Pathfinders, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 1998 to help run programming at Deer Lake. Because of its nonprofit status, Pathfinders is being used as the fundraising vehicle to help save Deer Lake.
Contributions made to Pathfinders are tax-deductible.
Mission Statement:
"The mission of the Save Deer Lake Initiative is to preserve over 250 acres of important Connecticut greenway and to foster outdoor education and recreation for present and future generations."
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Pathfinders, Inc. 2022 Board Members
Ted Langevin, President of the Board
Lead Automation Engineer, The Lee Company
A Madison resident, Ted has been active in Scouting for over 30 years, and has served as the Deer Lake Maintenance Committee Chairman for the Connecticut Yankee Council since 2011.
Mike Barker, Vice President of the Board
Executive Director, Adventure Mas East & West
A resident of East Hampton, Mike is a former Marine, Chief Law Enforcement Officer and Risk Manager for the City of New Haven. Mike has also worked in the challenge course, team building, and experiential education industry since the late 1970’s, and designed and built the world's first all-accessible challenge course including high elements for wheelchairs (manual and powered) and an all-accessible zip line (Morgan's Wonderland Camp in San Antonio TX). Mike helped building the C.O.P.E. course at Deer Lake, where his son was a cub scout.
Mike Sarlin, Treasurer of the Board
Mike and his wife, Susan, have lived in Killingworth for 15 years. They have intimate knowledge of Deer Lake because they have lived just across the river, "100 feet away", all that time. Mike is a retired financial services and IT executive, and started camping as a Boy Scout.
Ted Elton, Secretary of the Board
Law Office of Elizabeth McMahon
A Branford native, Ted’s acceptance to Marquette University Law School in 2014 was facilitated by a letter of recommendation from Mark Clifton, the Ranger at Deer Lake, for whom Ted worked since he was fifteen years old. Ted spent more than decade working in various roles at Deer Lake, including as a junior counselor, the waterfront director, and a ropes course instructor. He now lives in New Haven, but works in the family business in Branford, where his family has lived since 1992.
Mike Doraz
Owner, Doraz Contracting
Mike has worked as a Market Data Specialist for Edge Technologies Consultants, and ING Investments, but has owned and operated his contracting company for 12 years. An original Pathfinders member, Mike has served on the board since 1997. He is also an Eagle Scout, and his Eagle Project was to clear hurricane damage and re-blase the Chatfield Trail in 1987. All three of his children have attended the summer camp at Deer Lake.
Tom Feiner
Owner, East River Overhead Door, LLC
Tom has been a Connecticut resident since 1967 and graduated from Daniel Hand High School in Madison in 1977. A charter member of BSA Troop 490, Tom has been enjoying Deer Lake since 1971.
Christina Blaha Forristall*
Project Manager, 1st Technologies
Head Swim Coach, Shoreline Aquatics Club
Christina is a lifelong resident of Killingworth, growing up on the “other side of the Waterfall” at Deer Lake. She started working at Deer Lake as a teenager and worked there for 10 years as a lifeguard, waterfront director, counselor, and team-building facilitator. Christina still resides in Killingworth with her husband and two daughters, both of whom have been campers at Deer Lake since before they entered kindergarten. Olive, 13, will be in the CIT/Wilderness School program next summer and Hazel, 11, will be an oldest camper.
Chris Guerette*
Catherine Harris*
Cathy Iino
Former First Selectwoman, Town of Killingworth
Cathy was elected first selectwoman of Killingworth for six terms, from 2009 until 2021. Her time in office was marked by a series of town improvements, including park renovations, an emergency operations center, and a veteran’s memorial garden. Cathy’s commitment to Killingworth continues with her efforts on the Pathfinders board.
Clark Judge
Senior Writer, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated
Clark is a Killingworth resident, and a sports journalist. He also writes for local news outlets in Connecticut, and lives in Killingworth with his wife. Their daughter attended the summer camp at Deer Lake.
Thomas Mercaldo
President, Aquinas Consulting
A resident of Milford, Tom brings to Pathfinders a wealth of experience both in business and volunteerism. He sits on the boards for The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, the Connecticut Special Olympics, and the Milford Land Conservation Trust, among others, and stepped up to help Pathfinders purchase Deer Lake by offering a private loan. Tom also has over 38 years of experience in Scouting, and has served as the assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1 in Milford.
David Sack
Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Dave is a lifelong Connecticut resident, and has lived for the last 25 years living in Killingworth, just a half mile from Deer Lake, with his wife, Suzanne.
Scott Whitney (past Board President)
Owner, Integrity Insurance Intermediaries
Scott is a 45-year resident of Madison and an Explorer Scout, and has owned Integrity Insurance Intermediaries, located in Madison, for 22 years.
*Advisory Board Member