Board Members
Chris Shashkin, President
Chris Shashkin was elected President of the MLCA in June of 2024. Previously he served as Vice-President, and before that as Secretary, concentrating on MLCA social media platforms, as well as doing the layout for the quarterly newsletter. He has served as Secretary of the Captain Kidd Estates Civic Association and now serves as Board Member-at-Large of same. He has a background in office management, serving for over three decades as Department Administrator at Columbia University and is currently working for the Mattituck Park District.
Mel Morris, Director
Aaron Bokros, Vice-President
Originally hailing from Atlanta, GA, Aaron Bokros received a BA in Theatre from Wake Forest University. After working as a carpenter for several regional theaters in the Midwest, he settled in Houston TX to teach technical theatre to middle and high school students. Three years later saw a move to New York, where he was an adjunct faculty member and technical director at a university in New Jersey.
A sideways career move into luxury brand event and store planning logistics precipitated the move to Long Island, and eventually the North Fork. Aaron has been politically active his entire adult life, with race and LGBTQ+ issues being a primary focus for activism. Aaron lives in Mattituck with his wife, Alison Delaney, and their two cats, Scout and Minna.
Katie Girandola. Secretary
Katie Girandola recently joined the Mattituck-Laurel community as a full-time resident after moving here from West Windsor, New Jersey, and having been a part-time resident of the North Fork since 2008.
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Over the past 30 years, she has been an active member in many organizations and community affairs in West Windsor. Katie is a certified Master Gardener, former Vice Chairwoman of West Windsor’s Shade Tree Commission, former Vice-President of GME Homeowner’s Association for 25 years, and a religious education teacher. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, sailing, gardening, and raising oysters at the Cornell Extension in Southold.
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Katie spent her childhood summers with her grandparents here on the North Fork, admiring its bucolic beauty, vibrance, and American spirit. She is delighted to be part of MCLA and plans to devote her love of community and robust civic values to Mattituck/Laurel.
Theresa Dilworth, Treasurer
Theresa Dilworth has resided in Mattituck for over 30 years, becoming full-time after COVID offered the opportunity to work remotely. She has spent her career as an international tax attorney working for Fortune 100 companies. For the last 20+ years she is also the majority owner of a vineyard in Aquebogue, growing four varieties of wine grapes.
She is a Board Member, Vice-President and Co-Treasurer of the North Fork Audubon Society, and responsible for trail maintenance at the 55-acre Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport, Audubon headquarters. She volunteers at CAST- Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation in Southold, and plays 5-string banjo with the Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam at Hallockville Farm.
Bill Flinter, Director
William Flinter grew up in Mattituck and attended Mattituck High School, where he met his wife, Danielle. They attended Siena College together, where William earned his degree in finance. After graduating, they returned home to Mattituck, where they now reside with their two children.
William has worked for a variety of financial institutions including American Portfolios, Farm Credit East and currently works at the M&T Bank in Cutchogue. His knowledge of the local community, along with his diverse background in a variety of financial and banking institutions, has given him a unique perspective on local finance. In fall of 2023, he was elected to the position of Southold Town Tax Assessor.
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Quote:
“As a lifelong Southold resident and local banker, I appreciate the unique character and rich history of Southold Town. I am excited for the opportunity to serve as a member of the Mattituck Laurel Civic Association, bringing my passion for helping my local community to continue to thrive and evolve while maintaining its natural beauty.”
John LaForce, Director
John grew up and lived in Nassau County. He and his wife Gail purchased a second home in Mattituck for weekend use in 1996. After both of their daughters graduated from college they decided the North Fork should be their year-round residence. They relocated full-time to Mattituck in 2004. After a successful 40-year career in printing sales, John has become an avid golfer and a volunteer in several East End organizations. He is the former Chairman of the Building Committee for Sacred Heart Church in Cutchogue. Currently, John is a member of the Southold Historical Society and works as a docent on weekends at Hortons Point Lighthouse. He joined the MLCA Board in late 2023.
Mel Morris, Director
Melvyn Morris has been a member of the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association since its inception.
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He is a founding member of SUNY Stony Brook where he received his BS in Biology. He has a Master of Science degree in Marine Science from CW Post and a Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Florida.
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Dr. Morris has been in education for over 40 years having taught science at the junior high, senior high and university levels. He was the first science faculty hired to start Shoreham-Wading River high school and retired after 24 years during which time he helped to shape the science program.
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After spending 2 years at Southampton College, he joined the Office of Educational Programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory as an Educational Programs Administrator. He was responsible for student internship programs, started the successful Open Space Stewardship Program, The Day in the Life of a River program and organized teacher workshops.
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Dr. Morris was awarded the New York State Outdoor Education Association Leadership Award, the Dowling College Outstanding Educator Award, the North Fork Environmental Council Environmentalist of the Year award, and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Commissions Award for Environmental Education.
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He was president of the SUNY Stony Brook alumni association for 7 years, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of NSTA, STANYS, and NYSOEA.