Board of Directors 2022 -2023

Charles Dobrow – President
Edward Peltier – 1^st Vice President
Abigail McNeal – 2^nd Vice President
Adrienne Maslin – Interim Secretary
David Maslin – Treasurer
Ronald Clymer
Alexandra Flowers
Mark Goldberg
Leslie Ohta

CHARLIE DOBROW
President HARTFORD PROBUS 2022-2023
National Secretary, PROBUS

I live in Wethersfield, CT and work as a sales and marketing professional at one of the leading Business to Business lead generation firms in the U.S. My wife is an elementary school teacher in Greater Hartford and my adult son is an arborist and Ropes Course builder in the Pacific Northwest. I am a graduate of Syracuse University.

I joined PROBUS in 2014, drawn to the opportunity to help intellectually disabled individuals enjoy life, experience fun activities and socialize in the community. There is also a fine camaraderie with fellow PROBUS volunteers and members. Interaction with developmentally challenged adolescents and young adults is very rewarding at our Annual Picnic, and as spectators at  sponsored College and Professional sports events. We look forward to the return of these paused events, once the pandemic has weakened its grip on society.

I want our nonprofit to continue to partner with like-minded charities and broaden our reach. I want PROBUS to become more of a household name, not a best kept secret. I also want to grow our Board and promote diversity and inclusivity on the Board.

As time permits, I also  truly enjoy hiking, biking and running both 10Ks and Half-Marathons.

ABIGAIL MCNEAL  
2nd Vice President HARTFORD PROBUS 2022-2023

I hold a masters degree in Human Services: Marriage and Family from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts: Psychology / Sociology from the City College of New York. Throughout my career I have worked with various private providers throughout Connecticut that support persons with intellectual disabilities. I have maintained all levels of positions from direct care to manager up to the title of Vice President of Residential Services. I consider myself a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families.

I first heard of ProBus from colleagues however I decided to join after being invited to attend a membership meeting. My decision to become a member was that I was drawn to the mission which falls directly in line with my career and personal goals. I thought that I could lend some of my expertise in the area to further provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities. I have been with ProBus for about 2 years and currently serve on the Board of Directors. It is a pleasure to be a part of this organization.

ADRIENNE LEINWAND MASLIN
Interim Secretary HARTFORD PROBUS 2022-2023

I have been volunteering with Probus on and off for about five years. I finally flipped the switch to “on” when, based on the strength of the organization’s mission and owing to my respect for the other volunteers, I offered to serve as interim secretary and website liaison when the need arose. I have additionally served as chair of Probus’ first fundraising gala and taken on a variety of other responsibilities as needed.

In 2019 I retired from a 45-year career in higher education administration. Upon my retirement I was named Dean Emerita at Middlesex Community College in Middletown, CT. I’ve held positions in admissions, affirmative action, president’s office, human resources, academic affairs, and student affairs.

Based on my experiences in higher education, I have come to believe that young people need a great deal more knowledge of life skills and social issues and if they had these skills, their transition to college and adulthood would be smoother. Towards that end, I am creating a series of graphic novels under the title “She’s Roxanne.” Roxanne and her pals will guide young people through many difficult and sometimes controversial issues including hazing and bullying, helping a friend with disabilities, supporting a transgender friend, drinking and driving, and sexual harassment among others.

I live with my husband, David, who is also a volunteer with Probus. We have one son, a graduate student in finance, and Roxanne, our dog.

RON CLYMER
Board Member Hartford Probus 2022-2023
Hi, I’m Ron Clymer, happily married to my wife Deb for over 50 years, and reside in South Windsor. We raised three children and now have 5 grandchildren. I recently retired from the state of CT after a long career in community development, housing, and Human Resources.

I have enjoyed my time with Hartford Probus over the last 15 years, serving on various committees and participating in most of its programs to support persons with developmental disabilities. I have especially liked being with our group home residents ( as well as individuals receiving “respite care” ) at our outings to college basketball and professional hockey games, flipping burgers at our Annual Picnic , carving pumpkins for Halloween, and filling balloons for sale by our volunteers at the Memorial Day Parade.

MARK GOLDBERG
Board Member HARTFORD PROBUS 2022-2023
Past Terms As President of HARTFORD PROBUS and PROBUS NATIONAL

I live in Avon Connecticut, married for 57 years to my wife, Ellie who has supported all my activities while pursuing her own career as an elementary school teacher and principal. We have two daughters and three granddaughters. I served in the Vietnam conflict as a “Survivor’s Assistance Officer”. I worked with widows of slain soldiers to assure them getting benefits due them, and to make burial arrangements for those lost at war. That sad experience shaped my understanding of “giving of yourself”.

Back home I first joined the New Britain Chapter of PROBUS, where my father had been a founding member. Later, in Windsor, I joined the Greater Hartford chapter of PROBUS., where I served several separate terms as President. I was privileged to also serve terms as President of PROBUS NATIONAL, an organization which at one time had more than a dozen chapters in states on the eastern seaboard. I find this volunteer work very satisfying, because it focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (the IDD community).

My career is as a financial advisor with Gateway Financial Partners in Glastonbury. I have made many friends, both at work and in my associations with fellow volunteers at PROBUS. My work on our community programs and interactions at our many planning meetings keeps me active, alert and involved. I may not be “burying dead warriors” as I did as a younger man, but I feel I am still serving my country and its citizens with special needs.

LESLIE CAYER OHTA
Board Member HARTFORD PROBUS 2022-2023

Leslie C. Ohta is a resident of Glastonbury, who joined PROBUS in 2021, and is serving her first term on the Board of Directors. Leslie has two children and five grandchildren Her involvement with PROBUS was prompted by several meetings with members of our Board who had joined Webinar conversations offered by the Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative concerned with inclusiveness, racism and other social justice issues. These interests have spanned her entire career.

Leslie taught Chemistry and Physics in the Philippines for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. then lived in Japan for five years where she taught English and worked as a copy editor. Upon returning to the U.S. she attended law school , did a clerkship and worked as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice for 30 years. She spent the last year before retirement as a Federal Prosecutor in Iraq. Her volunteer work has taken her to Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Bosnia and the Czech republic as well as Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The thread connecting these employments is her deep interest in social justice issues. That is how she has come to serve on the Boards of a number of non-profit organizations including the Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative, Glastonbury ABC House and the Scheff Movement Coalition. She is looking forward to working at PROBUS with individuals sharing her passionate perspective, and values.