NYSFDA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of licensed funeral directors from small and large firms around New York State.
NYSFDA Officers are outstanding practitioners of funeral directing who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the mission and goals of the Association.
NYSFDA Officers
Robert J. Hogan, President
Robert J. Hogan, manager of Quinn-Fogarty Funeral Home in Flushing, NY, was installed President at the organization’s annual meeting held on August 22, 2022 in Verona, NY.
Robert is a third-generation funeral director, providing compassionate and caring service to grieving families. He graduated with a degree in mortuary science from SUNY Farmingdale in 1989 and became a licensed funeral director in 1991.
He is a past president and current board member of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and has served on the board of both the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the New York State Tribute Foundation.
In addition to being dedicated to the funeral profession, Bob maintains an active role in many local church and fraternal organizations. He and his wife, Rita, live in Manhasset. Together they have two children, Rob and Alyssa.
John O. D'Arienzo, President-Elect
John O. D'Arienzo has the honor of managing the family funeral home - D’Arienzo Funeral Home, Inc. - in Brooklyn, NY, was installed President-Elect at the organization’s annual meeting held on August 22, 2022 in Verona, NY..
John is a third-generation funeral director and proudly carries on the family tradition of serving the Brooklyn area with compassion and respect since 1934. Their deep roots in the community are a source of pride, as they grow side-by-side with the families they serve.
He is a past president of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and has served on the board of the New York State Funeral Directors Association.
Scott C. Hendrix, Treasurer
Scott Hendrix, a licensed funeral director with Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home in Ilion, was installed Treasurer at the organization's annual meeting held on August 22, 2022 in Verona, NY. He has been a licensed funeral director for over 30 years and is the manager of the firm. Scott is a graduate of SUNY Canton, and enjoys cooking, golf, traveling and spending time on the boat with his wife Geri.
Scott served on the NYSFDA Board for many years, and serves as Secretary/Treasuer on the NYS Tribute Foundation Board. He is also a Lieutenant-EMT-CC with the Ilion Fire Dept.
Scott has two daughters, Victoria and Jacquelyn, and a granddaughter Fiona.
Michael J. Gorton, Jr., CFSP, Secretary
Michael J. Gorton, Jr., CFSP, a licensed funeral director with McManus-Lorey Funeral Home in Medford, was installed Secretary at the organization's annual meeting held on August 22, 2022 in Verona, NY. He became a licensed funeral director in 1997 and is a graduate of St. John's University (Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Administration) and American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. In February of 1998 Mike decided to join the family funeral home in Medford and become a director under his aunt and uncle at McManus-Lorey Funeral Home.
Mike is a long-time active member in the New York State Funeral Directors Association, a 2018 NYSFDA Leadership Academy graduate, member of the Bridge Commission, and currently is Chair of the NYS Tribute Foundation. He has also served on the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors in a number of capacities, including President.
Mike lives in Rocky Point, with his wife, Melissa and their son, Gabe. He is involved in his community at home where he served as President of the North Shore Beach Association from 2015-2019. He currently is the treasurer of NSBPOA as well as Cub Master of Cub Scout Pack 6249. In his free time Mike enjoys days at the beach in Rocky Point, cooking BBQ for friends and family, relaxing in his backyard and drinking local craft beer and Long Island wine.
John J. Kelly, Immediate Past President
John J. Kelly, owner and manager of Edward L. Kelly Funeral Home in Schroon Lake, NY, was installed Past President at the organization’s annual meeting held on August 22, 2022 in Verona, NY.
John and his wife, Susan L. Kelly, purchased the funeral home from his father Edward L. Kelly in 1965.
A graduate with honors from Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science in 1962, John has been an active funeral director serving Schroon Lake and the surrounding communities since he returned home in 1964.
Dedicated to his profession, John served on the NYSFDA Board of Directors, chaired the Association's Ethics Committee and is a past chairman of the NYS Tribute Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, established in 2003 out of a desire to unite the knowledge and resources of funeral service professionals throughout New York State.
He has also been very active politically in the Town of Schroon, Essex County, New York Sate and nationally, serving as the president of both the NYS Associations of Towns and Counties. He served on the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. He has been a member of many civic organizations throughout his life.
He has been married to his wife Susan since 1965, they have a son Edward J. Kelly and a daughter Louise V. Nestler and their grandchildren Hunter and Lauren Kelly and Liam and Maura Nestler.
NYSFDA Staff
Michael A. Lanotte, Executive Director
As NYSFDA’s Executive Director, Mike oversees several distinct entities including: President, Funeral Director Support Services, Inc., which administers PrePlan, the Association's master trust; President, Directors Choice Credit Union; and President of the New York State Tribute Foundation, a charitable organization pursuing goals of charity, knowledge and education for both consumers and funeral directors. Mike previously served as Senior Vice President of Association Services at the New York Credit Union Association where he was responsible for compliance, community development, education and training, governance, governmental affairs, member services, the New York Credit Union Foundation, and legal and regulatory affairs. He has also served many roles at NYCUA including associate counsel in 1993 and general counsel in 1997. Mike is the past chairman of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) State Issues Subcommittee and has served on CUNA's Supervisory Issues Working Group. Mike has also served on the American Association of Credit Union League's (AACUL) State Issues Committee and Regulatory Advocacy Committee, as well as on ACCUL's Model Credit Union Act Task Force, where he served as chairman. Prior to joining the Association, Mike received his Juris Doctorate degree from Albany Law School of Union University after graduating cum laude from Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Randy L. McCullough, CAE, Deputy Executive Director
Randy has been NYSFDA’s Deputy Executive Director since 2003, having previously served as the Association’s Director of Government Affairs. From 1988 - 1998, he was Senior Staff Member/Legislative and Committee Director for former New York State Assemblyman Paul D. Tonko (Amsterdam), who now represents the region as a Member of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives (NY-21). McCullough graduated from Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) with a B.A. in Political Science, earning Departmental Distinction honors. He also undertook graduate studies in International Affairs at The George Washington University (Washington, DC).
Randy serves on the Board of Trustees of Hartwick College, his alma mater, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council. The Council, based in Washington, DC, is the leading international association for public affairs professionals. He has also been a member of the board of directors for several other organizations, including the Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE), for which he also served as Board Chair, the American Red Cross (Northeastern New York Chapter) and the Hartwick College Alumni Association, rising to serve on its Executive Committee. He also was President of Hartwick’s Albany-area Alumni Chapter for several years.
Ivan Antonyuk | Director of Information Technology
Mehgyn Bowen | Graphic Design Specialist
Vesta Caunitz | PrePlan Administrator
Amy Coonan | Senior Preneed Administrator
Rebecca Dawes | PrePlan Administrator
Kelly Deitz, CAE | Director of Foundation and Core Programs
Megan Geroux | Director of Marketing & Communications
Kara Grennon | PrePlan Administrator
Linda Isabel | Directors Choice Credit Union Member Specialist / Financial Associate
Tammy Keenan | PrePlan Administrator
Amanda LaPointe | PrePlan Administrator
Amy Lico | Credit Union Operations Manager
Mark Magram | Senior Software Developer
Allison Matheson | PrePlan Administrator
Kim McGuiness | Director of Finance & Administration
Michelle C. Mora | Member Services Specialist
Cynthia Owens | Receptionist
Melissa Sargalis | Director of Preneed Trust Services
Cherie Tessier | Executive Assistant
Erin Townsend | PrePlan Administrator
