NYSFDA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of licensed funeral directors from small and large firms around New York State.
NYSFDA Officers are outstanding practitioners of funeral directing who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the mission and goals of the Association.
NYSFDA Officers
Scott C. Hendrix, President
Scott Hendrix, a licensed funeral director with Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home in Ilion, was installed President at the organization's annual meeting held on August 19, 2024 in Verona, NY. He has been a licensed funeral director for nearly 40 years with the family business. Scott is a graduate of SUNY Canton, and enjoys cooking, golf, traveling and spending time between New York State and Myrtle Beach, SC with his wife Geri.
Scott served on the NYSFDA Board for many years, and serves as Secretary/Treasuer on the NYS Tribute Foundation Board. He is also a Lieutenant-EMT-CC with the Ilion Fire Dept.
Scott has two daughters, Victoria and Jacquelyn, and a granddaughter Fiona.
Michael J. Gorton, Jr., CFSP, President-Elect
Michael J. Gorton, Jr., CFSP, a licensed funeral director with McManus-Lorey Funeral Home in Medford, was installed President-Elect at the organization's annual meeting held on August 19, 2024 in Verona, NY. He became a licensed funeral director in 1997 and is a graduate of St. John's University (Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Administration) and American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. In February of 1998 Mike decided to join the family funeral home in Medford and become a director under his aunt and uncle at McManus-Lorey Funeral Home.
Mike is a long-time active member in the New York State Funeral Directors Association, a 2018 NYSFDA Leadership Academy graduate, member of the Bridge Commission, and currently is Chair of the NYS Tribute Foundation. He has also served on the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors in a number of capacities, including President.
Mike lives in Rocky Point, with his wife, Melissa and their son, Gabe. He is involved in his community at home where he served as President of the North Shore Beach Association from 2015-2019. He currently is the treasurer of NSBPOA as well as current Scoutmaster of troop 244 in Rocky Point. In his free time Mike enjoys days at the beach in Rocky Point, cooking BBQ for friends and family, relaxing in his backyard and drinking local craft beer and Long Island wine.
Mark J. Nolan, Treasurer
Mark J. Nolan, a licensed funeral director and owner of Nolan Funeral Home, Inc. in Northport, NY, was installed as Treasurer at the organization's annual meeting held August 19, 2024 in Verona. Mark represents the third generation Funeral Director in the Nolan family. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mark attended American Academy-McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in Manhattan. He began his career at Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home, Inc. in 1996.
Mark was a board member of the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Directors Association from 1999 until 2008, and has been a member on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association. Joining Northport Rotary Club in 2003, he currently sits on the Board of Directors having served as President from 2017 to 2019. An active member of St. Philip Neri Parish, Mark served as a Parish Council member from 2004 to 2010. Mark has coached Softball for Northport Little League, and with his wife, Nora, coached girls lacrosse for the Northport Lacrosse Club.
He and his wife Nora reside with their children in Northport Village.
David A. Parente, CPC, Secretary
David A. Parente, a licensed funeral director and Principal, Firm Manager at the McVeigh Funeral Home in Albany, NY, was installed as Secretary at the organization's annual meeting held August 19, 2024 in Verona, NY. David has extensive experience as a funeral service professional, serving Albany area families for over 40 years. He has been with the McVeigh Funeral Home for the better part of those years.
His curriculum vita includes Canisius College, Hudson Valley Community College, and the prestigious, internationally-renowned Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills.
David is very active in related business associations, as well as within the wider community. He currently serves as President Capital District Funeral Directors Association; former Trustee Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; Past President and Council member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; Board Member Budget and Finance Committee Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; former Board Member and Vice President of The Community Hospice Foundation; Hudson Valley Community College Morturary Science Program Advisory Board Member; Chairman Albany Central Ave. Business Improvement District; Board member Capitalize Albany Corporation; Chairman Membership Committee Capitalize Albany Corporation.
David is a founding Board Member of New York State Funeral Directors (NYSFDA) Directors Choice Credit Union (DCCU); Chairman NYSFDA Funeral Directors Support Services (FDSS); Chairman NYSFDA PrePlan Trustees; Board Member NYSFDA Budget and Finance Committee; former chairman NYSFDA's Ethics Committee; Board Member Albany Police & Fire Foundation; and he serves on the House Committee at The Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY
John O. D'Arienzo, Immediate Past President
John O. D'Arienzo was installed as Immediate Past President during the organization's annual meeting held on August 19, 2024 in Verona, NY. John is a licensed funeral director and has the honor of managing the family funeral home - D’Arienzo Funeral Home, Inc. - in Brooklyn, NY.
John is a third-generation funeral director and proudly carries on the family tradition of serving the Brooklyn area with compassion and respect since 1934. Their deep roots in the community are a source of pride, as they grow side-by-side with the families they serve.
He is a past president of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and has served on the board of the New York State Funeral Directors Association.
John and his wife Annette live next door to the funeral home in Brooklyn and are the proud human companions to Miss Maggie May, a Biewer terrier.
NYSFDA Staff
Michael A. Lanotte, Executive Director
As NYSFDA’s Executive Director, Mike oversees several distinct entities including: President, Funeral Director Support Services, Inc., which administers PrePlan, the Association's master trust; President, Directors Choice Credit Union; and President of the New York State Tribute Foundation, a charitable organization pursuing goals of charity, knowledge and education for both consumers and funeral directors. Mike previously served as Senior Vice President of Association Services at the New York Credit Union Association where he was responsible for compliance, community development, education and training, governance, governmental affairs, member services, the New York Credit Union Foundation, and legal and regulatory affairs. He has also served many roles at NYCUA including associate counsel in 1993 and general counsel in 1997. Mike is the past chairman of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) State Issues Subcommittee and has served on CUNA's Supervisory Issues Working Group. Mike has also served on the American Association of Credit Union League's (AACUL) State Issues Committee and Regulatory Advocacy Committee, as well as on ACCUL's Model Credit Union Act Task Force, where he served as chairman. Prior to joining the Association, Mike received his Juris Doctorate degree from Albany Law School of Union University after graduating cum laude from Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Ivan Antonyuk | Director of Information Technology
Kelly Ann Berger | Directors Choice Credit Union Member Representative
Vesta Caunitz | PrePlan Administrator
Amy Coonan | Senior Preneed Administrator
Kelly Deitz, CAE | Senior Director of Association and Tribute
Megan Geroux | Director of Marketing & Communications
Mehgyn Gould | Graphic Design Specialist
Kara Grennon | PrePlan Administrator
Linda Isabel | Directors Choice Credit Union Operations Manager
Tammy Keenan | PrePlan Administrator
Amanda LaPointe | PrePlan Administrator
Raeven Longo | Front Desk Receptionist
Mark Magram | Senior Software Developer
Randy L. McCullough | Director of Governmental Affairs
Kim McGuiness | Director of Finance & Administration
Michelle C. Mora | Member Services Specialist
Melissa Sargalis | Director of Preneed Trust Services
Amber Smith | PrePlan Administrator
Cherie Tessier | Executive Assistant
Erin Townsend | PrePlan Administrator
