EXECUTIVE BOARD

Erin Spaulding, President & Athlete
president@achillesct.org

Erin Spaulding is the current President of the Achilles Connecticut Chapter.  Starting as a volunteer leader, she began working for Achilles International part-time in 2014, overseeing Chapter operations and liaising to headquarters in NYC.

Erin first joined Achilles in 2012 as an athlete, following a traumatic brain, neck, and shoulder injury she sustained in 2010. A life-long athlete, Erin was an avid runner and triathlete at the time of her accident. She used her determination as an athlete in her recovery at Gaylord Hospital, re-learning how to coordinate her walking and later running. Joining Gaylord’s Adaptive Sports Association and Achilles gave her back that piece of her life that she thought was gone forever. She became the President of the Connecticut Chapter to show others with differing abilities that anything is possible.

Her story and accomplishments with Achilles International have been featured in local media here in CT, in the Cigna GO YOU! campaign (The Road Home), and Runner’s World Magazine (June 2013). In 2015 she was named to the Aiello Inspiration Team for the Eversource Hartford Marathon & Half Marathon, walking the 5K.  Erin was also a finalist in Nike’s ‘Nominate Your Nike’, and a recipient of the Frederick DeLuca Community Service award.

A graduate of Boston College (BA) and Boston University’s Wheelock College (MS), Erin worked professionally as a child life specialist in hospitals in Boston and Connecticut prior to joining Achilles International. She is active in her community, and volunteers her time and personal/professional expertise with various boards and organizations.
​
Erin and her husband Michael live on the Shoreline with their three children, Katie, Caroline, and Conor, and a Goldendoodle named Charlie (who frequents Zoom meetings).  They are all die-hard Red Sox and Patriots fans!

LyLy Hin, Vice President-Operations & Volunteer
membership@achillesct.org

LyLy joined the Achilles CT Chapter in 2016 after witnessing Achilles volunteers guiding athletes. After only a short time of being a guide, she felt she could offer more and volunteered as the Membership Coordinator. In 2022 LyLy took on the role of Vice President- Operations. She brings the passion of running and the need to help every day.

LyLy is an avid runner that has run many half and full marathons. She feels very blessed she can share her passion of running with those who might not have the ability to participate in events without assistance. LyLy is a proud mother of a teenage boy who also enjoys running. He runs on the high school cross country team and hopes to volunteer with his mother someday in future races. LyLy has a younger brother that is a Special Olympic participant and an avid athlete that loves to compete.

LyLy has been working in the disability insurance industry for over twenty years. This reminds her of the focus and the need to help others.  She enjoys traveling, golfing, and snowshoeing when she has free time. Family and friends help her to stay grounded.

Quote from LyLy:

I feel very humbled when an athlete puts their trust in me to guide them and assist them through a race. Participating with Achilles keeps me from taking everyday activities for granted. I feel a victory and honor every time I assist an athlete in completing a race.

Helping Achilles Athletes is my runner’s high.

Nicole Schreier, Vice President- Outreach & Volunteer
outreach@achillesct.org

Nina Bryant, Vice President-Events & Volunteer
events@achillesct.org

Nina grew up running – first as a necessity to train for her soccer team in middle school and high school, then as a means to stay in shape, and now as a way to stay active and maintain her sanity! Most of the races Nina has participated in over the years were purely to have fun with friends (mostly the races that congratulate you with a beer at the finish line), but over the past two years, Nina has started training more seriously and completed her first two half marathons. Nina first became aware of Achilles through her job at Cigna, when the CEO shared his experience about guiding an athlete at the Disney Marathon. Nina immediately began looking for ways to get involved with Achilles, first by rallying her team at work to support Achilles CT at the Hartford Marathon, and then by joining as a chapter volunteer and guide. For the next 5 years Nina served as Achilles-CT’s Registration Coordinator, and in 2023 is increasing her involvement by becoming VP of Events.

Nina lives in Colchester and is also runs with her two young kids (Flynn and Evie) and fur baby Dexter.

Jo-Anne Rankin, Treasurer & Volunteer
treasurer@achillesct.org

Jo-Anne started running when her daughter – as a freshman on her high school cross-country team – challenged her to run the Manchester Road Race one Thanksgiving. Since that first race, Jo-Anne has gone on to complete over 10 marathons and is still going strong. When she retired in 2015, Jo-Anne made it a goal to become a more active volunteer … Achilles was a natural way of combining her love of running with her desire to give back. Jo-Anne joined Achilles in 2016 as a guide, and in 2018 increased her involvement by becoming co-treasurer.

Jo-Anne and her husband John live on Bolton Lake in Vernon, CT. If you can’t find Jo-Anne on the roads running or biking, check the lake for her on her paddle board.

Noelle Bozzuto, Secretary & Volunteer
secretary@achillesct.org

Noelle Bozzuto started running when she was in second grade at Ellington Parks and Rec tracks.  She then competed with the Killer Bees of South Windsor in their Junior Olympics program. Noelle continued to run throughout Middle School and High School completing her first marathon her senior year. In college, Noelle ran for the University of Saint Joseph.   Noelle continued to run recreationally and has completed several Disney races including the Dopey challenge.  In 2021, Noelle began guiding Achilles athletes.  She was looking for a way to continue running while also bringing the joy of running to others and, just like a pair of running shoes that fit just right, Achilles was the perfect fit.

ADVISORY BOARD

Laura Boogaert- Connecticut Radio Information System (CRIS Radio)

Katie Joly- Program Manager, Gaylord Hospital Sports Association

Chaz Koch– Connecticut Sports & Fitness

Jason Marshall – Glastonbury River Runners

Ryan McKeen-General Counsel Pro Bono, Connecticut Trial Firm, LLC

Dave Stevens– Ability Media, http://www.davestevensspeaks.com

Patrick Turek– Hartford Healthcare
​

COORDINATORS

Tricia King- Membership (membership@achillesct.org)

Michelle Georgevich- Registration (registration@achillesct.org)

Margaret Rorrio– Race Day Operations (operations@achillesct.org)

Darin Meder– Events Team

Outreach Team (outreach@achillesct.org)

•    Tammy McKay – Greater Waterbury & Northwest
•    Roberta Brown – Greater Hartford & Northeast
•    Beth Haydu – Greater Middletown
•    Tracy Parkin – Greater New Haven & Shoreline
•    Jo Bennett– Fairfield County

Steve Anastasio– Athlete Ambassador

Mike Feinberg & Pamela Frost– Website

Taylor Benedum– Marketing/Graphic Design

Claudia Krusch– Marketing/Social Media

Bruce Whitney– Eversource Hartford Marathon Committee Chair

Lori Stethers– Official Charity Runners

Dana Higgins– Official Charity Volunteers