BIAC Board of Directors and Volunteer Leadership Guiding Our Brain Injury Mission.
Kwame O. Asante, MD, President
Dr. Asante serves as Chair of Physical Health and Medical Rehabilitation at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Director for Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. He previously served as Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New England Baptist Hospital.
Nicole Fortino, Secretary
Ms. Fortino serves as Neuro-Liaison for CareOne Neurobehavioral Rehabilitation Programs. She previously served in the same role for Kindred/Next Step.
Greg Bubnash, Treasurer
Former Director of the Investment Advisory Group of Hartford Mutual Funds, Mr. Bubnash has an adult son with a brain injury. Mr. Bubnash has been an active participant in BIAC’s Bike for Thought.
James Bergenn, JD
Mr. Bergenn is a partner at the law firm of Shipman and Goodwin and Adjunct Professor at the UCONN School of Law. He serves on the Board of the Covenant School.
Stewart Casper, JD
Mr. Casper has practiced law for over 40 years. He has lectured on TBI issues in the law throughout the country and authored and co-authored several papers relating to TBI. He has served on the Board of the CT Trial Lawyers Association since 1987. He currently is serving Of Counsel to Slager Madry in Stamford, Connecticut.
Nicole Cruise, PhD
Ms. Cruse is an Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. She is currently working with BIAC as a facilitator of two BIAC brain injury support groups and a member of the 2025 Walk for Thought Fund Development and Communications Committee. Her areas of expertise include brain injury science, grant writing, program development, writing/editing, and volunteer management/recruitment.
Andrew Groher, JD
Mr. Groher has served at the law firm of RisCassi & Davis for more than 30 years and is a former member of the BIAC Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Board of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.
Eric Judge, MBA, CFP
Mr. Judge is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He has served on several boards including the CT River Valley Chamber and the Hartford Community Loan Fund. His areas of expertise include finance/budgeting/audits, investments, long-range and strategic planning and public speaking.
Janice Rustico
Ms. Rustico is a retired teacher and instructional coach for teachers. She served as a board member for the Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation for over 30 years. She is the parent of a son who sustained a TBI in 2023.
Tammy Spurgeon, MS, CCC/SLP
Ms. Spurgeon is an Outpatient Speech Language pathologist at Gaylord Specialty Health Care. She has previous volunteer experience as PTO President, local prevention council, East Haddam Youth & Family Services.