Our School

Holy Cross High School is pleased to welcome Erin Benvegnu P ‘25 & ‘26, Anthony Ciriello P ‘27, ‘28,  Kelley Laurel ’81, Thomas Pettinicchi, ‘79, and Mark Sparano ‘82 to its Board of Directors for three-year terms, effective July 1, 2026. These five individuals bring a wealth of experience, energy, leadership, and expertise to the school community. Their dedication to excellence in their respective fields mirrors the values and mission of Holy Cross High School, and they are sure to make a significant impact on the school's future. 

“Erin, Tony, Kelley, Tom, and Mark bring diverse experiences and expertise to our Board,” said Board Chair, Jack Senich, ‘84. “Their experiences will help inform our path forward, and we are eager to work together to continue building a strong future for Holy Cross High School.”

"Our school’s governance structure is a model of fluid management and one that is well-positioned to meet the needs and challenges of secondary education, particularly in the greater Waterbury region” said Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, President of Holy Cross High School. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to partner with these exceptionally talented individuals.  Their intellect and lived experiences are matched in strength only by their commitment and passion for a Holy Cross education.  The legacy of stewardship passed down to us by the Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross is alive and well in these new board members”

Erin Benvegnu is a Sales & Business Development Executive with 25+ years of experience transforming global organizations. She brings a wealth of experience in operations, process management, and standardization.  She has led large teams supporting clients and partners  worldwide while exhibiting a collaborative, solution oriented approach to her work.. A strategic and adaptable communicator, she excels at turning complex challenges into scalable solutions that boost efficiency and empower teams to succeed.Erin is also the proud parent of one Holy Cross graduate and one current student: Julia ‘25 and Mary ‘26. 

Anthony Ciriello Jr., .P.E. is a civil and transportation engineering manager with extensive experience leading infrastructure and public works projects locally, as well as across the Northeast and within the US. He has managed highway, municipal, institutional, commercial, and industrial type projects and brings strong expertise in grant writing, project management, and construction oversight. Anthony is an active community volunteer, serving on multiple town committees and other nonprofit boards, where he helps advance public safety, education, and economic development initiatives. As a collaborative partner he is dedicated to enhancing quality of life through advancement of projects that are good for the community.  He and Tracey are the proud parents of Luca’ 11 and Marcello, ‘10 - and future Crusader, Gianna.

Kelley Laurel is a technology executive with more than three decades of experience at Fidelity Investments, where she rose from programmer to Senior Vice President of Fidelity Investments. She led large technology organizations supporting brokerage, clearing, and customer experience platforms, overseeing major system implementations and real-time production operations. Known for her focus on innovation and transformation, Kelley has a strong record of delivering value for customers and shareholders. She holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Bentley College and actively supports food insecurity initiatives on Nantucket.

Tom Pettinicchi, Esq. is a founding partner of D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers which focuses exclusively on personal injury, representing clients in injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence cases. After more than 25 years in litigation, he remains dedicated to helping injured clients rebuild their lives. Tom is active in multiple legal associations and has lectured, published legal articles, and taught law as an adjunct professor. Committed to community service, he has served on charitable boards and committees, including eight years on the Board of Governors for the Watertown Golf Club, two as its President.  He continues to give back through local civic and parish leadership.  

Mark P. Sparano, CPA  an accomplished financial services executive with decades of leadership in audit, risk, and corporate governance. He serves as a Board Member and Audit Committee Chair at Sentinel Trust Company and previously was Chief Audit Executive at U.S. Bank, where he led a 300-person global audit team and advanced regulatory and risk practices. His career includes senior roles at BNY Mellon, U.S. Trust/Charles Schwab, Bankers Trust, and KPMG. A Bentley University graduate and NYU Executive MBA alum, Mark is a CPA and Chartered Global Management Accountant.