Peter S. Benton graduated with a BSBA (Summa Cum Laude) from Western New England University, where he was elected to membership in Delta Mu Delta, the collegiate honor society in business administration.  He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1975 and currently belongs to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants.

In 1973 he began his career with the Hartford office of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG).  After several years with Peat Marwick, he transitioned into the banking industry for a decade.   In 1986, Peter left banking to become a principal in a Western Mass CPA firm.  Then, in 1993, he became managing partner of a local CPA firm that eventually led to his founding Peter S. Benton, CPA, PC, the firm that he owned and managed since 2008.

Peter is a third generation Rotarian and has been a Rotarian for nearly 40 years.  He has served in many capacities in Rotary: president of two clubs, two terms for a new Rotary club of which he was the founding president, District Governor’s Representative, District 7890 committee chairs, and other district events.  Peter is a multiple Paul Harris fellow, having initially received the award in 1995.

Over the course of his career, he has generously gifted his time and talent to many local and state organizations.  Having graduated from the Springfield Leadership Institute, he has served in leadership positions for the majority of these institutions.  He was chairman of the board of trustees for Faith United Church in Springfield, first vice president of Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and served on various boards and committees for the United Way of Springfield, Western Mass Business Development Corporation, East Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce, First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow, Junior Achievement Project Business, WNEU Alumni Association, Aditus, Inc., and was an active participant coaching and managing in youth sports organizations in Western Mass.

Peter is an avid sports fan and particularly enjoys hockey and baseball.  He played hockey into his early 50s and is a golfer.  Peter also enjoys gardening, music, and history.  He is the author of three published books: two novels, including Brownstone and Ivory, and anthology of short stories.

He has been a guest speaker for many professional organizations, authored numerous business articles, served as a seminar instructor with the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) and was adjunct faculty at Holyoke Community College.

Peter joined the Sunshine Village Board of Directors in 2012, having served as its Treasurer from 2021 to 2025.  He was elected as its Chairman at the Annual Meeting in June of 2025.

He is married to Betsy Brigham Benton, retired mortgage banker and former board member of Community Resources for People with Autism.  Their son Andy attends Sunshine Village’s Agawam Day Rehabilitation Program.  Peter’s son Benjamin is the founder and owner of Benton Real Estate Corporation, and his son Derek is Senior Vice President of Sales for the Mid-Atlantic Region for Secure Energy.

In his own words, Peter shares why he has committed so much to Sunshine Village:

“Nearly two decades ago my son Andy, then 22, aged out of his school district.   Before the actual discharge date, my wife and I began the agonizing search for an adult program in Western Mass.  Fortunately, at that time Betsy was on the board of Community Resources for People with Autism (now part of Pathlight).  We had familiarity with people and names, but not with actual organizations.  Sunshine Village offered the best environment and opportunities for Andy’s success.  That has never changed.  Five years later I was invited to join the board of directors, only after meeting with the chair, Ernest Laflamme, Jr.  I had met Mr. Laflamme many years before, and I was keenly aware of his and Gina Kos’, ED, stature in the community as well as the responsibility and gravity that my position on the board would entail. 

I have never looked back.  I not only joined a board, but a family.  The culture at Sunshine Village is astonishing.  In all my years associating with or being on boards of for-profit and non-profit organizations, I have never come across such a cohesive and caring group of people.  The competence and commitment of the other board members is inspiring.  And my experience has been extensive through the years because of the background that I have.  Most of the board, senior staff, and management have been with Sunshine Village for decades – in the beginning it took a while for me to get used to being a rookie – and, by a long shot! 

Still, I have grown as a person, and my son Andy has found a place where happiness, creativity, personal growth, and safety are paramount.  I owe a debt of gratitude to Sunshine Village for being such a positive force in all our lives – a better home could not be found.  To be a part of Sunshine Village as a board member has been one of the greatest experiences in my life – and truly transformative.  Now, it is my commitment to do everything that I can as a board member to make Sunshine Village even better in the future.”

Stephen C. Melnyck, Jr. was raised in Ludlow Massachusetts and attended the local public schools.  While in high school, he worked at Howard Johnsons restaurant as a dish washer and bus boy and after graduating from Ludlow High, he was employed by Smith and Wesson.  He enlisted in the Air Force in November of 1966, honorably serving our country during the Vietnam War.

He joined the team at Sunshine Village in its early years as a Coordinator, transitioning clients from group homes to individual apartments.  During his three-year tenure, he obtained a Master of Education specializing in Human Services from Antioch University.  He fondly remembers his time with SSV, finding the work to be “both enjoyable and rewarding” and has said that “the wisdom that I gained at that time was beneficial in my business and all future endeavors.”  He has worked in the financial industry for over 40 years and he currently owns a small insurance agency, Retirement Planning Associates, and has formally held certificates in Estate Planning.

Steve has practiced Kokondo Karate – which combines techniques from Karate and Jujitsu – for 14 years and this milestone allows him to provide instruction in this martial art.  With all that he has done in his professional career and with many charitable initiatives, he most enjoys volunteering at the Jewish Community Center in Longmeadow – where he teaches self-defense to children on the autism spectrum.

He is also very proud of his work with Sunshine Village.  Steve joined the Board of Directors in 1982 and it has been a journey that has become a big part of his life.  He co-chaired the first Sunshine Village Golf Tournament in 1989 and has served as the Board’s Vice Chairman for over 25 years.

Michael Siddall, Esq., earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Anselm College and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law.  He served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Rudolph A. Sacco in the Hampden County Probate and Family Court as a Congressional Intern to Congresswoman Margaret M. Heckler in Washington, D.C. and is admitted to the bars of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  He worked as an associate with Murphy, McCoubrey & Auth, P.C. and served as a partner with Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C. prior to founding Siddall & Siddall, P.C. in Springfield, MA where he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, business transactions, estate planning and administration and municipal law.

Attorney Siddall is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association, the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, Inc.  He is currently a Director of World Is Our Classroom, Inc. and a former Executive Committee member and Director of Holyoke·Chicopee·Springfield Head Start, Inc.  He has also gifted his time and talents to Elder Care Initiatives, Inc., Saint Anselm College Alumni Council, the South Hadley Senior Center and the Holyoke YMCA.  He is a former Commissioner of the South Hadley Housing Authority and a former instructor for the Greater Springfield Association of Realtors, Inc. and Holyoke Community College.  Attorney Siddall is a 2011 recipient of the St. Thomas More Award.

He joined the Board of Directors of Sunshine Village in 2004, serving as its long-term Secretary prior to his current position as Treasurer.  In his words, he joined the Board “at the urging of then-Chairman Ernest Laflamme, Jr., whose passion for the organization’s mission was very persuasive. Over the years, I have seen firsthand the extraordinary impact Sunshine Village has on individuals with developmental disabilities. Serving on the Board has given me the opportunity to support a remarkable organization, learn from its dedicated leadership and staff, and contribute to its continued growth and success. I volunteer my time because I believe deeply in the mission and in the life-changing work Sunshine Village performs every day.”

Teri Szlosek has built a successful career in the local banking industry, where she has worked in various executive administration roles since 1997 before transitioning into corporate governance in 2006. She currently holds the position of AVP/Corporate Secretary for Westfield Bank and Western New England Bancorp, Inc.  She also holds the position of Secretary (since 2006) and Director (since 2016) of the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.

Teri is a member of The Society for Corporate Governance (a national organization dedicated to empowering corporate governance professionals) and is a past member of both the Chicopee Business and Professional Women’s Organization and the International Association of Administrative Professionals.  She has also served on committees for the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and has gifted her time and talents to many local charitable organizations, including Brightside for Families and Children, Chicopee Boys and Girls Club, Special Olympics, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Our Lady of the Elms College, March of Dimes and the United Way.

Most notably, Teri volunteered for the Massachusetts Department of Development Disabilities (DDS) in various roles from 2000 to 2008. As an active member of the Chicopee/Holyoke Regional Citizen Complaint Resolution Team, she was responsible for reviewing allegations of abuse and/or omission against DDS clients submitted through the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) along with their remediation. During this time, she was invited to serve on a statewide DDS Advisory Committee, where she assisted in updating and documenting the State’s processes for the review and remediation of DPPC filed complaints. Following these experiences, she served on the Chicopee/Holyoke Regional Citizen Advisory Board as Vice President and Secretary for a period of six years.

Teri has been recognized by the Chicopee Rotary Club with a Paul Harris honor, was bestowed with the Edward T. Ryan Award from the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club and was lauded as the Volunteer of the Year by Brightside.  She is also a published poet, with the International Library of Poetry.

When asked why she vigorously serves as an advocate for people with disabilities and joined the Board of Sunshine Village, Teri expressed, “My personal experiences, as a sibling to two individuals with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, led me to serving DDS in various roles and has provided me with profound insight into the necessary supports for their quality of life and well-being, while also observing the shortcomings in the healthcare system at that time. Serving on the Board of Sunshine Village is a way to contribute those personal experiences.  More importantly, I learned that Sunshine Village sets a high bar for healthcare delivery, demonstrating a shared dedication to understanding their needs while delivering care with compassion and dignity.”

Marie Laflamme received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western New England University.  Over the course of her career, she managed the operations of a family construction company, Arclair Builders, while successfully running her own small business, Centennial Insurance Company, for more than 20 years.  She currently serves as the Treasurer of the City of Chicopee, an elected position she has held since 2014.

She is a is a life-long resident of Chicopee and has gifted her time and talents supporting numerous local non-profit organizations. Currently, she serves on the Board of Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.   She previously served as Chairperson of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Board and continues volunteering with this business organization, chairing the Shining Stars Committee.  She is a former commissioner for the Chicopee Electric Light Department and is a communicant of St. Rose de Lima Church.

Marie joined the Board of Directors of Sunshine Village in 2002 and has “found a sense of personal fulfillment,” as she worked toward a mission of improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities beside her father, who was the organization’s long time Chairman.  Seeing the challenges other families face in supporting their loved ones has brought her “both perspective and gratitude and she cherishes the relationships she has created with her fellow board members.”

Debbie Schneeweis received a Bachelor of Science from Fitchburg State University and a Master of Education from Westfield State University.  She has held certifications in Elementary Education K-8, Special Education K-12, Director of Special Education at all levels

She worked for the City of Chicopee in their public schools for 36 years – with her career advancing through many positions, including Special Education Teacher, Educational Team Leader, Special Education Coordinator as she reached the pinnacle position in the special education department as its Director – a position she retired from in 2014.

During her career, she was affiliated with the Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association.  She has gifted her time and talents to many local organizations, including the Massachusetts Urban Project, Special Olympics (both local and statewide organizations), Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Booster Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Debbie is a lifelong resident of Chicopee and enjoys spending time on the beaches of Cape Cod, visiting her grandchildren and reading.

In her own words, “Sunshine Village holds a special place in my heart as it helped shape the trajectory of my professional life.  I volunteered here while I was in high school and truly loved the people I had the opportunity to work with and the impact this organization had.  I went on to have an incredibly rewarding career in special education and upon my retirement, my story came full circle, as I have returned to where I started and am once again part of the Sunshine Village family.”

Ernest N. Laflamme, Jr. was unanimously elected as Sunshine Village’s first honorary member of the Board of Directors, as Chairman Emeritus, in 2025.  He volunteered with the organization since 1982 and served as its Chairman for over 30 years.

A lifelong resident of Chicopee, Ernie worked for the City for nearly 50 years – with the vast majority of his time in the elected position of Treasurer.  He retired in 2013, after serving under 12 mayors, at the age of 81.

Over the course of his career, he gifted his time and talents to many local charitable, municipal, business and civic organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Council on Aging, Friends of the Senior Center, Nativity Church and the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce , where he was honored with the first Citizen of the Year award in 1985.