Our Co-Founders
& Board of Directors
Get to know our Co-Founders: the duo whose passion, determination, and hard work led to the founding of OWC back in 2011.
Our Board of Directors oversee the fiscal health of Opportunity Works CT, as well as contribute to helping maintain a high quality standard for our programs.
CO-FOUNDERS:
BILL PALUSKA
OWC President & Co-Founder
Bill Paluska is a Connecticut native who co-founded Opportunity Works Connecticut (OWC) with Rene Lambert. After years of founding and running successful businesses, Bill set his sights on a new challenge: finding a way to enrich the lives of people with intellectual, cognitive, and physical disabilities. His passion for this kind of work started at home, his son Ryan is intellectually disabled. Through the years Bill noticed that Ryan was not challenged enough in his day program and wanted something more for him. That thought became an action when he and Rene created OWC.
As the president of OWC, Bill enjoys making woodcrafts in the woodshop alongside the Individuals and OWC employees. Bill is an avid gearhead, which plays into his love for hot rods, motorcycles, monster trucks and car shows. Bill shares this passion with his son Ryan, who was among the first two Individuals supported by OWC when the nonprofit opened in 2011.
Bill attended Ellington High School, and then went to Manchester Community-Technical College and earned an Associates of Science Degree. Before OWC, Bill served in the United States National Guard – E5 for 8 years. He also owned three businesses. Star Painting in Ellington CT, Handi-man Connection in Tolland CT, and Win-Sum Sports in Vernon CT. Bill also founded Bee Haven Apiaries in Tolland CT in 1985, where he produces honey and honey products, which can be found in The Gifts of OWC shop next door to OWC’s main building in Rockville, CT.
Bill is so proud of all the dedicated staff that have gone above and beyond to keep OWC innovative, especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic that began in 2020. He is always looking for new ideas and projects to work on, and OWC provides the opportunity for him to work with other driven and creative people on a daily basis. Bill has big dreams for OWC, and watching OWC surpass all of his milestones has only made him more excited to see what’s instore next.
RENE LAMBERT
OWC Executive Director & Co-Founder
Inspired by her mother, who worked at Mansfield Training School as a nurse, Rene Lambert currently excels as the executive director & co-founder of Opportunity Works Connecticut (OWC). As the executive director she maintains finances, staffing, volunteers and consumers’ individual plans and has helped to raise funds through capital campaigns, fundraisers and grant writing. Backed by her expertise in program development for employment and vocational services for individuals with disabilities, she assembled the agency’s corporate and state documents, as well as networked with state agencies and legislators.
Prior to founding OWC Rene gained valuable expertise in the industry as a manager and hiring agent for Sunrise Northeast, a post in which she served between 1990 – 2007. Dedicated to community development, she contributes to the less fortunate as the co-chair of the board for the Rockville Downtown Association. Before embarking upon her professional path, she graduated from RHAM High School with a diploma in 1987.
Looking to the future, Rene intends to continue on her current path and develop more of a presence in the community. Additionally, She would like to obtain additional funds for OWC so that they can continue to offer skills trainings, mentoring and advocacy series that help those with disabilities live happy and productive lives.
Today she is leading her staff to guide the agency towards an “employment first” program model. This will only continue the innovation and quality programs for OWC and support many more individuals to find employment within their communities.
Rene currently lives with her husband Jon, their two children Simon and Sydney, and their dogs Luna and Momo. In her spare time she is dedicated to her extended families and enjoys photography, cake decorating & traveling.
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
TINA AUGHENBAUGH
Tina is currently an Independent Sales Consultant. She has over 20 years of experience in sales and management in pharmaceuticals and noninvasive cosmetic. She is skilled in marketing and sales strategies. Tina has experience managing marketing and network events to generate profit. She is recognized as a successful sales consultant able to increase sales profit with experience in consultative sales, developing strategies to improve client satisfaction and increase profitability. She has experience in marketing organizations, B2B, B2C, continually exceeding monthly / yearly increasing overall profit by organizing sales campaigns and marketing initiatives to support rapid sales growth.
Tina believes in giving back to the community and supporting local organizations. Before joining the Board of Directors at OWC she was involved with contributing to their yearly fundraising events. Tina is currently volunteering at Pawsafe Animal Rescue as well as the local Thrift Store. Tina currently lives in Stafford Springs with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering and helping others.
LYNN DWYER
Lynn is Human Resource Manager at Willington Nameplate, Inc. a nameplate manufacturer in Stafford Springs, CT. Lynn’s father started the business in 1965 and she currently is co-owns it with her brother, Michael. She has been in many capacities in the company during her 39 year tenure, including production, accounts payable, accounts receivable and purchasing. She has been in her current HR position for over 15 years.
Lynn’s desire to get involved with non-profit organizations was back in 1988 when she and her husband started volunteering at the Salvation Army’s Holiday Meal Programs. This grew to volunteering at the annual SA Giving Tree event and sponsoring families in need during the holiday season. Before long she was volunteering and helping out with various fundraisers for different organizations. Through an employee of OWC, she got involved with their fundraisers and quickly came to see what an incredible organization it is. She wanted to do more to be a part of their team and felt being on the board, she could work with them to continue to achieve their goals and support their mission.
Lynn is married with no children and lives in Stafford Springs, CT. She is a long time Connecticut resident, growing up in Willington and Tolland. In fact, the building in which her father started Willington Nameplate Inc. is the same building that Opportunity Works Connecticut started out in 2009.
She and her husband, Jeff enjoy spending time with family and friends. Lynn loves to travel, read and do volunteer work.
BRETT GREENE
Brett is the President at Willington Nameplate, Inc. a nameplate manufacturer in Stafford Springs, CT. He has been at Willington Nameplate since 2012. Early in his career Brett started out in Finance/Accounting before moving into Operations. Before he began working at Willington Nameplate he worked in the Aerospace industry with OEM’s (Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt & Whitney) and sub tier suppliers (Barnes Aero and AMK Welding).
Brett earned an Undergrad degree in Accounting from the University of Connecticut (UConn) and 3 master’s degrees – MS finance Rensselaer, MBA from Rensselaer and MS Mfg Operations from Kettering University.
His passion for supporting organizations like OWC began long before he became an OWC board member. In his 20s Brett spent 5 years volunteering at the Special Olympics in New Haven. He regards it as one of the best experiences of his life and had been looking to join a board to help give back to a local organization with similar goals. Brett works closely with Lynn Dywer at Willington Nameplate, Inc. so when she mentioned she was a long time OWC board member, and that OWC was searching for new members, it felt like an opportunity he could not pass up.
Brett now lives in Tolland, CT with his wife and 2 daughters. Additionally, he is a huge football fan, and loves all things UConn.
KRISTIN GUGLIELMO
Kristin believes in giving back to the community where she lives and works. She and her family support many local organizations and is a member of the local Rotary. Kristin served as the treasurer of her father’s campaigns for CT State Senate for 10 years. Using her IT experience as the former President of the Applied Systems Computer User Group within her industry, Kristin helped bring an internet safety program for schools in her community to keep children safe. One of her favorite accomplishment is helping start the Trick or Treat on Main Street in Stafford in 2012 with an average attendance of 2,000 participants. Among her other community service includes fundraising for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford for over 10 years, organizing Stafford families and children to send care packages to our military men and women serving overseas, and Adopt a Veteran for Christmas that deliver presents and thoughtful Christmas cards to veterans at the CT Veteran’s Hospital.
Kristin is a 1992 Phi Beta Kapa/Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Connecticut. She is married with three children, two of which are adopted. She enjoys family time with her husband and children, especially watching them play sports and relaxing at the beach. Kristin values consistent loyalty, honesty and kindness.
STEVE LEIBOWITZ
Steve Leibowitz joined the Board of Directors for Opportunity Works CT (OWC) in 2019. He serves as an accounting expert and helps OWC make informed financial and business decisions that benefit OWC’s mission long & short term.
Steve currently works at the accounting firm, Pue, Chick, Leibowitz & Blezard LLC. He joined the firm in January 1996, and 2021 designates Steve’s 25th Anniversary with the firm. Steve began to practice at his current firm after managing his own independent practice for over five years. Prior to starting his own practice, Steve had previous experience with a national accounting firm.
His expertise is in real estate development and management, general business consulting, and operations management for closely held businesses, litigation support and forensic accounting services.
Steve received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Bentley College in 1983, and holds a Masters of Science Degree in Taxation from the University of Hartford. In addition to being a certified public accountant, Steve is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). He holds memberships to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
BILL SCULLY
Bill is skilled in digital marketing and search strategies with over 15 years of consulting, speaking, and in-house experience. Bill has served as a Director of Digital Marketing and International Search Engine Consultant for Siemens Industry and as the Director for the Digital Marketing Center of Expertise at Dräger Medical. He is a master at uncovering and supporting customer intent to drive web traffic, and now runs Digital Marketing Fuel, LLC a digital marketing and SEO consulting company.
Bill has experience developing, implementing, consulting and managing digital marketing and international strategies in matrix companies to drive profits with a focus on increasing traffic and online conversions. He is recognized as a successful senior-level digital marketing professional with experience in industrial, medical, municipal, B2B and B2C markets. Bill has 20+ years of senior management experience which allows him to see the larger goals beyond individual projects to focus on what’s important and the overall benefit long term.
Bill previously served on the Board of March Inc. of Manchester an Assisted Living Non-Profit, and received The Tolland Soccer Volunteer of the Year Award for starting the first Special Needs Soccer Division in the Eastern Connecticut.