Board Members
Lucas Karabin
Co- President – ACME Monaco
Lucas Karabin began his career at Acme Monaco Corporation in June of 2004 and was part time since 1994. Lucas currently holds the position of Co-President. He graduated from Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002. He is a board member for Precision Metalforming Association, Southern New England District as well as a volunteer (since 2006) with Junior Achievement, a nonprofit program that teaches skills in understanding business and money concepts in classroom activities. In his free time, Lucas enjoys his memberships with the Bristol Fish and Game Club and Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
David Devoe
Plymouth Spring Company, Inc.
Cathy Savino
NESMA Executive Director
Cathy has held numerous executive positions throughout her career prior to becoming the Executive Director of NESMA in January 2023. She began her career working in the film and television industry as a freelancer for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida. She was appointed Vice President of the Mid Florida Economic Development Commission in 1985 and was responsible for the creation of the Orlando Film Commission working in tandem with Disney and Universal Studios executive teams. Upon returning to Connecticut in 1992, Cathy began a 20+ year career with ESPN International and was instrumental in establishing networks around the world. In 2015, working closer to home she utilized her management and marketing skills to increase the visibility of the Bristol Boys & Girls Club during its year-long construction and grand opening. In 2017, Cathy was chosen by Bristol’s Mayor to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mayor’s office and in addition, was a key component coordinating volunteers and services throughout the Covid pandemic. With a lifelong love of organizing, event planning and marketing, Cathy is honored to bring her skill set to the NESMA organization.
Bruce Massey
Vice President – Gibbs Interwire
Ryan Cutter
President FENN Torin Corporation
Born in Athol MA, Ryan attended the University of Hartford where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He began working in manufacturing through several internships and made central Connecticut his home after graduation. Ryan has held various engineering and management rolls with The Stanley Works, Parker Hannifin, United Technologies, BHS Torin, and FENN. Ryan was promoted from Chief Engineer to President of FENN in 2016.
Al Mangels
Chief Technical Advisor – Lee Spring Company
Al Mangels is Chief Technical Advisor at Lee Spring Company, a global manufacturer of mechanical springs, wireforms and related products that has had is headquarters in Brooklyn since 1918.
Al started at Lee Spring in 1983 in production control, and during his thirty seven plus years there worked his way up through manufacturing engineering, design engineering and management system integration until ultimately serving as President from 1999 until his semi-retirement in 2019.
During his career, Al has become well versed as a champion of continual improvement activities such as total quality management, lean manufacturing and business process re-engineering, and has seen the company grow internationally to seven facilities in the United States as well as locations in the United Kingdom, Mexico, China, India and Germany.
Al is a member of the SMI Technical Committee, on the Board of Directors of the Industrial Technology Assistance Corporation (NYC NIST MEP), a member of the New York District Export Council, on the Executive Board of the Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Council of New York City and a member of the Bristol Technical Advisory Committee.
John Higginbotham
Rowley Spring & Stamping Corp.
Charlie Radcliffe
Owner, Radcliff Wire Inc.
Jake Youmans
Connecticut Spring & Stamping
Jacob (Jake) Youmans began his career at Connecticut Spring & Stamping while still in high school, and he has no plans of leaving his family’s company. Jake earned his B.A. in Business and Psychology at Bryant University while continuing to work at CSS during school vacations and throughout the four summers. During his first two years full-time, after having spent his early years in the Information Systems Department, Jake has worked alongside loyal and skilled colleagues in many departments to become as knowledgeable in as many facets of the manufacturing business as possible in preparation for possible management roles. Connecticut Spring is a leading international manufacturer of precision springs and metal shaped solutions that have been a strategic supplier of custom springs, progressive stampings, fine blanked stampings, machined components, and assemblies for nearly 80 years.
Thomas O. Barnes, Jr.
President – Riverside Investments
Thomas O. Barnes Jr. founded Riverside Investment Services in 2006 after beginning his career as a financial advisor in 1999. Tom is affiliated with Securities of America to provide brokerage and investment services and holds the Series 7, 65, 63, 24 and the CT Insurance License for Health and Life Insurance. As an advisor, Tom provides his clients a personal touch when it comes to creating sound personal finance strategies and creating and achieving long-term personal financial goals as well as wealth management services. Riverside Investment Services also provides employer sponsored retirement plan advice to both employers and employees.
Tom is a Bristol, CT native dedicated to his community. Tom has been the elected City Treasurer of Bristol since 2011. Tom currently serves as the Chairman of the City of Bristol Retirement Board to direct the investment policy and allocation of the City’s $600 million pension funds. Tom is a Member and Ex-Officio of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce. Tom is currently serving on Connecticut Retirement Security Board, which is exploring options to help improve the retirement options for residents in the state of Connecticut. He has also held a seat as an Advisor for the State of Connecticut Investment Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2013. Tom has served as Board President of the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut as well as a member of the Bristol Rotary Club. Tom is a member of the Bristol Boy’s and Girl’s Club’s Development committee.
Tom is a graduate of Renbrook School in West Hartford CT, Brooks School in North Andover MA, and the University of Montana. Tom currently resides in Bristol, CT with his wife, Emily, and three daughters Lilly, Aubrey, and Ashley.
Andrea Tarantino
Founder – Napcon Communications LLC
Born in 1974 in Naples, Italy Andrea moved to the US at the age of 26 and he has been living in Southington, CT since then. He graduated with great honors at Penn State University with a degree in Information Sciences and Technology. He founded Napcon Communications in 2006 continuing a career in the IT industry that started at the age of 18.
Throughout the years, Andrea increased his expertise and experience providing web design and marketing services with special attention to the latest industry trends and usability. His company has developed a strong presence in the Central CT area but he works closely with clients across the State, the Country and Europe.
He is involved with numerous non-profit organizations including the New Britain Community Foundation, from which he received the Champions Foundation Award in 2020, Southington Bread for Life, and PARC from which he was recognized with “Person of the Year” awards. Four years ago he joined NESMA as the exclusive marketing member and is committed to promoting manufacturing in CT.
Ted Lucas
CPA – Marcum LLP
Ted Lucas is a partner in the Firm’s Hartford, Connecticut office. He has 20 years of experience conducting and performing audits and reviews for both publicly traded and privately held companies in the technology, manufacturing, retail, real estate, construction, and alternative energy industries, and clients with complex equity arrangements. In addition to the above industries, Mr. Lucas performs numerous audits of employee benefit plans.
Mr. Lucas has extensive experience with reporting requirements for publicly traded companies on both the US and Toronto exchanges which include audits reported under both US GAAP and IFRS. Filings include comfort letters, registration statements, initial public offerings, and Forms 10-Q and 10-K. He has conducted both internal and external projects for Sarbanes-Oxley compliant filers. Mr. Lucas’s experience includes significant audit services for international companies.
His current and past client base includes clients with operations in Canada, UK, Israel, Singapore, Slovenia, Mexico, China and India.
Allen Nadeau
Principal – Supervisor – Southington Tool & Mfg Corp.
I am a 54 year old happily married male with a fantastic wife and adult son. I am a partner in a small manufacturing company in Plantsville, CT that mostly produces device components for the medical industry. In my chief role with the company I work with mostly entry level positions. It is my passion to develop the individuals filling these positions to allow them to advance their roles in our company.
Markus Arnold
President – WAFIOS Machinery Corporation
Gary McCoy – SMI Liasion
Spring Manufacturers Institute
Gary McCoy was named executive director of the Spring Manufacturers Association (SMI) on Dec. 1, 2022. Founded in 1933, SMI is an association of companies that manufacture springs and their associate suppliers. The members of SMI work together to meet the key issues of the industry worldwide: quality, materials, technology, government regulations. SMI provides many services, including a quarterly magazine, Springs, a variety of technical publications, spring design software, industry data, seminars, meetings, safety and regulatory compliance and technical assistance.
McCoy served as managing editor of Springs magazine from 2008 to 2023 and has more than 30 years of experience in marketing communications, public relations and association management. He started Fairway Communications in Elgin, Illinois in 2000 and ran his own marketing communications business until 2022 when he left to join SMI. Previously, he was the director of communications for the Automotive Service Industry Association and a former president of the Automotive Communications Council.
He earned a B.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Iowa State University and holds the professional development designation of Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) from the University of the Aftermarket. In 2009, McCoy received the prestigious Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award.
Katie D’Agostino
President – Central CT Chambers
Katie D’Agostino is currently serving as Vice President for the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce where she oversees the marketing and operations of the organization. Katie has been a staff member of the Chamber since 2017.
Prior to joining the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, Katie spent seventeen years in the private sector as a project and marketing leader executing marketing programs aligned with strategic objectives. Eight of those years were spent in various levels of roles at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield working with the Public Sector market for most of her tenure. Katie moved from Insurance to Brokerage assisting Lockton Companies Northeast clients with marketing plans which would make open enrollment plan selections easier to understand for their employees. Following that, Katie became an Assistant Vice President Marketing Specialist at Webster Bank where her primary focus was the communication initiatives for several lines of business.
Katie serves on the Board of Directors for American Clock & Watch Museum, BristolWORKS!, Capital Workforce Partners, Tunxis Community College Foundation, and Bristol Business Education Foundation. She also is a member of the City of Bristol American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Task Force, Tunxis Community College Civic Engagement Institute Advisory Board, and is the 2nd Vice President of the Connecticut Chapter of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE).
Katie enjoys traveling the world, experiencing new cultures. One of the most unique places she has visited was Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands which has a rocky landscape created by volcanic eruptions in the 1730s. When not traveling you can often find Katie watching any number of sports, live or televised, and participating (although poorly) in craft nights with friends and family.
Katie lives in Bristol, Connecticut with her husband, son, and two dogs.