Community Foundation Welcomes Two New Trustees

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has appointed two new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining the volunteer board in 2021 are:

Robert Bojanek

Robert Bojanek is co-founder of ShoreGroup Inc. and Optanix Inc., where he served as executive vice president of operations and assisted with the growth of both companies from start-up to becoming international network and system management firms. As an innovator, he is listed as a co-inventor in a dozen patents related to systems management. An active member of the community, Robert is involved in work with various community foundations and nonprofit organizations with a focus on education and youth development. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University at Buffalo.

Oghenekovie (Kay) Evi-Parker

Kay Parker is a quality engineering applications specialist at Indium Corporation, where she has held a number of engineering-related roles since 2015. She is a Certified SMT Process Engineer and is focused on improving different manufacturing processes, equipment, techniques, and materials to optimize industry applications. Kay holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics with a minor in engineering science from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, where she started an award-winning robotics club among refugee students that was sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant. She studied chemical engineering at the Federal University of Technology in Owerri, Nigeria, before moving to the Mohawk Valley. For years, she has been involved with community organizations and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals in our community. Some organizations she has worked with include Midtown Utica Community Center, OnPoint for College, Rescue Mission of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, and Upstate Cerebral Palsy.

Other members of the Board of Trustees are:

• Laura Casamento
• Ronald Cuccaro
• Timothy Daly
• Burt Danovitz
• James A. Engler, Jr.
• L. Michael Fitzgerald
• Kirk Hinman
• Harrison J. Hummel IV
• David Manzelmann
• Cathleen C. McColgin
• Gregory B. McLean
• Cheryl Minor
• Jawwaad Rasheed
• Rev. Joseph A. Salerno
• Eve Van de Wal
• Randy VanWagoner
• James W. Wallace, Jr.
• Bradley Waters
• Bonnie Woods