0 2 the irish echo top 40 under 40 2020 p€¦ · district of albany. best advice you could give...

THE IRISH ECHO TOP 40 UNDER 40 2020

Kathleen Sullivan

Where you live: Buffalo NYPlace of Birth: Buffalo NYAge: 39Status: MarriedFamily: I’m the daughter of the late William“Homer” and Elizabeth (Stack) Lewis andhave three younger siblings: Mary Claire, Liz,and Billy. My husband, John, is a BuffaloPolice Officer and we have two children,Grace (9) and Liam (7).First Job: Summer Youth in the Parks Dept.What it taught me: Show up with a positiveattitude and don’t be afraid to take initiative.Even though cleaning the bathrooms wasn’tglamorous, putting some freshly pickedflowers in them could brighten someoneelse’s day.Current Company and position: ExecutiveSales Representative with Lilly USABest advice you could give someonestarting out: Build relationships and yourbrand. Connecting with people is such asimple skill that often gets ignored. When it’sdone with genuine intent, it can set you apartand help you build valuable relationships thatcan be beneficial in your current environmentor future opportunities. Additionally, beconscious of your brand. Know who you areand what you want to be known for. Knowwhat makes you stand out and continue toimprove upon those skills.Three things people would be surprised to

know about me....1. I’m a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder andtry to get to an away game each year.2. I love crafting and have started a fun sidehustle.3. While growing up, we were lucky enoughto host two children through the BelfastSummer Relief Program whom we stillconsider.How do you celebrate your Irish heritage?Growing up in an Irish family in SouthBuffalo, we were introduced to our heritageat a young age. My parents enrolled me inIrish Dancing when I was 4 (and my sistersfollowed). This experience not only left mewith some of my fondest friendships andmemories, but it started a life-long love andappreciation for the rich history, traditions,and music of Ireland. Now, my daughter iscarrying on this tradition as an Irish Dancerwith Rince Na Tiarna. She has even startedperforming Irish songs in competition andwith my brother’s Irish band, Crikwater.Currently, I’m one of the organizers of theAnnual South Buffalo Irish Festival, which is afree festival dedicated to celebrating andsharing our rich heritage. You should allcome check it out!

Kathleen is an Executive SalesRepresentative with Lilly USA in the DiabetesBusiness Unit. She also volunteers her timeas the President of Can You Dig It, Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to the

promotion of Irish culture and heritageassociated with South Buffalo and thepromotion and maintenance of public spacesthat help define that community.

Kathleen and the other dedicatedindividuals on the committee organize andrun the South Buffalo Irish Festival which hasbecome one of the paramount local traditions.This annual festival is one of the largest freemusic festivals in WNY and focuses itsattention on sharing Irish music and culturewith thousands each year. In order to keepthis event free and share it with the masses, itrequires countless hours. But because ofKathleen’s pride in her Irish heritage and thedeep Irish roots of her community, she isfocused on continuing this tradition. Can YouDig It, Inc not only runs this festival but isinvolved throughout the year giving back tothe community and its people promotingcontinuous improvement and growth.

In addition to Can You Dig It, Inc, you willoften see Kathleen involved in her communityand school community. As a former collegerunner, she enjoys coaching the 5-8th gradeboys and girls cross country team at herchildren's school, Notre Dame Academy, andalso co-organize the league.

Kathleen graduated from Ithaca College in2002 with a BS in Television-Radio andminors in Sports Studies and Politics.Although she has had jobs in all three areas,she has been in pharmaceutical sales for 15years.

Timothy Weklar

Where you live: Averill Park, NYPlace of Birth: Albany, NYAge: 39 3/4Status: MarriedFamily: Wife: Amanda Weklar; children:Simon (6), Theodore (1)First Job: J. deBeer & Sons Baseball,Softball and Lacrosse- Warehouse shipper atage 14What it taught me: Owner Jim Muhlfeldertold me it was meant to motivate me to dowell in school and go on to college.Current Company and position: High SchoolSpecial Education Teacher, City SchoolDistrict of Albany.Best advice you could give someonestarting out: Pay your dues with humility.Understand that nobody owes you anything.Treat everybody respect and assume the bestin others.Three things people would be surprised toknow about me....1. I hitched hiked to Shea Stadium after ourbus broke down on I-87 with my father andsome other state workers.2. Throughout middle school I often dressedin a suit and a Richard Nixon mask forHalloween.3. I enjoy professional wrestling from the 80'sand 90's.

How do you celebrate your Irish heritage? Icelebrate my Irish heritage by being active inthe Ancient Order of Hibernians, socialmember and supporter of the Albany RebelsGAA Football Club and I am a member of theIrish American Heritage Museum in Albany,NY.

Tim Weklar was born to Ken and DarleneWeklar in Albany, NY in 1980. Tim and hisyounger sisters Kathleen and Andrea wouldbe raised in the Village of West Albany andattend schools in the South Colonie schooldistrict. The Weklars were parishioners ofSaint Francis de Sales where Tim oftenserved as an alter boy.

Tim would graduate from South ColonieHigh School in 1998 and went on to major inhistory and minored in political science at theUniversity at Albany. In 2002 Tim earned aBachelors in Arts from UAlbany and went offto graduate school at the College of SaintRose for teaching. Tim would earn a Master’sin Adolescent Education to teach socialstudies grades 7-12 and then later acertification to teach special education.

After college Tim would work as a buildingsubstitute at Albany High School and laterteacher’s assistant at Harriet Gibbons HighSchool (an alternative school for at risk youthin Albany). While working at Harriet GibbonsTim would meet his future wife AmandaVenezia of Rhinebeck, NY.

After Tim earned his special education, hewas hired as a special education teacher atBerkshire Union Free School District (aresidential school for adjudicated youth inCanaan, NY.) Tim worked at Berkshire forover 10 years and participated on the buildingleadership team as a teacher leader. In 2018,Tim would write the Socio-EmotionalLearning Learning Standards Crosswalks forSocial Studies for the New York Departmentof Education. In the Fall of 2019, Tim accepteda position back in the City School District ofAlbany as a special education teacher at theTony Clement Center for Education (the newalternative school for at risk youth).

Tim has been a proud and active memberof the Ancient Order of Hibernians, AlbanyDivision 5, Father Henry Tansey. He hasserved as an officer since 2009 and is amember of the Schenectady Major DegreeTeam. Tim is the immediate Past AlbanyCounty President and is the current AlbanyDivision 5 President. Tim credits the AOH andthe Albany Hibernian community for helpingto strengthen his Catholic faith and taughtTim leadership skills that has translated intoprofessional success as an educator.

Tim, his wife Amanda and their children,Theodore (1) and Simon (6), currently residein Averill Park, NY and are members of SaintPius X Parish. Tim loves spending time withfamily, especially summer vacations in theAdirondacks and Ocean City Maryland.

Tomás McLaughlin

Where you live: BaltimorePlace of Birth: BrooklynAge: 30Status: SingleFamily: Parents George & Annie, sister ÁineFirst Job: House painter What it taught me: The value of hands onworkCurrent Company and position: Director,AFL-CIO Community Services of Central MDBest advice you could give someonestarting out: Become a good listener andobserve the experienced around youThree things people would be surprised toknow about me....1. I've visited, lived or studied in 13 countries

across 4 continents2. I ran at Outdoor Track Nationals3. I focused my undergraduate thesis work onthe Irish Hunger StrikesHow do you celebrate your Irish heritage?I proudly celebrate my Irishness by servingas the youngest member of the FenianMemorial Committee of America's Board ofDirectors, attending and participating in theNew York St. Patrick's Day Parade eachyear, supporting local Irish organizationsand festivals, serving as an active memberof the AOH, learning tin whistle and Irishstep dance as a child, as well as stayinginformed of contemporary political issues inIreland.

Tommy McLaughlin was born in Brooklyn,

New York and baptized in Belfast, CountyAntrim - by the champion of West Belfast, Fr.Des Wilson - and spent his first 18 summersliving on a farm outside Ardara, CountyDonegal. He spent his childhood living inNew York and later, Providence, Rhode Island.He has been helping to organize, train andsupport workers in Rhode Island,Pennsylvania and Maryland his entire post-college career.

Currently, he is the Metro Baltimore AFL-CIO Director of Community Services, wherehis work is focused on helping union andcommunity families. Tommy is a member ofthe Ancient Order of Hibernians and theFenian Memorial Committee of America,which dedicates its work to commemoratingthe lives of Fenians buried in America.

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