John Tyler lives in Longmeadow, MA with his wife and two daughters. He worked for Marvin Windows for 36 years and started his first year on the Jericho Board of Directors in 2022. For the past 6 years, John has generously donated countless hours to building the Jericho St. Patrick's Day float and has also assisted in the preparation and setup of our annual Golf Event! John has also volunteered for "Project Ride" with the purpose of donating bikes to children with disabilities. Having a daughter with a disability, John understands our mission and has been a great aid to the members of Jericho.

Dianne is married to Mike. They have 3 adult daughters and live in Holyoke, Mass. For the last 6 years, Dianne has provided a shared living situation to a young man. They enjoy all the activities Jericho offers. They enjoy Sunday mass, as well as the Faith and Light Group. She has worked in human services since the 1980s. Dianne started out at M.D.C in their summer vacation program, Hyannis Port. She has also worked in state-run programs, group homes, and private agencies.

Ed joined the Jericho Board in 2022. He has been affiliated with Jericho for over 10 years. He is the Outside Sales Manager for the Koopman Lumber Company in Indian Orchard, MA. He was raised and educated in Rhode Island and is a long-time resident of East Longmeadow MA, where he resides with his wife Tina, and two son’s Christopher & Ryan.

Bill was raised in Holyoke.  He first became acquainted with Jericho in 1978 as a volunteer, he spent several summers as a camp counselor working for Sister Joan before he graduated from Holyoke High School.  Bill made a career in the U.S. military while raising his family in West Springfield.  Over the years he continued to be a supporter of Jericho and volunteered with various organizations in our community. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 38 years of service in 2018. It was in 2017 that Bill was welcomed onto the board of directors.  Currently Bill resides in Easthampton and is married to his wife Geraldine, together they have six children.

Jill lives in Southampton and is married with two daughters. She has been teaching for 24 years and is currently a 3rd-grade special education teacher in Northampton.

Raised in Holyoke, she went to Holyoke High, Salve Regina College (Microbiology), Smith College (Masters in Education), and Westfield State for Educational Administration (Post Masters). She also served as President of the Board of TEC (Therapeutic Equestrian Center).

She is a Eucharistic Minister for Jericho and although she volunteers for many organizations in the area and strives to help those facing difficult challenges, Jericho has always felt like home. Jill has Cochlear Implants and the welcoming, judgment-free community at Jericho encouraged her, as it does people of all abilities, to fully participate in the spiritual and social activities of everyday life.

DAN LAWRY joined the Jericho Board in 2002. Over the years he has served as a past President and is the current chair of the Development Committee.  He is the President of Lawry Freight System, Inc. in Westfield, a family owned transportation and warehousing company established in 1978.  A graduate of Suffield Academy and Fordham University, Dan resides in Westfield with his wife Theresa and their four children.  In addition to his volunteering at Jericho, Dan has been a Westfield Youth Lacrosse head coach since 2010.

Ray Hershel is the dean of Western Massachusetts television journalists.Ray Hershel is the dean of Western Massachusetts television journalists.

After graduating from Emerson College Ray began his career at WHYN radio in Springfield. He then transitioned to TV news where he has served as an anchor/reporter at WGGB TV 40, now Western Mass News for the past 49 years.

Ray will celebrate his 50th year as a TV Broadcast Journalist on April 15, 2018. Ray has amassed numerous Associated Press and United Press International awards for excellence in television reporting.

Mr. Hershel was honored in 1993 by being inducted as a charter member in the New England Emmy's Silver Circle for excellence in television reporting and service to the community. And in 2006, Ray was recognized as a pioneer in the field of broadcast journalism by receiving a lifetime achievement award from Emerson College and the Radio-Television News Directors Association. Ray and his wife Maureen have three children and 5 grandchildren.

Tina was born and raised in Holyoke, attending Blessed Sacrament and Holyoke Catholic High School, during those years, she volunteered at Jericho and TEC and attended mass in the Alleluia House with a family who had a boy with special needs. She is a pediatric physical therapist who has been practicing in MA for over 25 years in early intervention, schools, hospital and rehabilitation settings and she has managed and consulted with other clinicians in school districts nationwide.

She is dedicated to supporting children and families of all abilities, offering guidance and support so they can become successful in their lives.

Tina is the president of ABC Therapy, LLC, which offers physical, occupational and speech therapies and therapeutic social groups to children of all ages. She is married to Brian and their home is in Springfield, MA, they have 3 grown children and 2 dachshunds. Tina has been on the Board for over 3 years, enjoys volunteering at events and believes in the philosophy of Jericho where “all are welcome”.

Joe O’Hare joined the Board of Directors in May 2020. He was born, raised, educated, and currently resides in Holyoke. After college graduation, Joe worked for 30 years as an Operational Manager for Tyco Healthcare and Health New England. Eight years ago he changed his profession to fulltime teacher working with special needs students in Holyoke.

Joe was first introduced to The Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults in 1977, some 42 years ago, and joined a young group of volunteers that helped facilitate the beginning of Jericho’s Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program. Joe’s passion for horses coupled with his interest in helping the local disabled population became a lifelong priority and he has remained a part of the Jericho family to the present day.

As Jericho grew in size with many new programs created for the Western Massachusetts disabled community, Joe also became a volunteer for the Special Religious Education Program, The Jericho Players Theatrical Group as well as helping with the square dance groups and Bingo Fundraisers. He also became an advocate for parents in need of help with their children's religious and liturgical growth.

“Father Wagner and Sr. Joan Magnani played an important part in my teen years as mentors and teachers with my faith with God. They helped me and numerous other teen volunteers shape our moral, ethical, and religious belief systems by their dedication to the critical need for religious education classes and services for people with special needs in Western Massachusetts. Our growth as young adults was positively influenced by the religious growth and inclusion of programs long overdue for the special needs community. My experience working with the special needs population at Jericho was an integral part of my career change as a teacher of students with different abilities. I look forward to working on the Board of Directors and giving back to a community that has blessed my life exponentially."