Meet Our Board of Directors

Donald Mitchell, Chairman    Don was born in 1949 in Danbury, CT and has lived in Brookfield most of his life.  He and his wife, Nancy, have two grown children, Nick and Katie.  After graduating from college, Don joined the family oil business which his dad founded in 1945.  He has had many different responsibilities within the oil company over the years and is still very active in the management of the company.      Don has strong ties to the community and has been an active volunteer in numerous organizations, from coaching several youth sports teams to working with the American Heart Association, Regional YMCA of CT, Yankee Council Boy Scouts of America, Tarrywile Park, Ann Olsen Foundation, Danbury Museum and Historical Society, SBD Foundation, Danbury Chamber of Commerce, Better Home Heat Council, ICPA, and the New England Fuel Institute.  Don sees the wonderful impact HDHM is having on our community and is very proud to be part of this volunteer organization.

Peter Brady, President     Born on April 30, 1941, Peter was raised in New Rochelle, NY along  with five sisters and one brother and served in the US Navy from 1960 – 1962.  He attended evening classes at Westchester Community College and Graduated from Pace University Pleasantville, NY in 1971with a BBA degree with a Marketing Major.     Peter married Carol Ann in 1969 and is the proud father of three daughters; Kerri, Ellen, and Robyn.  He was employed by Nestle USA as Director of Purchasing from 1962 to his early retirement on February 28, 2000.      Among his other talents, Peter is an avid racquetball player, having participated in competitive tournaments throughout NJ, NY and CT for 35 years.  He also enjoys working around the house for his family.     Upon retirement, Peter founded the full-time Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry which became a non-profit company in 2004, servicing 250+ clients with the help of 900+ volunteers. In 2010 there are 400 clients and 1000 volunteers.     Enjoys organizing group functions, and believes his Ministry is a viable program since he is able to utilize his attributes of organization, communication, and motivation.

Carol Ann Brady, Vice President & Secretary     Born in NYC on January 25, 1943, Carol Ann attended Catholic schools, graduating from Saint Joseph’s College in Emmetsburg, MD in 1984 with a BS Degree in Home Economics.  Carol Ann is an only child and landed a job straight out of college at Nestle USA in White Plains where she met her husband to be, Peter Brady, President Handy Dandy Handyman Co.     Carol Ann enjoys reading, especially cook books where she excels in the kitchen with her favorite recipes to the delight of her husband and three grown daughters, Kerri, Ellen, and Robyn.  Carol Ann also plays an important role in the HDHM Ministry as Vice President and Secretary, while participating in many of the volunteer efforts assigned during the year.     Carol Ann is very active in her church community helping out with various tasks at church and the surrounding area in Brookfield, CT.

Bob Elston, Treasurer     Born in Monroe, CT in December 1966, Bob moved to Brookfield at the age of 3. After attending Saint Joseph Catholic School and Immaculate High School, he graduated from Western Conn. State University.     Bob met his wife Tracey in High School and married May 1996. They have two sons and live in Newtown. Bob runs his fathers business, Elston Business Products Inc. in Brookfield, and is quite active in the management of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Brookfield.     Bob is also the Treasurer of the organization and is one of the most active volunteers to date, having been awarded the Most Valuable Volunteer of the year 2002. “I find the work very rewarding and will involve my two young sons in the Ministry when they are old enough”.

Randy Lyn Convertito Randy was born June 4th, 1969, and grew up in Bethel, CT. She and her husband Paul, have lived in Brookfield since 1992 and have two children, Sarah and Michael. Randy graduated from Porter and Chester Institute, and for the past 10 years, has worked in Newtown as a clearance consultant to film and TV producers.             Both of Randy's children attended elementary school at Christian Life Academy in Brookfield . Sarah is now a student at Long Island University C.W. Post Campus, and Michael is a student at Immaculate High School. Randy is an active volunteer in numerous roles, from current yearbook adviser at Christian Life Academy to Meals on Wheels, Jericho Partnership, Rake and Bake, and proudly, the 2009 HDHM home makeover. In her spare time, she enjoys reading.             Randy is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brookfield, and she and her family take pride in helping out with various Church and community events.

Richard Sanislo     Born in 1932 in the State of CT. Richard graduated from Fairfield University with a BSS Degree in Economics and Philosophy with continuing studies at Parsons School of Design NYC. after serving 2 years with the U. S. Army in Germany.  Richard is the proud father of 4 daughters with 7 grand children.      When not serving in the HDHM Ministry, Richard spends his free time conducting woodworking classes for the Burlington Academy of Learning, a pre-k and enrichment school founded and run by his daughter.     Richard spent his business career in the graphics design field NYC. Printing commercially as well as serving is a management position in Purchasing and Merchandising. His aspiration in retirement was to find a volunteer group that serves the less fortunate, and in 2002 Richard joined forces with the HDHM Ministry winning the Most Valuable Volunteer Award in 2004 among 900 other candidates.     Richard became a Board member in 2005 and continues to serve diligently throughout the year.

Steve Greene     Steve Greene was born March 27, 1954 in Springfield, Illinois. Living in New City, New York during his formative years, he graduated from Niagara University in 1976 and was employed by IBM for 14 years before leaving in 1993 to become a stay-at-home dad. Steve met his wife, Elaine, a nursing student at Niagara and they married in 1981. They have two sons, Connor 15 and Sean 12. He has had the distinct honor of being “HDHM Volunteer of the Year” in 2004, and he continues to enjoy all that Peter “Boss Man” Brady conjures up in the form of helping the less fortunate. Becoming a foot soldier for Peter 7 years ago, he was asked what one thought came to mind when thinking of the HDHM community.  Steve replied, “No man stands taller than when he bends down to help someone in need. This has always been the cornerstone of the HDHM organization."

Mary Smith-Retired     Mary Clark Smith born in New Milford, CT on May 21, 1920, graduated from schools in New Milford.  She also graduated from Guggenheim Dental School in New York in 1941.  She married in August 1945 and has two sons; Samuel, and William, and a daughter Elizabeth. After the children started school, Mary worked in the Post Office for ten years, followed by ten years work in the town of Brookfield, CT.      Since retiring in 1999, Mary maintains an active life volunteering at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church and with the HDHM organization.

Helen Fiddner-Retired     Helen Reid Fiddner was born in NYC February 6, 1925 and worked for ten years at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.  She married Jim Fiddner May 10, 1952 and stayed home for ten years with her family.  Helen lived in Manville, NJ, and Rochester, NY,  before relocating to Brookfield, CT, where she has resided for 45 years.     Served as Postmaster, Brookfield Center, CT. for 16 years.  Has a daughter and three granddaughters in Brookfield, CT.  Enjoys assisting others through Church and community contacts.