Challenger Learning Center of the Greater Capital Region, Inc.
Board of Directors and Officers
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Heidi DeBlock, MD
President

Dr. DeBlock is an attending physician at St. Clare’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Albany Medical Hospital. She has been working with NASA, Johnson Space Center's Cardiovascular Laboratory since 1990 as a Visiting Research Scientist.

Her areas of study have included arrythmogenesis in short and long duration spaceflight, orthostatic hypotension following spaceflight- both long and short duration, and various countermeasures used for orthostatic hypotension. All are astronaut-based research.

Although based in Houston, Dr. DeBlock’s research has taken her to the Kennedy Space Center and the Dreyden Spaceflight Research Center to attend shuttle landings over the past four years. Dr. DeBlock talks about her research and work with NASA to many local schools, clubs and associations.

She is married to the Reverend Scott DeBlock, pastor of the Niskayuna Reformed Church and the mother of three young daughters.

Lance Jackson
Vice President

Lance retired after serving 26 years as Executive Director of the Northeast Parent and Child Society with corporate offices located in Schenectady. Northeast is a multi program child and family service agency serving 22 Counties and over 2,500 children and families members in up state New York.

Lance holds two Masters Degrees, one in Special Education, the other in Educational Administration.

In a career spanning 40 years Lance has received many awards and recognitions for his work in the private and government sectors. He has been a Social Services Case worker, a Special Education Teacher, Corporate Board Member, and School Administrator, War on Poverty Neighborhood Youth Corps Project Director and Child and Family Service Agency CEO.

He has and continues to serve on many Boards, Panels and Taskforces of Professional, Government, Business and community organizations, many of which he has and or is continuing to serve in leadership roles.

Mardy Moore
Secretary

Mardy has been an active community volunteer since 1951. She serves on the board, is a life member of the Empire State Aerosciences Museum, and currently is the Executive Director of ESAM.

A graduate of the College of New Rochelle with a mathematics major, Mardy was the assistant supervisor of a nuclear engineering course at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, where she worked on the SIR project.

She was elected for four terms as the Supervisor of the Town of Niskayuna, and served on the town's Zoning Board of Appeals for five years.

Mardy has served as President of many local groups, including the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Players, Catholic Charities of Schenectady, Ladies of Charity, Schenectady branch of the American Association of University Women and the St. Clare's Hospital Auxiliary.

She is an incorporator of Proctor's Theatre, and served as an officer and on its board for many years. She served as the program chairman and booked the first two seasons for Proctor's.

She has served on the Board and as an officer of other organizations including the Schenectady Museum, Mohawk Pathways Girl Scout Council, Boys & Girls Club and Zonta. She is a life member of Girl Scouts of America.

Mardy has received several awards from groups such as the YWCA, Niskayuna Republicans, Schenectady Business Council, Catholic Charities and the highest award her College grants.

She and her late husband Charles have three daughters and three sons. They have 11 grandchildren.

Dave Stackrow, CPA
Treasurer

Stackrow is a shareholder, Vice President and Treasurer of Scott, Stackrow & Co., CPAs, a regional accounting firm specializing in servicing the accounting and income tax needs of individuals and closely held businesses. Stackrow is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Active in the community, he is Board Chairman of the Capital District Transportation Authority, and Board Chairman of LaSalle Institute of Troy.

Stackrow is the Board Vice Chairman of the City of Troy Industrial Development Authority, and Director of The Society of the Friends of St. Patrick.

A Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Council #267, he is also a member of the University Club of Albany. A resident of Poestenkill, Stackrow earned his bachelor of Business Administration from Siena College in 1986.

Norman L. Miller
Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer

Norman was recently appointed as Executive Director of the Challenger Center. He had served as President of the Challenger Board of Directors for two consecutive terms; he has the working knowledge and the historical perspective to effectively carryout the policies of the board.

Norm has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and has years of experience in organizational development, strategic planning, executive leadership, and team building.

He is retired from the United States Air Force with 33 years of service. While serving in the military he created a national Health Professions Recruiting Program for the government.

Norm was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Bobsled coaching staff. He helped guide the United States team to a fourth place finish and coached a team that competed in the 1992 & 1994 Olympics.

Norm is the author of IceSpy, a sport espionage novel. He and his wife Marilyn live in Princetown, NY and are the parents of four children and seven grandchildren.

David Apkarian

David Apkarian has a BBA in Business Administration with Marketing as a major. He has extensive experience as a sales executive in technology based product companies.

As President of QCQA Lab, Inc and its parent, TransTech Systems, Inc. David is providing entrepreneurial and operating leadership to high growth, advanced technology product
companies in the transportation and construction industries. David is a member of the Board of Directors of TransTech Systems, Tire Conversion Technology, St. Clare’s Hospital Foundation, National Asphalt Pavement Association, the American Society of Testing and Measurement, and a past Board member of the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York.

He was recognized by both the NYS Legislature and Assembly for exceptional volunteer service to the American Red Cross when a senior at the Albany Academy.

In 2005, David was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 award recognizing the Capital Region’s most promising young members of the business community under the age of 40.

Ronald E. Berube, P.E.

Ron is an Engineering Manager for QCQA Labs, Inc. in Schenectady, NY.

He was awarded a B.S. Civil and Environmental Degree from Clarkston University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York. He has over ten years experience as a project engineer and with land development projects.

Robert Burroughs

Bob is a charter life member of the Empire State Aerosciences Museum. He served as President of ESAM from 1990 to 2000.

He has been an active volunteer with the Museum since 1985, and was a member of the Air Show Executive Committee from 1988 -1999. Bob served from 1955 to 1963 in the Vermont Air National Guard. His aviation interest is aircraft and rocket models and ballooning, and has flown in international balloon competitions.

Bob has been a special education teacher at several schools. A graduate of Castleton College, he has advanced training in special education from St. Rose and Russell Sage Colleges. With BOCES at the Guilderland Central Schools, he was responsible for planning and implementing academic and vocational programs for students with learning and behavior disorders. He also served as a Board member of Helderberg House, a home for developmentally disabled adults. He has been a founding member of the Challenger Learning Center of the Capital District.

Anne Connolly, CPA

Anne has twenty five years experience in senior management positions including public accounting, proprietary and not for profit health and human service organizations, and higher education research administration.

She currently works for the Research Foundation of the State University of New York – Central Office. Manager of Corporate Accounts Receivable – Office of Sponsored Programs.

George Krauss

George graduated from SUNY Maritime College with a BSME, 3rd Assistant Engineer Coast Guard License and a commission in the US Navy. He received an MSME from RPI, a Professional Engineer License from NY State.

He retired from KAPL as manager Advanced Design Power Plant Engineering. While at KAPL he was involved in the design and production of several different types of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

Charles Kuenzel

Charles has been a science educator for the last 33 years in the Saratoga Springs School District. A graduate of SUNY and Union College (BSMS), Charles has taught Earth Science and Astronomy for most of his years at Saratoga High School. He also serves as advisor to the Saratoga High School NASA Club, which has been involved since 2002, with International Mars research projects involving students from Chekhov, Russia and using imagery from NASA’s Odyssey Satellite. He also serves as a board member on the Saratoga-Chekhov Sister City Committee. Recently he was named to Senator Bruno’s list of Exceptional Educators of Saratoga County 2006 and winner of the Saratoga Springs Rotary
Community Service Award in 2005. Charles lives in Saratoga with his wife Margaret and their three college aged children.

Diana Hinchcliff

Diana earned her BA in Psychology (cum laude), minor in Economics at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York and completed course work toward MBA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York.

Her background includes being a successful CEO/senior manager in public and private sectors in complex organizations. From 2004 – 2010 Diana was Director, Office of Governmental Relations with the New York State Education Department, Albany, New York. She collaborated with agency leadership and staff on public policy and legislative issues.

Diana was a successful advocate with the New York State legislature, executive branch, agencies and Congress. She secured budget appropriations and got major federal and state legislation enacted into law.

Randall Hogue

Randall is creator and owner of success Card/Webb design on Nott Terrace in Schenectady, NY. He and his wife Ann live in Canajoharie, New York

Stephen MacMinn, PhD

Steve is the Chief Technology Officer at GlobalSpec, Inc. in Rennselaer. As a member of the corporation’s executive team, he provides technical direction and business insight.

He has extensive knowledge and background in many aspects of science and technology, including engineering, information systems, telecom and networking, and software development.

Prior to joining GlobalSpec, MacMinn was with GE Corporate Research & Development in Schenectady.

He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, and earned his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell in 1981 and his Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University in 1978. He holds 13 United States and
international patents.

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