Home Donate About Us Services Careers News Events Ways to Help COVID-19 Updates Contact Board of Directors History Awards Board of Directors Mission FAQ Home » About Us » Board of Directors Board of Directors Vincent J. Perrone, President & CEO Denis M. Leary, Vice President & Executive Director George M. Bourisk, Treasurer Roland W. Bercume , Secretary Patrick J. Murphy, Chair, Personnel Committee Dr. Barbara Rugo Focht Dr. Ralph Sabatino Edward Burkart Victoria C. Vitucci Allison A. Alaimo, Assistant Treasurer Advisory Council Vincent J. Perrone, President Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired) President & CEO, Veterans Inc. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent John Perrone, Jr. is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the nation and the birthplace of ROTC, where he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. Lt Colonel Perrone’s twenty-year military career included a number of challenging positions. A pilot candidate, he was permanently grounded due to an injury. He served as Executive Officer, responsible for the security and protection of over 200 nuclear missiles and for 800 personnel at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. In his next assignment, he was Chief of Officer Recruiting at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts managing recruitment from Maine to West Virginia. Lt Colonel Perrone took on a new challenge as part of the acquisition community at the Electronic Systems Division at Hanscom AFB, to assist in the development of the $3.2 billion World Wide Military Command and Control Information Systems (WIS) program. Air Force Systems Command Headquarters selected Lt Colonel Perrone as Chief of the Program Integration Division, to manage the acquisition logistics components for over 375 programs. He then gained international experience by assuming the position of Director of Resource Management and Deputy Base Commander at Suwon Air Force Base in Korea, where he led four divisions. He was later assigned to Headquarters USAF, the Pentagon, Washington DC as Program Manager for Developmental Aircraft Support Equipment and spent much of his time on Capitol Hill defending program budgets to Congress. During this time, he also served on the Joint Staff in the Operational Command Center for Desert Storm. Lt Colonel Perrone returned to Hanscom AFB as the Chief of Requirements Analysis and Engineering Division in the International Programs Office. He served as the gateway to the world in the sales of security assistance systems to our Allies and helped to establish the Presidential Partnership for Peace Initiative with Eastern Europe. He was promoted to Deputy Director of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, a classified communications system and later became a Program Manager for the world’s premier surveillance aircraft, the 767AWACS. Over the years, Lt Colonel Perrone volunteered his time and resources to many community services and programs, such as working with the elderly, church groups, and Native American and Amer-Asian children’s orphanages. More than two decades ago, he became involved in a grassroots effort to build the largest supportive services agency for veterans and their families in New England, and was subsequently named Chairman, President & CEO of Veterans Inc. Lt Colonel Perrone has a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and holds Level III certification from the Department of Defense in Program Management and Acquisition Logistics disciplines. His major awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal, with four oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Commendation Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Achievement Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; the National Defense Medal; the Korean Defense Service Medal; and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He is the recipient of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s Leadership Award and the Award of Merit from the Armed Forces Committee of Worcester County, was named a Hero Among Us winner by the Lowell Spinners, and in 2013, accepted the Seal of Distinction award from the prestigious Call of Duty Endowment. Lt Colonel Perrone served on Senator Ted Kennedy’s task force for returning veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq and sat on Governor Deval Patrick’s Commission to End Homelessness. He sits on the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. He is the Veterans’ Agent for the Town of Boylston and Past Chair of the Berlin-Boylston Tahanto Regional School Committee. He is a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and the Armed Forces Committee of Worcester County and sits on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Korean War Memorial of Central Mass. He served as a member of the Worcester Veterans Council, the Air Force Association, the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association, the Society of Logistics Engineers, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Following his retirement from the United States Air Force and before taking his current position at Veterans Inc., Lt Colonel Perrone was Director of Global Government Marketing for EMC Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. Lt Colonel Perrone and his wife, Debra, have four children, Francesca, Vincent III, Samuel, and Ricky. Back to top Denis M. Leary, Vice President MA State Guard Executive Director, Veterans Inc. Denis Leary, Executive Director of Veterans Inc., is known for his creativity, compassion, and competence as the guiding force behind the agency’s programs and behavioral healthcare services throughout New England. Over the past 18 years, under Denis’ clinical direction, Veterans Inc. has grown rapidly in both size and scope. His leadership has made the critical difference in the lives of more than 85,000 veterans and their families, by helping them regain their health, establish stable housing, reassert themselves in the workforce, and reunite with family. As a recognized leader on the national, state, and local level, Denis was awarded the 2017 George Washington Medal of Honor by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, for “deeds that reflect the best of the American spirit.” Denis is also the first recipient of the Visions 2000 Award for Community Service. As part of that award, the Telegram & Gazette Editorial Board described him as someone who “shows us all how good we can be.” A health and exercise enthusiast, he was also named the “Fittest CEO” by the Worcester Business Journal. As a member of the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in Washington, D.C., Denis became a respected and dynamic voice providing advocacy on Capitol Hill for veterans’ issues. On the state level, he recently completed six years of service as a member of the Massachusetts Public Health Council, under both Governor Deval Patrick and Governor Charlie Baker. His colleagues have always recognized Denis for his knowledge and insight, and twice elected him as President of the Central Massachusetts Substance Abuse Association. He also currently serves on District Attorney Joseph Early’s Opioid Task Force. As the son of working-class, first-generation Irish immigrants, Denis grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the core values of loyalty, kindness, and social equality. These values were first put into action locally when, as a new graduate, he became a social worker at Worcester City Hospital helping the poor and disenfranchised, and later as an advocate for foster children displaced by parental abuse and neglect. Soon after, he created the Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health under the Worcester’s Health and Hospital Authority, and played a crucial role in creating Community Healthlink, a UMassMemorial affiliate. His most notable achievement to date, was spearheading the Veterans Inc. aggressive response to the opiate epidemic in 2016, by creating the first licensed substance addiction treatment center in the country that is operated by a veteran specific, non-profit organization. Known as Independence Hall, the center offers a full array of care including inpatient, day treatment, and outpatient counseling. Located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Independence Hall remains at the vanguard of addiction service delivery, and has been awarded national certification by CARF – The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Denis earned a Bachelor’s degree with Honors from Stonehill College, where he was awarded the prestigious Rousseau Research Award for his work in stress disorders. He received his graduate training at Boston College, where he earned a Master of Social Work degree, and is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Social Work. Denis treasures his large extended family, but above all else, he is the proud father of two daughters, Danielle and Kelly. Danielle is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and is on active duty as a U.S. Navy flight surgeon with Carrier Air Wing 17, and recently completed a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. She is assigned to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego. Kelly is a Dean’s List graduate of the Eisenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She re-located to San Diego with Marriott International Inc., and was recently recruited and hired by GoFundMe, a for-profit crowdfunding platform, that allows people to raise money for causes ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations, to challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses. Back to top George M. Bourisk, Treasurer George grew up in Worcester, where he attended the public school system and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Natural Science from Assumption College. He has over 35 years’ experience working for FM Global, and presently holds the title of Engineering Specialist. His experience includes applying risk management to several large industrial accounts protecting against fire, wind, earthquake, flood, and other perils through his company, and he has operated in several capacities that include supervision, training, and lead engineer for the company’s Boston office. His specialties include dust explosion calculations and mitigation. Roland W. Bercume, Secretary Roland Bercume. M.S., R.Ph. is the Senior Director of Pharmacy at the UMass Memorial Medical Center. Mr. Bercume oversees the provision of pharmaceutical care to all areas of the Medical Center, including the University, Memorial, and Hahnemann Campuses as well as the Marlboro Hospital Oncology Clinic. He is responsible for managing over 170 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Mr. Bercume is a Registered Pharmacist and also holds a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy Therapeutics. He has over 35 years’ experience in Pharmacy Management. Patrick J. Murphy, Chair, Personnel Committee, Captain, USMC (Veteran) Patrick Murphy is the Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Deloitte Consulting LLP, an audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax company. He also owns First Green Investments, a real estate investment firm which is affiliated with Boston City Properties. He is a former Marine who served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Patrick, his wife Paula, daughter Sara, and son John reside on the South Shore. Back to top Dr. Barbara Rugo Focht, MD, Major, USAF (Retired) Barbara Rugo Focht, M.D., is a pediatrician with twenty years of experience. Dr. Rugo Focht’s practice is built on a model of holistic care. A child’s physical, developmental, emotional, and spiritual needs are considered, while providing education, support, and parental advice. After 20 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Rugo Focht is fulfilling her lifelong dream of opening her own practice. The practice is located in Grafton, MA and is called Kids on the Common. Ralph D. Sabatino, Ph.D. – Biochemistry Dr. Sabatino is currently a manager of research and development at PerkinElmer Inc. and has over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and life science industries. He graduated from Norwich University and continued his education at Boston University obtaining a Ph.D. in Biochemistry followed by a fellowship at the University of Rochester, NY. Dr. Sabatino has been employed at many companies from start-ups to large multi-billion dollar entities. He also earned his construction supervisors license and built 5 houses on a part time basis collaborating with Vin Perrone of Veterans Inc.. Dr. Sabatino was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant Scout Master for over 20 years. And is currently a volunteer member of the Board of Fellows at Norwich University. Edward Burkart, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired) Lt Col. Edward D. Burkart, Jr. is currently employed by the State of Vermont in the Office of Veterans Affairs as the Veterans Services Coordinator. Prior to that assignment, he worked for the Vermont Department of Taxes as a Tax Examiner III. Lt Col Burkart retired from HQ Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS), Randolph AFB, TX., as the Chief of the Personnel Division for the Command. Lt Col Burkart graduated from Norwich University, Northfield, VT. He is married to the former Sally A. Hayward of Marshfield, Vermont. They have three children: Nicholas, Gabriel, and Matthew. Victoria C. Vitucci, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired) Victoria Vitucci is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Vantage Applications, a private engineering services company located in Concord, MA. She is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and served as a Program Manager for weapon system development while on active duty. She is a Level III certified Program Manager, and she obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s degree from the University of Dayton, both in mechanical engineering. Upon retirement from the military, she and her family returned to MA, where she acts as a consultant for the Department of the Army. In addition to her profession, Victoria splits her time between volunteering at her daughter’s school’s sporting activities and her church. Allison A. Alaimo, Assistant Treasurer Vice President of Finance, Development & Administration Allison Alaimo has been with Veterans Inc. since 2002. During her tenure, the agency’s annual operating budget has increased from $750,000 to $10 million, with assets of over $15 million. She has helped raise millions of dollars for both capital and new program funding that have resulted in both geographical expansion throughout New England as well as specifically bringing more services to veterans and their families. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Worcester State University and has a background in sales and marketing. Her passion and commitment have earned her a number of accolades over the years: “Outstanding Worcester Young Alumna” in 2014, Worcester State University; “Twelve Who Made a Difference in Central Mass.” in 2012, Go Local Worcester; “40 Under Forty” in 2008, Worcester Business Journal; “28 to Watch in 2008,” Pulse Magazine; “Unsung Heroine Award” for Worcester from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women in 2007. Allison is active in the community and was former vice-chair of the Worcester Citizens Advisory Council and a Founding Member and past-Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Young Professional Women’s Association, and former Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Canal District Alliance in Worcester. Back to top Advisory Council Vincent A. Pedone Executive Officer, Council of State University Presidents USA (Veteran) Oliver J. Mason Adjutant General of Massachusetts Brigadier General, MNAG (Retired) Francis R. Carroll Chairman, Carroll Enterprises USN (Veteran) Gary J. Gemme Chief of Police, Worcester, MA (Retired) USN Reserves (Veteran) Anthony G. Sahagian Chief of Police, Boylston, MA Lt. Colonel, USA (Retired) Donald A. Ball, Esq. Lt, Holden Police Dept (Retired) USA (Veteran) Marvin L. Thomas Captain, USAF (Veteran) Peter M. Barlow, Esq. Captain, USA – JAG (Veteran) Susan Uncapher USN (Veteran) Ralph K. Stone, Esq. Meister Seelig &Fein LLP Back to top They were there when we needed them... We must be there now that they need us. © 2021 Veterans Inc. All rights reserved.