39th Annual Conference & Trade Show
Speaker Bios

Michael D. Billok | Terra Carnrike-Granata | Regina Clark, CSP | Paul Fahey | Dr. Julie Ducharme | Kim Perone, CLC | Teah Teriele | Matthew H. Vanderbeck, CPA

Michael D. Billok
Member, Labor & Employment Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC

When employers are faced with a charge or lawsuit alleging a violation of employment law, or have questions regarding cybersecurity and data privacy, they turn to Mike.

Mike regularly represents employers in state and federal court, defending against actions alleging violations of employment laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, including class actions, as well as collective and class actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL). Counseling clients in a wide range of industries—including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and not-for-profit organizations—Mike provides advice and training on all aspects of the employment relationship. He is also a member of the Wage & Hour Defense Institute, a national network of wage and hour defense litigators.

Terra Carnrike-Granata
Director of Information Security, NBT Bank

Terra Carnrike-Granata is Director of Information Security for NBT Bank. She joined NBT in 2008 as Information Security Officer and was promoted to Information Security Risk Manager in 2015. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University at Albany’s School of Criminal Justice. She holds the CompTIASecurity+ certification—a designation that is globally recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Defense to validate foundational IT security knowledge and skills. She also serves on the Rutgers University Cybersecurity Advisory Board. Active in her community, Carnrike-Granata has been a volunteer with Chenango United Way since 2010 and currently serves as board chair.

Regina Clark, CSP
Chief Learning Officer, Creative Performance Solutions, LLC. 

Regina is a sought after international speaker, corporate trainer, master facilitator and author of five books. Regina has spoken to thousands of corporate and association audiences and has many repeat clients. Her New York audiences include Westchester Medical Center, Massena Memorial Hospital, Orange Ulster BOCES, NYS Council of Mayors, NYS Welfare Association, NYS SHRM and others. Regina offers clients more than 25 years of business experience. Regina started her own business in 1994 and received the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association in 2005. She is a lifelong New Yorker, graduate of SUNY Binghamton an

Dr. Julie Ducharme
Owner, JD Consulting

Dr. Julie Ducharme is a sought-after keynote speaker, author, business consultant, entrepreneur, instructor, and a special consultant in women's empowerment. Dr. Ducharme is the creator, founder, and CEO of Julie’s Party People, JD Consulting, and Synergy Learning Institute, a technical vocational college. Dr. Ducharme travels the world speaking to organizations, colleges, and groups on leadership, marketing, empowerment, and business. Dr. Ducharme has been a consultant, instructor and serial business entrepreneur for the last 17 years, helping colleges shape their programs, getting the business off the bottom floor, and helping individuals and businesses flourish and grow, and passionately empowering women to make a change. Dr. Ducharme is an award-winning author with her book Leading by my Ponytail, Why can’t I wear pink and be the president. This book hit Inc Magazine top 60 leadership books written by women to read. Dr. Ducharme is a change maker as she works to help women veterans transition back to civilian life and get jobs. She hits on key empowerment topics and programs for women as well. She has won tops awards from national titles to best papers for IBAM and more. Dr. Ducharme has been nominated for women in leadership making change award, holds national titles, and is an award-winning speaker. Based on her best selling book, Dr. Ducharme recently launched two e-courses called Slippers to Stillettos and Combat Boots to Heels.

Dr. Julie Ducharme resides in San Diego CA. with her husband and two kids Abby and Micah. She has a BA in Communication and MBA with a specialization in Marketing, and a Doctorate of Business administration with a specialization in leadership. Her combined experience in the industry, as well as education, gives her the ability to take real-life business situations an solve them with proven results.

Paul Fahey
Chief Operating Officer, Overit

Paul Fahey is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Overit, a marketing communications firm in Albany, New York. A strategic thinker and accomplished designer, Mr. Fahey brings a unique left and right-brain approach to the science of marketing and public relations. Mr. Fahey joined Overit in 2016 with a rich and diverse background in management, PR, production and creative.

Externally, he manages all aspects of an account – from initial research through strategic planning and tactical execution.  Going beyond his expertise in marketing strategy, he provides enormous value to his clients in identifying fundamental business issues throughout the marketing process. Internally, Mr. Fahey provides ongoing counsel to the President of Overit in areas of business development, HR and finance.

His experience is derived from his work with The American Institute for Economic Research, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, The Center for Economic Growth, The Citadel, GE Power and Water and Spalding Sports Worldwide, among others. In addition to his client work, he has directed dozens of research studies and personally moderated more than 450 focus groups. Recently, he was asked by the Open Society Foundation to consult with healthcare professionals and policymakers in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.

Mr. Fahey was Interim CEO and the Board Chair for the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology since 2006, leading the organization CMOST through a merger with SUNY Polytechnic Institute; a deal that included a $5 million gift in support of the museum’s mission. He also serves on the board of the Albany Charter School Network and Albany Pro Musica. Mr. Fahey has a Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

A lifelong resident of New York’s Capital Region, he enjoys spending free time with his wife, Kelly and two children, Chloe age 18 and Harris, age 16. They divide their time as a family on the shores of Cape Cod and the backyard skating rink. He is an active triathlete, endurance cyclist ultramarathon runner, and private pilot. He is planning his first attempt to summit Mt Kilimanjaro in October, 2019. With what little free time or energy remains after that is passionately devoted to laundry, grocery shopping and lawn mowing. Finally, he is the author of this bio and finds it awkward to write about himself in the third person.

Kim Perone, CLC 
Success Coach at Inspired Life Coaching

Kim lives by the motto - When clarity, compassion, and contentment are present an inspired life is possible.

She is a personal strategist, philosopher, and champion for her clients and it is her strong belief that modern life, and its complexity, requires a strategic approach to creating balance, success, and joy. Kim is the co-founder of the Center for Clarity, Compassion and Contentment in Burnt Hills and there she hosts her own programs and offers shared space to wellness practitioners.  The Center is a place of place and empowerment for individuals and groups.

Teah Teriele
Marketing Manager, Death Wish Coffee

Teah Teriele is the Marketing Manager of Death Wish Coffee, creators of the World’s Strongest Coffee. Based in Round Lake NY, Teah’s hands are constantly tweaking the
marketing strategy she’s been responsible for creating and executing at Death Wish Coffee since they were a team of five.

Death Wish Coffee has become the best-selling coffee on Amazon, has won numerous business awards and is best known for winning a traffic campaign that landed them a 30-second commercial during Super Bowl 50.

Matthew H. Vanderbeck, CPA
Shareholder, PKHB CPAs

Matthew H. VanDerbeck, CPA is a shareholder in PKHB.  PKHB is a full service accounting firm with 5 offices located throughout the Hudson Valley and Albany.  Matthew has over 20 years of public accounting experience and holds a Master’s degree from Bentley College and completed his undergraduate degree from the College of Saint Rose.  Matthew spent 10 years with a big four accounting firm in Albany, NY before joining PKHB in 2008.  Matthew specializes in performing financial statement engagements for not-for-profit organizations including audits and tax preparation.  Matthew is the leader for PKHB’s quality assurance and audit practice and has also served on NY State’s Peer Review Committee.  In addition, Matthew has experience performing internal controls reviews and risk assessments.  Matthew also serves on several non-profit boards and is a Trustee for Sawyer Savings Bank located in Ulster County, NY.