Four New Members Join The Cheshire Academy Board Of Trustees

Press release from Cheshire Academy:

Sept. 23, 2022

The Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees recently elected four new trustees, all of whom bring immense knowledge, skills, and experience from their professional and personal lives.

The new trustees are Mitchell Herman ’68, Suparna Mody ’00, Dr. William A. Petit Jr., and Todd Savage ’98.

Herman, of Silver Spring, Maryland, is president of Dana Creative Concepts Corp., a finance and management consulting company with a diversified client base. Herman has a professional background in both business and the food industry, previously serving as the chief financial officer and co-owner of RIS Restaurant in Washington, D.C., and as senior vice president for corporate affairs at Shoppers Food Warehouse. Herman’s work for Shoppers was instrumental in the development and expansion of the enterprise; he was involved in management and marketing for the company, and represented Shoppers in both industrywide organizations as well as through state and local legislative efforts. He also has extensive experience serving on the boards of commercial and charitable organizations, including on the Ambassador’s Group of the Medstar Washington Hospital Center, and as past chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Food Dealers Association. Herman received a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a master’s degree in business administration from The George Washington University and his Juris Doctor from the George Mason University School of Law. He also served with the U.S. Coast Guard.

A member of the Class of 2000, Mody, a partner at Chariance Consultancy, is a business professional with multi-dimensional experience in the areas of marketing, human resources, fundraising, and finance in the social sector. She previously worked as the director of fundraising with The Akanksha Foundation, a non-governmental organization involved in the education of underprivileged children. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Mody worked in the finance sector in portfolio management and strategic business development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in business studies from Northeastern University. Mody currently lives in Mumbai, India, with her husband.

Dr. Petit is currently serving his third term as Connecticut state representative of the 22nd District, representing the towns of Plainville and New Britain. From 2019-2002, Petit has served as a ranking member of the Public Health Committee, and as a member of the Education and Energy and Technology committees. Dr. Petit has a wealth of knowledge in the medical field, having previously operated a practice in Plainville from 1989-2007. In 1997, Dr. Petit was chosen to become the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center at what is now the Central Hospital of Connecticut. He also served as Plainville’s director of public health from 1994-2008. Dr. Petit has strong ties to Cheshire Academy, as his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, previously served as the school’s co-director of the Richmond Health Center. After the loss of Jennifer and his two daughters, Hayley and Michaela, Dr. Petit—with the help of friends and family—formed the Petit Family Foundation 501(c)(3) in their memory. In addition to his professional and charitable work, Dr. Petit serves on countless committees and boards for the sciences, domestic violence, education, and other efforts. A graduate of Plainville High School, he earned an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth University, a medical degree from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and completed a fellowship in endocrinology at the Yale School of Medicine. He currently lives in Plainville.

Savage, member of the Class of 1998, has worked for the U.S. Government since 2005. Savage brings with him to the Board instrumental knowledge in policy, security, and safety. In his line of work, Savage provides policy and planning expertise relative to national security. Prior to his current role, Savage handled outreach prevention programs and technology protection programs, as well as worked as field training officer for the Capitol Police. Savage is a graduate of Denison University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science. He was later named a National Defense University Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Fellow, receiving a master’s degree in defense and strategic studies in WMD policy from National Defense University and Missouri State University. Savage currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Courtney.

This press release was produced by Cheshire Academy. The views expressed here are the author's own.