Delaware Military Academy and being the scoring leader in his senior year. The other goal was to graduate with his classmates, the first graduating class of Delaware Military Academy. During his treatment, Grant missed a lot his sophomore and junior years at high school but with the use of his Kinfolk computer, he was able to stay in touch with his teachers and keep up with his assignments. Not only did Grant graduate with his classmates, he was able to return to the Distinguished Honor Roll in his senior year -- thanks, in large part, to KINfolk. Additionally, the goals that Grant was able to focus on and subsequently attain, gave him the drive and motivation to tolerate his treatment and, indeed beat his cancer.

Ms. McGuigan comes to KINfolk from CSC Entity Services in Wilmington, where she was most recently Manager of Operations. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, McGuigan was graduated from Sewickley Academy and Roanoke (VA) College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. McGuigan and her husband, Dave live in Middletown and have two sons, Grant, now at the University of Delaware and Preston, at Delaware Military Academy. Melinda McGuigan is active in the community having been named her association's Volunteer of the Year in 2004.

Board of Directors (Officers)

Brittany Kirk, Honorary Chair

Ms. Kirk is our original KINfolk Kid.

The Honorable M. Jane Brady, Honorary Chair

Judge Brady sits on Delaware's Superior Court

Greg Gurev, Treasurer

Mr. Gurev is Head Sherpa and Founder of My Sherpa, a computer networking company that recently received the Chamber of Commerce Superstars in Business award. Greg is a graduate of Penn State University and lives in Chadds Ford with his wife Patricia and two daughters.

Kathleen McNamara, Secretary

Ms. McNamara has worked as an Administrator for Grotto Pizza for eighteen years. Before moving to Delaware in 1989 she was a Freelance Commercial Artist in New England for twenty years.

Kathy was Owner-Operator of "TeeTime Inc.", (a Wholesale/Retail Silk Screening business), Editor of "The Crackerbarrel" (a quarterly resort newspaper) and Editor of "Keeshond Review" (a quarterly magazine on Champion Keeshond Show Dogs distributed internationally).

Board of Directors (Members)

Clint Cuny

A native of Ohio, Mr. Cuny moved to Delaware in 1999 after living in NJ for 16 years. Clint, his wife Debbie and daughter Julia live in Greenville, De.

Clint recently retired from Hewlett-Packard as a Sales Director in the services division responsible for the sale and delivery of high quality technical IT services to the Financial Services Industry. During his 20 year career at HP, Clint held a variety of technology and consulting services sales & sales management positions. Clint led teams during the merger of Digital Equipment and Compaq Computer Corporation's then the acquisition by Hewlett-Packard Company.

Clint's prior professional experience includes sales and management roles at TRW Nelson Division where he was successful selling to the construction industry in New York City and at Unisys Corporation. Clint's creative nature and ability to lead multi-disciplined teams in complex corporate environments were important attributes in the achievement of continually increasing sales, high customer satisfaction & team growth.

Clint attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio http://www.bw.edu. He received a BA in Marketing & Finance in 1978. While at B-W, Clint also participated in track and football. Clint was a 3 time All American in the track Decathlon, the team captain & still holds the Decathlon record at BW. Clint did various jobs during college to contribute to the expenses, including working at the school newspaper, painting houses and factory jobs during the summer. Clint got his MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ.

Clint is interested in Kinfolk because of its wonderful purpose, great team and the opportunity to share his experiences and relationships to contribute to the well being of kids. Clintcuny@hotmail.com.

Scott Fichter

Mr. Fichter began his career in 2001 as webmaster for WideOpenWest, a high speed internet and cable television provider with headquarters in Castle Rock Colorado. The company quickly grew to over 350,000 customers and was sold within three years. After the sale, Scott founded Blue Fox Creative, a marketing firm specializing in website design. He is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College and lives in Chadds Ford with his wife Kathy and two sons.

Shannon L. Fioravanti, MA

Ms. Fioravanti is Director-Executive Communications for Verizon Communications, providing writing and communications support to the states where Verizon currently is deploying its advanced network. Prior to this, she was director of Executive Communications, providing speechwriting support to the top officers of the corporation. Shannon joined Verizon's media relations team in 1993 from the Washington office of U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, where she served as a legislative assistant on telecommunications and aviation policy and was a Congressional Fellow. Prior to this, Shannon spent 15 years in the journalism profession, serving as deputy bureau chief and Washington correspondent for Westinghouse Broadcasting, Inc. where she covered the White House, Capitol Hill and the federal agency beat for seven affiliated radio stations. She also was News Director and morning anchor at WASH-FM in Washington, D.C. and was a reporter/news anchor at KDKA in Pittsburgh. In Delaware, Shannon has served on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence and represented Verizon on The Honorable Jane Brady's task force on workplace violence. Shannon holds both M.A. and B.S. degrees in Journalism from Ohio State University and West Virginia University, respectively. She lives in Wilmington with her husband Paul and their daughter.

Cris Henderson

Ms. Henderson resides in Laurel, DE and is the "Family Advocate" on the KINfolk Board. Cris' daughter, Lindsay, was diagnosed with leukemia at 16 and treated at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. She is a Parent Educator for the the statewide "Parents As Teachers" Program and works with families and their children prenatally to age 4. Ms. Henderson is available as a speaker for KINfolk and she also volunteers for Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Donald Hobson

Mr. Hobson is a graduate of the University of Virginia with degrees in Mechanical Engineering in 1965, and Graduate Business (MBA) in 1970. During his career Don worked for IBM, Burlington Industries, and retired from AstraZeneca in 2000. He and his wife, Grace, moved to Delaware in 1973 to work for ICI Americas. They have two children, Kirsten and Byron, and two grand children, Jacob and Matthew. Mr Hobson is a volunteer at the AI duPont Hospital for Children, is the Board Chairman and Accountant of the PMD Foundation, is a Board Member of Triad, is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Delaware Ecumenical Council for Children and Families, and an active member of Immanuel Church, Highlands singing in the choir, seriving as a Eucharistic Minister/Lay Reader and has served as member and Senior Warden of the Vestry. He created and manages several websites including: KINFolk, Immanuel Church, and the Episcopal Diocese Camp Arrowhead.

Don enjoys: their children and grandchildren, taking walks with his wife, camping, photography, keeping up with computer technology and playing a rare round of golf.

Lee Lucas, Social Worker, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children

Ms. Lucas has been a social worker for 16 years and has spent the last 12 years at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children where her focus is pediatric rehabilitation. She is active with the American Cancer Society in Delaware and Pennsylvania. She is also on the patient care services committee of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Tom Shopa, CPA, McBride Shopa & Company

Mr. Shopa is a Director and Co-founder of McBride Shopa & Company, P.A. Tom has more than 25 years of experience servicing a wide range of individual and corporate clients in matters relating to taxation and business management. After years of practice in taxation, he now leads the firm's management advisory sector where he specializes in litigation support services. Mr. Shopa received his B.S. in Accounting from Long Island University in 1973 and has been a CPA since 1978. In 1990, Mr. Shopa earned designation as a CFP, Certified Financial Planner, and in 1999, CDP, Certified Divorce Planner.

Among his professional memberships have been the American Institute of CPAs, where he was a member of the Governing Council in 1990; the Delaware Society of CPAs, where he was a past -- president and Member of Council from 1983-1989; the Institute of Business Appraisers; the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts; the National Association of Accountants; the National Society of Public Accountants; and the International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners.

Mr. Shopa has been a passionate advocate for small business. In 1995 he testified before the United States Senate Committee on Small Business at their hearing on Small Business Tax Issues. He was one of Delaware's representatives to the 1986 and 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. In recognition of his efforts, Mr. Shopa was honored as the 1996 U.S. Small Business Administration's accountant advocate of the year for the six states Mid-Atlantic region. In 1997 he received the Public Service Award from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Shopa is a former Chairman of the University of Delaware Small Business Development Center Advisory Board and former member of the Delaware Entrepreneurs Forum.

Mr. Shopa is involved in numerous civic and political organizations. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. He is a Commissioner of the Wilmington Housing Authority and a Board member of the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council.

Jeff Weiner

Mr. Weiner is Partner of Fox Rothschild LLP, a law firm in Wilmington, DE. Previously Jeff was Officer and Director of The Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Weiner, Esq., P.A. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Mr. Weiner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Syracuse University and received his Juris Doctorate degree with Honors from Boston College School of Law. He served as Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division, State Prosecutor and Shareholder/Officer/Director of Bayard, Brill & Handelman and Bayard, Handelman & Murdoch

Val Whiting

Ms. Whiting is a preeminent athlete and received All State and All American honors during her basketball days at Ursuline Academy. Val graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Biological Sciences and chose a professional basketball career over medical school. Recently ESPN.com and the NCAA named her one of the "Top 25 NCAA Players of the Past 25 Years" Ms. Whiting has served on the Boards of PAL and Girls Inc. She was spokeswoman for AIDS Delaware for several years. She has given many hours to motivate young people, especially girls, to work hard, stay healthy and avoid risky behaviors. She founded G.A.M.E.S.H.A.P.E., a life-skills program for young girls, located on the Riverfront in Wilmington. In addition to many honors, Ms. Whiting received the 2006 James Baker Mayoral Award for Distinguished Citizen and Outstanding Service to Youth throughout the City of Wilmington.