Meet The Board of Directors

Karen Cook

President, Executive Director

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PSIA-AASI Certified 

Adaptive Level 1: VI/DD

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Summit Adaptive Sports is lead by Karen Cook as Executive Director and President of the Board of Directors. She is responsible for overseeing the start up of the new organization, as well as the day to day operations. Karen has a strong background in business management both at the corporate level and as an entrepreneur. Currently she is the co-owner of Cook & Kozlak Flooring Center in Canton, CT for the past 28 years. She started volunteering in high school and has held leadership positions in many non-profits since 1992 including the PGA Canon Greater Hartford Open, Greater Hartford Walk for Autism and STRIDE Adaptive Sports at Ski Sundown. Her positions included event planning and fundraising. She has received many volunteer service and fundraising awards.

Karen has volunteered as an adaptive ski coach at Ski Sundown for 16 years and has directed the adaptive program for the last six years.  She is a PSIA Level 1 Adaptive Instructor. She also participates in the CISC Adult Recreational Ski Racing league. Most importantly she is mother to two sons on the autism spectrum who are her inspiration. When not on the slopes, Karen is an avid hiker, paddler, and biker. 

Scott Roderick

Vice President, Lead Snowboard Coach

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PSIA-AASI Certified 

Adaptive Level 1: Snowboard

BICP aMTB Level 1 Instructor

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Scott is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a CT licensed Behavior Analyst and a MA Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst who has developed individualized academic programs and functionally based behavior programs for children and adolescents with autism and related disabilities.  He has presented workshops and research at regional, national and international conferences, conducted workshops and training for parents, educators and service providers and taught Applied Behavior Analysis as an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut and the University of Saint Joseph.   

Currently, Scott is the founder CEO/Senior Behavioral Analyst at Quantum Behavioral Consulting LLC. providing consulting to school based autism and special education programs that service individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disabilities.  Scott has been a long time volunteer with the adaptive program at Ski Sundown as a snowboard coach and as a coach for Special Olympics. He is currently a Level 1 AASI Snowboard Instructor. 

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Susan Murphy

Secretary, Program Director

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PSIA-AASI Certified 

Adaptive Level 1: VI/DD

BICP Ride Leader Certified 

Susan has over 16 years experience coaching and managing youth sports and community theater groups.  Her love of snow sports directed her to find ways to give back to this community as a coach. She is now entering her 9th year coaching adaptive skiing with the program at Ski Sundown.  Susan is also currently the Head Coach for the Simsbury Special Olympic Ski Team and has volunteered with Special Olympics for the past 10 years.  She is a PSIA Level 1 Adaptive Instructor. She has served on boards for local community groups as well  as an international early education program.  Susan has spent many years in the financial service and insurance industries, as well as in special education in a local school district.  Susan is learning to cross country ski and when the warm weather is here she loves to paddle and hike.

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Layth Haddad

Director

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PSIA-AASI Certified 

Adaptive Level 2: Mono/Bi-Ski ​

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Layth has been working with individuals with disabilities for over 40 years.  He is a speech pathologist with a primary focus on adults in medical settings.  He has been involved with various non-profit organizations providing services to persons with a wide range of disabilities.  He enjoys skiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and even marathon running.  Layth is a PSIA-AASI Adaptive Level 2 instructor.  He began his involvement with adaptive skiing in college in Colorado and resumed it at Sundown in 2009, after years of coaching sports with the Special Olympics.

Shelly Gambino

Chairperson of the Board, Lead Trainer

PSIA-AASI Certified 

Alpine Level 2

Adaptive Level 1: VI/DD

Shelly founded the adaptive program with Ski Sundown 17 years ago and managed it as it grew during its first 6 years.  During this time she put into place the strong training program for the volunteer coaches that continues today.  She is a PSIA Level 2 Alpine and Level 1 Adaptive Instructor.  Shelly has remained very involved in the adaptive program over the last 12 years at Ski Sundown as a coach and very importantly as the Lead Trainer. Her love of skiing has even given her the opportunity to encourage 5 of her granddaughters (the sixth one will start this season) to love skiing as much as she does.  Shelly previously worked many years in the public school system as a paraprofessional in special education.  She has also been on the committee for the Easter Seals Annual Crystal Ball fundraiser. When the snow melts she loves to bike, paddle and walk.​​​​​​​​​​​

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Rachel Baugher

Treasurer, Business Manager

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Rachel is a CPA with a public accounting background; she started her own utility auditing and energy consulting firm in the 1990s to enjoy more flexibility with her family.  She spent many years on the Connecticut ski mountains as both of her children were alpine ski racers, and loves all outdoor activities including hiking and bicycling.  She was an adaptive volunteer with the former Sundown program for several years and is excited to help grow the new Summit Adaptive Sports program as Treasurer and Business Manager. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Lisa Stefano

Director

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Lisa is an attorney and works in-house at a commercial insurance company. She spent many years as a travel soccer and basketball mom and led multiple parent/school committees and projects while her now adult children attended Wethersfield public schools.  She began volunteering in the community with the Greater Hartford Jaycees, and the then Greater Hartford Open, where she met Karen. Lisa and her family enjoy winter sports at Ski Sundown and area mountains, as well as golf, water sports, pickleball and hiking in the summer. Lisa is excited to support the Summit Adaptive Sports program.