Board of Directors

Sharon K. McPherson, CAP - President

president@iaap-gned.org

Sharon is the Administrative Associate for Finance, Grants and Data Systems for the Barnstable Public Schools in Hyannis, MA. From 1994-July 2009 she was the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools and Secretary to the School Committee for the Barnstable Public Schools.  She began working for the school district in 1989 as the Secretary to the Business Manager. 

Sharon has been a member of IAAP since 2002 and served as the Cape Cod Chapter Treasurer, Vice President and two terms as President. She was selected Cape Cod Chapter’s Member of the Year for 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 and received IAAP’s Distinguished Chapter President Award for 2005-2006 and 2006-2007.  She served as the Treasurer of the Greater New England Division in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 and President-Elect in 2009-2010.  Sharon attained Member of Excellence status in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.  Sharon earned the CAP rating in May 2005 and recertified in November 2007 and October 2009.  She established a test center in Hyannis in November 2005 and served as its proctor through May 2010.

Sharon served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Computer Office Technology Department and the Superintendent’s Advisory Board at Old Colony Regional Vocational/Technical High School in Rochester, MA and is also a member of the National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP).

On a personal note, Sharon resides in Centerville, MA with her husband, Bruce.  They have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and 3 1/2 year old grandson. In addition to association activities, Sharon enjoys traveling, knitting, spending time with her family and is a devoted Red Sox fan.

Liana L. Marston, CPS – President Elect

presidentelect@iaap-gned.org

Liana is a life-long Mainer.  She grew up in the same town and on the same property that she and her husband Mike now own a home.   Liana graduated from high school in 1971, then from Auburn Maine School of Commerce in 1973 with a secretarial degree.  She went to work for the Auburn Water District, then move to the L-A Water Pollution Control Authority where she worked till the birth of her daughter in 1977.  She help start and was co-owner of a Tool & Die Business in Lewiston till 1989.  Between 1989 and 1992 she held a variety of office positions in the Real-estate field.  In 1992 she went to work for LLBean, Inc. as a call representative for 1 year then moved to different departments before starting her career in the IS Department in 1995.  She is currently the Executive Assistant to the VP and one Director of the IT department, where she also supports 4 managers and their teams, a total of 64 people.  Along with the administrative duties Liana also manages small projects within the IS Department.  

She joined IAAP in 1995, gained her CPS rating in 1998.  In 1996 she was asked to finish the term of treasurer and stayed treasurer till June of 2004.  She held the role of President for 3 years followed by being a Board Director and Membership Chair. Liana was honored as Admin of the Year in 2001.  She was co-project lead for the GNED Freeport Maine Annual Meeting Conference. This conference was successful and was attended by over 130 members and guests.  She is current the Vice President on the GNED Board and the committee chair for the Professional of Excellence program  She has traveled to all the District and Division conferences, many workshops and the Denver and Reno for International conferences.  Liana feels that it is very important to have an active membership in IAAP to help stay current within your chosen field. 

She and her husband Mike enjoy working on their 1843 cape which is now nearly restored, but never completed.  In her spare time she loves to motorcycle and camp with her husband.  Recent trips have taken them to the Artic Circle, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Labrador, PEI, and all providences in between.  Within the States they have traveled south to Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia – Northwest to Idaho, and Washington- and all the states in between.  She loves to cook, entertain and garden.   Liana’s second passion is traveling west and working on cattle ranches.  With Girlfriends, she travels to Montana and Idaho, where they drive, rope, corral and sort hundreds of head of cattle for 7 days.  A vacation not for the weak!

Liana is a proud mother of Belinda and son in-law Steve who are Gunny - Sergeants in the US Marine Corp, and the mother of her two beautiful grandchildren, Devon 10 and Essence 9; and two bonus Grandchildren Lindsey 16 and KC 13; who are currently stationed in Jacksonville, NC.

Gail Freeman, CPS – Vice President

vicepresident@iaap-gned.org

Gail Freeman is a Partner Assistant & Marketing Specialist with the Private Wealth Management area of Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) in Boston, where she has worked since 2002.  She has over seventeen years’ experience in positions of increasing levels of responsibility in the administrative professional field.

Gail holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and International Affairs from Gordon College.  While attending Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts as an undergraduate student, Gail also served as the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Cooperative Education & Career Services on campus.

Gail became a member of IAAP in March 2005.  Gail is completing her term as the Chair of the Membership Committee for the Greater New England Division IAAP and currently serves on the 2010 Host Committee for the IAAP Education Forum and Annual Meeting.  Previously she served as President and Vice President of the Greater Boston Chapter of IAAP.  It was during her term as Chapter President that the Greater Boston Chapter was among the first to achieve IAAP’s “Chapter of Excellence,” and she was among the first to achieve “Member of Excellence.”   Gail attained her Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) designation in December 2009.


Peggy Ficano – Secretary

secretary@iaap-gned.org

Peggy Ficano is Office Manager for Westport Capital Partners LLC in Westport, CT where she has worked since 2006.  Prior to this position, she worked for Northrop Grumman Norden Systems in Norwalk, CT.  She spent 25 years with Norden Systems, working her way up to the position of Executive Assistant to the President.  Prior to that, she worked for Keyes Fibre in Stamford, CT and General Telephone & Electronics Corporation.

Peggy has been a member of IAAP for 5 years, and was very involved in forming the Southwestern CT chapter.  She became a charter member when the chapter was installed in October of 2005.  She served as its president for the first 4 years, and now serves as program chairman.  Peggy received the Distinguished Chapter President’s award during the “Creating Excellence” year in 2005-2006. She is the chapter’s liaison for the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, and is a Notary Public for the State of Connecticut.

Peggy was born and raised in Norwalk, CT where she attended local schools and business school upon graduation from high school.  She has taken various college courses and has attended many workshops and seminars, in addition to several IAAP workshops.  She currently resides in Shelton, CT with her husband and two children.


Karen Gunther, CPS/CAP - Treasurer

treasurer@iaap-gned.org

Karen has worked at Perini Management Services Inc. in Framingham, MA for 15 years.  She started in the HR department where she worked for 5 years.  Currently she works in the International Division assisting with the processing of new employees and organization of all overseas and local travel.  

Karen has been a member of IAAP since 2002.  Currently she is a member of the Crossroads Chapter in Attleboro, MA and served as the chapter’s president in 2009-2010. Prior to becoming President she held the position of Treasurer for two years.  She holds both the CPS and CAP ratings and earned the Member of Excellence status in both 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

Karen has a B.S. Administration from Anna Maria College and has been a Notary Public in Massachusetts since 1988.

Karen lives in Randolph, MA with her mother and dog, Neala, who she enjoys taking for walks and playing with.  She enjoys traveling in the summer to NC where she gets to hang with 3 of her 5 godchildren.  She also spends time up in Maine whenever she can, relaxing on the beach.  She likes to read, kayak and scrapbook during her free time.