GNAC Pleased to Announce Specialists for 2011-2012 Year

The Great Northeast Atlantic Conference is pleased to announce the addition of four new specialists and the return of two.  These specialists include Erin Doherty, Garrett Quinn, Kristin LeBel, Alex Comeau, Laura Schwenk, and Catherine Carmignani.  Each specialist holds a unique set of skills and attributes that will help the GNAC thrive for this upcoming year.

Erin Doherty joins the GNAC as a Special Events and Student Athlete Advisory Committee Specialist. She is a recent graduate from Western New England University where she played lacrosse for the three-time ECAC champion Golden Bears. While attending Western New England, Erin used her studies for Sport Management to help with her numerous leadership roles in Student Athlete Advisory Committee for both Western New England and The Commonwealth Coast Conference serving as both committee's Vice President her senior year. In addition to her committees and dedication to her studies as reflected by her GPA of 3.86, Erin was also a CHAMPS Life Skill mentor where she mentored student-athletes with their academics, and was a First Year Seminar Assistant to Sport Management freshmen. In the summer of 2009, Erin volunteered with the Boston Breakers Women’s Professional Team and was a Director for the South Shore Elite Lacrosse club team. Last summer, she interned with Rentschler Field which is the home of UCONN Football. While there she was able to participate in day-to-day and event day operations for such events as USA Soccer Matches, football, and concerts.

Garrett Quinn is entering his third season as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Newbury College.  Prior to his work with Newbury College, Quinn was the Intramural Sports Supervisor at the University of New Hampshire where he assisted with scheduling and supervision of intramural staff, officiated intramural sports, and coordinated new staff training.  Quinn earned his BA in Communications at the University of New Hampshire in 2007 and is currently earning his Masters in Sports Leadership at Northeastern University.

Kristin LeBel is a recent graduate from Emmanuel College and will be the GNAC Specialist for Championships and NCAA Rules.  She received a degree in Management with a 3.9 GPA, graduating top in the Management and Economics Department.  LeBel played basketball at Emmanuel College, was the recipient of the 2011 Senior Athletic Achievement award, and was the Vice President for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  Currently, Kristin is interning with the Harvard University Athletic Department. 

Alex Comeau joins the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference as the Specialist for Sports Information.  Alex is a recent graduate from Husson University earning degree in Hospitality Management and a degree in Sports Management.  While at Husson, he completed two internships in the athletic department under the Sports information Director.  He graduated as a member of the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality and Tourism Management Honor Society.  Comeau also received the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.  He also served as the Vice President for the Sport Management Professional Development Association at Husson. 

Laura Schwenk, a graduate of Johnson and Wales University, will assist the GNAC as the Special Events and Championships Specialist.  She earned her degree in Sports, Entertainment and Event Management with a minor in Psychology.  Schwenk played tennis for Johnson and Wales, and was a two-year Captain, GNAC Rookie of the Week, GNAC Player of the Week and was an All-Conference Selection.  She earned the NCAA Student-Athlete Award in 2010 and 2011 and the Johnson and Wales Spirit Award in 2011.  Schwenk has completed internships with Meeting Street, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Augusta Health Lifetime Fitness Center.

Catherine Carmignani is entering her second year as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference’s Special Events and Officiating Specialist.  Carmignani graduated from Simmons College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in Athletic Administration at Springfield College, to be completed in May 2012.

During her first year as a GNAC specialist, Carmignani created the conferences first fully funded officiating program, assisting GNAC student-athletes through the process of becoming a sports official.  The program was a success with 10 student-athletes becoming National Federation of High Schools certified girls basketball officials.  Along with her duties as officiating specialist, Carmignani will also help with the Honan 5k and other special events organizing student-athlete volunteers.

 A native of Dudley, MA, Carmignani has served as an intern for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse, volunteers yearly for the Boston Marathon, and is dedicated to empowering young women to reach beyond their potential in both athletics and life.  While working with the GNAC, Carmignani will continue to coach the Women’s Rugby team at American International College and assistant coach the Bay Path Women's Basketball team.