Adam Cossman - Board President
Adam Cossman is a native to Morris County, New Jersey and is a serial internet and digital marketing entrepreneur who has held executive leadership positions at several successful digital advertising agencies. Ten years ago, Adam founded Sentient, a digital advertising agency with a specific focus in healthcare. In 2016, Adam led Sentient through a successful acquisition by W2O Group. To this day, Adam continues as President of W2Osentient and Chief Digital Officer of W2O Group. With a passion for anything having to do with children, in particular ensuring their safety, well-being, and opportunity to experience all that life has to offer, Adam and his wife Lindsey have been dedicated to CASA’s mission for many years. Adam and Lindsey reside in Chester, New Jersey, with their two young boys.
Regina Farlekas - Vice President
Regina Farlekas began her corporate career in finance for AT&T, after graduating with an MBA from Jacksonville University. She embarked on a commercial career within AT&T and ultimately managed 35% of AT&T’s service with medical insurance companies. After focusing on her daughters’ early years, Regina began a second career, pursuing her love of the arts, outdoors and working with families, as a photographer, founding and operating a professional photography company. Regina’s desire to help children in need is evident with her volunteer work in the Pediatric Emergency room at Morristown Medical Center and as a CASA volunteer. Regina remains committed to CASA in her strong belief to help our most vulnerable children. Regina and her husband Michael, of over 30 years, currently reside in Mendham, NJ and have 2 daughters.
Robert Jones - Treasurer
Robert Jones is currently CFO at Accuity. Robert has been a CFO in healthcare and pharmaceutical IT for the past 22 years at 4 private equity and venture capital backed firms. Robert began his career at American Express Company. Robert has a B.S. from New York University and an M.B.A from NYU's Stern School of Business. Robert's volunteer work includes, six years as a CASA volunteer, 10 years as a reader to blind college students and senior citizens and two years as current treasurer and pandemic planning committee member of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange. Robert lives in Short Hills with his wife Susan, an interior designer. They have two children (Carly and Eric).
Amy Vaccaro - Secretary
Amy Vaccaro joined the board in 2022. She has a background in consumer packaged goods marketing and medical sales. Throughout her career, she enjoyed building brands for Johnson & Johnson, Mars Snackfood, and Dunkin’. Currently, she is a business founder (Fine Life, LLC), community leader, and parent. Giving back to the community has always been important to Amy. She served on the Board of Trustees for Mendham Township Library, during which she was appointed to the role of President. Amy enjoys being active as a volunteer in her childrens' school district, the local food pantry, and visiting with the pediatric unit at a local hospital with her family. She is a graduate of Clark University and member of its senior leadership and service honor society. She resides in Mendham Township with her husband, Steve, and two children. Amy is proud to be a part of the CASA team, and truly believes in its mission to be a "voice for the best interests of vulnerable children".
Sandra Fava, Esq. - Trustee
Sandra joined the Board in 2019. She is an attorney who focuses on family law issues. Sandra is proud to have built a solid reputation as a law partner. When she is not working on the behalf of her clients, she is spending time with the ones she loves the most, her family. Sandra has three children and is passionate about making a difference for vulnerable children and families.
Noreen M. Fierro, Esq. - Trustee
Noreen is a seasoned executive having spent the last 35 years in the financial services industry as a legal and compliance professional. Noreen currently serves as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer for the Principal Financial Group®. Noreen joined the CASA Board in 2019 drawn to the organization through its commitment for helping children and families in need in the local community. Having started her legal career in private practice in Morris County over 30 years ago, some of Noreen’s earliest pro bono cases involved domestic violence matters where at the time, the impacted children of these matters often fell through the cracks. Noreen and her husband, Matt, raised their daughter in Montville, NJ where they have called home since 2005.
Michael B. Kanef - Trustee
Since February 2022, Michael Kanef has served as Assistant Treasurer for the State of New Jersey. Prior thereto, commencing in February of 2018, Mr. Kanef worked as the Director of the New Jersey State Office of Public Finance, which is responsible for managing the debt of the State of New Jersey. Before joining the Office of Public Finance, Mr. Kanef served as an analyst, manager and corporate executive at Moody’s Investor Service for nearly twenty years. Prior to his tenure at Moody’s, Mr. Kanef spent several years employed in the corporate law departments at Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, and Weil, Gotshal and Manges. He is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and earned a law degree from Boston University School of Law. Michael and his wife Gail, a labor and employment lawyer, raised their children in Short Hills where they have lived since 1999.
Gonzalo Garcia-Kenny - Trustee
Gonzalo joined the Board of Trustees in May 2023. After graduating from college at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 30 years ago, he joined Citigroup and gained international experience in banking and finance. In 2000, Gonzalo's career took a significant turn when he accepted a position at Citi's headquarters in New York City. Relocating with his family to Morristown, New Jersey, Gonzalo and his wife established a home where they have continued to reside. This move not only marked a new chapter in his professional life but also provided his family with a diverse and vibrant environment in which to grow and thrive. Gonzalo has three children; he is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Heidi Oshima - Trustee
Heidi, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, majored in world languages: Spanish, French and German. She has taught all age groups starting at the U.S. Army Education Center in Germany where her husband was stationed. After teaching all three languages at a junior high school and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Minneapolis, her husband was transferred to New Jersey where they moved, and she taught 28 years at Parsippany High School, 19 years as department head. While teaching full-time, she received her Master's Degree from Rutgers University. In addition, she served six years on the Board of the German Language School, a Saturday School, three as a member and three as President.
Heidi's children live in Boston and New York City, and her grandson Ty is her pride and joy. Her life was dedicated to work with and for children to help them reach their potential. After retiring fully, she has enjoyed helping children from CASA since 2012 when she was officially sworn in as a CASA Volunteer.
Stephen Weinstein, Esq. - Trustee
Stephen S. ("Skippy") Weinstein has devoted his law practice for the past 50 years to pursuing the claims of the injured, their families, and the criminally accused. In recognition of his achievements Skippy has been selected for inclusion in New Jersey Super Lawyers Magazine, 2005-present and appeared on the magazine’s cover in 2006. Skippy has lectured in numerous venues and is the author of a wide array of articles on personal injury and criminal law. In addition to his family and the law, Skippy’s love is for horses and he rides extensively. He lives in New Vernon with his wife Nancy (a retired hospice nurse) and he has four married children and eight grandchildren.
Elisa Wyman - Trustee
