Meet the Team: Rick Riopelle

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Rick Riopelle, Deputy Scout Executive!

Rick, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?
“My favorite part of Scouting is undoubtedly the summer camp experience. The immersive environment, removed from everyday life, creates a space for true growth, camaraderie, unforgettable moments, and adventure.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?
“It was Asst. Scout Executive Bob Mersereau’s invitation during my senior year of college that first sparked my interest in working for Scouting America, leading to a whirlwind start (from Friday classes to Monday job). I’ve been fortunate to be part of the Mayflower Council family since its inception in 2017.”

What is your Scouting background?
“This year marks my 44th year in Scouting, a journey that has shaped me in countless ways. From my early days as a Cub Scout to serving as camp director at Camp Resolute for fourteen summers, and through achieving Eagle Scout and receiving the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, I’ve cherished every experience. I also had the pleasure to serve as an OA lodge chief and troop committee chairperson.”

Council duties?
“As Deputy Scout Executive, I work directly with the membership team to grow and retain our Scouting families, provide strategic support to our camping and program operations to deliver exceptional experiences, and manage a diverse portfolio of other responsibilities vital to the council’s overall operation.”

Favorites…

Food: Chicken and Waffles
Color: Gray
Drink: Cold Brew Coffee
Treat: Anything S’mores, Gingerbread, or Pumpkin Spice
Hobby: Running
Animal: Meerkat
Place: Any Disney Theme Park Worldwide
Music: Pop

Feel free to contact Rick if they can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Satina Craffey

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Satina Craffey, ScoutReach Program Specialist!

Satina, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My favorite aspect of Scouting is the unique opportunities each Scout gets to experience through the program!”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“A desire to help bring the Scouting program to all youth regardless of their special needs or inability to pay…”

What is your Scouting background?

“I was a Girl Scout and earned my silver award.”

Council Duties

“My primary responsibility is to bring the Cub Scouting program to low-income areas within the council.”

Satina’s Personal Favorites

Food Mexican food
Color Blue
Drink Water
Treat Dried Fruit
Hobby Hiking
Animal Giraffe
Place “Exploring with my children…”
Music Country

Feel free to contact Satina if she can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Colleen Kinney

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Colleen Kinney, Fundraising Administrative Assistant, Development Team!

Colleen, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“I enjoy the sense of community it brings and the values it brings to the lives of those involved.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“I’ve always been big on giving back to the community when I can; so many of the opportunities I’ve had in my own life have come from the goodwill of others in my community. When I saw how the Mayflower Council gives to its own communities and gets others involved, I knew that it was where I belonged.”

What is your Scouting background?

I do not have a s Scouting background, but I would be thrilled if my future children got involved in Scouting!

Council Duties

“As the Fundraising Administrative Assistant, I support the development team in raising money for the council through our annual Friends of Scouting campaign, our yearly events, and our product sales.”

Colleen’s Personal Favorites

Food Mac and Cheese
Color Green
Drink Mocha Latte
Treat Brownies
Hobby Crocheting
Animal Penguin
Place The White Mountains
Music Country

Feel free to contact Colleen if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Devin Delgado

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Devin Delgado, Membership & Unit Service Executive!

Devin, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My favorite aspect of Scouting is the community building aspect to it; anyone can find or create their own space in Scouting, and I think that’s cool.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“I was drawn to the Mayflower Council because it’s a local organization that does a lot of good for its member communities. I wanted to join in on the action.”

What is your Scouting background?

“I have no Scouting background, but when I do have a child, I would like to sign them up for Scouts!”

Council Duties

“At the council, I’m part of the ‘New Unit Team,’ where I help create new units in the community while helping existing units grow and thrive.”

Devin’s Personal Favorites

Food KBBQ

Color Green

Drink Boba

Treat Honey buns

Hobby “Gaming and the gym…”

Animal Elephant

Place NYC

Music The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar

Feel free to contact Devin if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Jack Colamaria

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Jack Colamaria, Membership & Unit Service Director!

Jack, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“[It’s] helping parents sign up their sons and daughters and watching the Scouts continue the journey from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA to Eagle.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“As a longtime volunteer, I was excited when the opportunity arose to become a professional Scouter.”

What is your Scouting background?

“I was a youth then adult volunteer in Pack and Troop 49 Norwood, where my son also attained Eagle. I attended Philmont Scout Reservation in 2008 with my son Jay and his troop. I attended the 2010 National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, volunteering on the Banking Group, the 2013 National Jamboree as an Assistant Scoutmaster, and 2017 as a Scoutmaster and Contingent leader for eight troops. I am a Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow with Tantamous Lodge. I have received the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver Award, and the George Meany Award.”

Council Duties

“I oversee the Membership and Unit Service Team, which helps to support and grow units.”

What else keeps you busy?

“I am an active member of Rotary International, a past President of the Framingham Rotary Club, and currently an Assistant Governor. I have had the pleasure of attending International Conventions in Melbourne, Australia, Houston, Texas, and Toronto, Canada, with my mom, a fellow Rotarian. Scouting and Rotary have similar values, giving back to the community, and working well together.”

Jack’s Personal Favorites

Food Surf and turf

Color Tie-dye

Drink Coffee

Treat Ice Cream

Hobby Golf

Animal Dogs

Place New Hampshire

Music Grateful Dead

Feel free to contact Jack if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Laura (Moriarty) Romero

Laura, in uniform…

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Laura (Moriarty) Romero, Mayflower Council Senior Development Director!

Laura, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“[It’s] the community that is Scouting; a community that brings generations together to deliver a program to our youngest generation that is filled with fun, adventure, and friendships, and in the process, builds confidence, teaches service beyond self, acceptance of others, and a desire for lifelong learning.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“After a pandemic layoff from a neighboring council, I was approached about my interest in working for the Mayflower Council. I welcomed the opportunity!”

Laura with husband Carlos

What is your Scouting background?

“Growing up, I was a Girl Scout and became a leader with both of my daughter’s troops, so when a flyer was found in my son’s backpack to join Cub Scouts, not only did he join, so did I. In my volunteer capacity, I have been a Den Leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Crew Advisor, and on Nov. 1 of this year, I celebrated my 23rd career anniversary.”

Council Duties

“As Senior Development Director, my primary responsibilities are to develop philanthropic giving through our Annual Campaign ‘Friends of Scouting’ to help financially support our council programs, also to manage our council product fundraiser and lend support to our units who participate in it.”

Laura and volunteers at the recent “Pintwood Derby.”

Laura’s Personal Favorites

Color Red

Drink Coffee

Treat Cannoli

Hobby Candy Crush

Food “Anything Italian!”

Animal Cat

Place “St. Pete Beach…”

Music Classic Rock

Feel free to contact Laura if she can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Laura with the Moriarty-Romero family.

Meet the Team: Jen Piazza

For our latest #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Jen Piazza, Mayflower Council Membership Programs Specialist!

Jen, what brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“[Director of Field Service & COO] Rick [Riopelle]!

“But seriously, it was the hours and flexibility Mayflower Council was able to offer me as a mom.

“I enjoyed it so much that I convinced my husband Ryan to join the Mayflower family!”

What is your Scouting background? What is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“Before joining Mayflower council, I had no experience with Scouts. In a world where everything is tech driven, I love that Scouting gets the kids outside.

“Our son loves being outdoors especially fishing and hiking. Signing him up for Cub Scouts seemed like a perfect fit and of course why not be an assistant den leader!”

Council Duties

Manage application and invitation manager;
Oversee requests for merit badge counselors;
Process CORI background check;
Mitigate expiring YPT training with Mayflower volunteers.

Jen’s Personal Favorites

color Blue

drink Tea

treat Ice cream

hobby Walking on the beach

sport Hockey

food Mexican

animal Cat

place The beach

music Country

Feel free to contact Jen if she can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Rob Difazio

For our fifth #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Rob Difazio, Mayflower Council Senior Membership and Unit Service Executive and Membership Growth Captain…

Rob, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“I enjoy so much about the Scouting program, from enjoying the outdoors and camping to learning new skills and especially the friendships I have made as a Scout and in my role with the council.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“Before the pandemic, I owned and ran a mobile entertainment company where I entertained weddings and corporate events and was a nationally recognized kid’s entertainer. When things shut down, I began to look at what my options would look like after the world re-opened. In 2022, I saw an opportunity to work here and applied as I thought the time might be right for a new challenge and a change from running my own business. It turns out that that decision has been one of the smartest decisions I have ever made!”

What is your Scouting background?

“I grew up in Scouting. I was a Cub Scout and a Scout in my hometown of East Bridgewater, where I received my Eagle Scout rank and award in 1987. I am an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow and have attended two National Jamborees, once as a Scout in 1985 and most recently as a service team member in 2023. I am also a member of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA).”

Council Duties

“I am a Senior Membership and Unit Service Executive and Membership Growth Captain. I work with my team to develop council membership strategies to help our units grow their membership and remain strong for the communities we serve. I also identify opportunities for individual units to ensure they have the resources to have a strong presence at local community events in their towns. In addition, I also am the Staff Advisor for the Venturing Officer’s Association.”

Rob’s Personal Favorites

Favorite

color Red

drink Diet Dr. Pepper

treat DQ Reese’s Blizzard

hobby Camping and cooking

food “I am Italian… pizza!”

animal “Brady, my golden retriever.”

place Maine Seacoast

music “Being a former DJ, that’s a dangerous question, but I love 70s and 80s music.”

Feel free to contact Rob if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Sarah Leach

For our fourth #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Sarah Leach, Mayflower Council Membership & Community Partnerships Executive…

Sarah, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My favorite aspect of Scouting is spending quality time with my family and other amazing Scouters and volunteers. When we wear our uniforms, we feel a sense of pride and belonging to something special. It’s seeing youth thriving in a program that brings out their best. Scouting teaches and instills beliefs and morals that our children are not getting elsewhere, and I love to see them living out the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Watching the Scouts in my pack grow from year to year has been my pleasure.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“I was involved with my son’s pack and believed very strongly in the program already. I was passionate about sharing Scouting with my community. I then had the opportunity to meet and work with one of my now colleagues as he helped support our pack at the Council level. I had been considering a career change, and seeing how he represented BSA and his love of the program was inspiring. As luck would have it, the council posted a job opening shortly after. I applied, and the rest is history.”

What is your Scouting background?

“My youngest became a Cub Scout as a Kindergartener. I knew the program aligned with my views and would be great for him as he loves anything outdoors. We went to a meeting, and when we left, he said, ‘I can’t wait to be a Lion and make new friends and go camping.’ Soon after I was ‘voluntold’ as committee chair, I was hooked and realized I would likely be what we Scouters call a lifer. Being a professional with Scouting America gives me a valuable perspective from both sides of the program.”

Sarah’s Personal Favorites

Favorite

color “Red, white & blue…”

drink Tonic water with lime

treat Pumpkin pie

hobby “Camping…”

food Steak

animal Dog

place The White Mountains/NH and Montana

music Country & 90s

Council Duties

Sarah is part of the Mayflower Council growth team and works with existing units to recruit youth in their communities;
Attends community events to share the Scouting program and support packs and troops;
Helps create programs to assist leaders and volunteers in growing their towns’ Scouting programs.

Feel free to contact Sarah if she can help enhance your Scouting experience.

Meet the Team: Aaron Christian

For our third #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Aaron Christian, Mayflower Council Membership & Unit Service Executive.

Aaron, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My favorite aspect of Scouting is its impact on its participants. I am a product of Scouting, and so are just about everyone I grew up with in my life. All of us are not the same people we would be having not participated in the program. Our troop’s Eagle Scout ceremony has a phrase that, to me, sums up what Scouting is. It says: Scouting is a ‘movement that helps a Scout become master of their own powers, helps them get along with others and helps them find a worthy use for their talents.’ Working for the Mayflower Council and in my volunteer service, I see that growth in many Scouts.

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“My journey to the Mayflower Council started in 2014 when I interacted with my troop’s district executive. Being the gung-ho Scout I was, I thought that was the coolest job ever. Flash forward to 2021 as I began to wrap up college and look for a career; this whole Scout thing came up again, and I decided to consider it. Luckily, when I graduated six months later, that opening was still there, and I jumped at the opportunity. I can proudly ‘report’ to my 14-year-old self that this is indeed one of the coolest jobs ever.”

What is your Scouting background?

“I started Scouting at nine when I joined Pack 41 Abington as a Webelos Scout. I crossed over into Troop 41 a couple of years later. I proudly served the troop as den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader (for three terms, too!), and junior assistant Scoutmaster. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2016.

“After aging out of the Boy Scouts [now called Scouts BSA], I founded Crew 41 Abington and served as crew president for the entire duration I participated. In 2020, I earned the Venturing Summit Award and the Council Venturing Leadership Award. I was also a founding youth member of Sea Scout Ship 323 in Weymouth.

“From October 2019 to October 2020, I served on the Tantamous Lodge Executive Committee as the Japeechen chapter chief and vice chief of chapter operations. I was awarded the vigil honor in 2021.

“Today, while I serve in my role with the professional service of Scouting America, I also happily serve as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 41 Abington, assistant Cubmaster with Pack 41 Abington, and skipper of Ship 323 Weymouth. It was my pleasure serving as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 41 to attend Florida Sea Base in the Summer of 2023. As I say to those who ask about that experience, it was the smelliest, dirtiest, grossest, most disgusting thing I’ve ever done, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Aaron’s Personal Favorites

Favorite

color Blue

drink “Good Old H2O!”

treat Hornstra Farms chocolate frappe

hobby Singing barbershop music/playing guitar

food Ceasar salad with chicken

Animal Dogs

Place The mountains (specifically the White Mountains)

Music Classic Rock/alternative

Council Duties

Aaron is the team captain for the Community Partnerships Team;
Builds meaningful relationships in communities to form new units;
Develops and implements stewardship plans with chartered organizations to maintain strong relationships;
Provides support to the Council’s Roundtable program;
Serves as the Tantamous Lodge professional staff adviser.

Feel free to contact Aaron if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.