Our Team - Yancy Forums

Sheryl Hershonik, Senior Moderator

Ms. Hershonik is respected throughout Connecticut as an innovative educator. After 25 years in the classroom, she was elected to four consecutive terms as the building leader of the High School in The Community, where she was part of the team to usher in the first inter-district magnet school in New Haven. Chosen to be principal of the most culturally and economically diverse elementary school in New Haven, she played an important role in its designation as a National Blue-Ribbon School and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School, one of only 32 schools nation-wide to receive this designation.

In addition to a career as a teacher who was highly popular with students and parents, she also was respected as an advocate for teachers. Often chosen by her peers to represent them, she has filled a variety of roles, from building steward to executive board member and Vice President for Middle Schools with the New Haven Federation of Teachers.

Ms. Hershonik earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Mathematics Education and her master’s degree in Environmental Education and 6th year Professional Degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. Married with two children and two grandchildren, in her spare time she formed a music group that performs for residents of retirement communities.

Dr. Susan Yancy, CFO

Dr. Yancy provides both financial and data management oversight to Yancy Forums, LLC. Upon graduation from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Dr.Yancy traveled as a U.S. citizen to Berlin, Germany, working for two years as a bilingual visiting educator instructing in the German School System. Subsequently, she earned a Masters of Science in the field of Educational Research at Southern Connecticut State University, and applied her training in a U.S. Dept. of Education funded program designed to address substance abuse in communities across the United States, through community based alliances. She later applied that paradigm within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Division of Alcoholism and later through the Assistant Commissioner’s Office of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Simultaneously, Dr. Yancy completed her graduate studies in Psychological Education, earning her Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts, College of Education, Amherst, MA.

In subsequent years, Dr. Yancy organized and oversaw management information systems and financial systems for a 25+ year business founded by her husband, “Connecticut Business of the Year”, Yancy Minerals, Inc. In the early years of her husband’s business, she also worked as a Credit Analyst in the Commercial Lending Credit Department of Colonial Bank in Waterbury, CT, honing her self-taught skills in accounting with financial analysis skills. Dr. Yancy then brought her financial and management skills to bear on Yancy Minerals, Inc. and Old Ironsides Stove Coal Corporation, functioning both as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive V.P. Operations.

Dr. Yancy completed training for Guardian ad Litem through the CT Judicial Branch, and in prior years, Coaching Certification. Dr. Yancy is married and has three adult children.

William Cofrances, Executive Vice President Sales

In a career spanning more than 30 years in the healthcare industry, Mr. Cofrances has worked with the leaders of hospitals, academic institutions, corporations and state and government agencies to ensure the health, wellness and safety of their employees.

Mr. Cofrances began his career at Alternative Health Care Systems, Inc. as Vice President of Operations, responsible for overseeing occupational medical care for over 35,000 patients annually. He later became Director of Hospital Services for PMA Management Corporation, overseeing workers compensation and risk management for healthcare organizations and corporations throughout New England.

Mr. Cofrances attended Berklee College and Southern Connecticut State University with a concentration in Public Health. He serves as a member of several foundations — Masonicare, St. Mary’s Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, MidState Medical Center, Yale Pediatric Philanthropic Foundation and Gaylord Hospital, where he is also a member of the Gaylord Hospital Development Board.

In his spare time, Mr. Cofrances is a professional jazz saxophonist, performing throughout Connecticut and New York, often to raise support for charitable organizations.

Terri D. Goldson, Senior Moderator

Beginning his education career as a special education teacher, Mr. Goldson rose through the ranks to become an assistant principal and principal. His achievements as an educator and leader earned him and the schools he led a wide range of awards — US News and Reports High Performing High School in Connecticut, State of Connecticut General Assembly Citation for Excellence in Education, State Comptroller Citation for Leadership, NAACP Freedom Fund Award Excellence in Education, M.B.C. Most Outstanding Leader.

At American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Goldson received a BS degree in elementary and special education and later returned to earn his M.Ed. in special education. He is also a graduate of Fairfield University, where he received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in educational leadership. He went on to attend Nova Southeastern University to pursue an Ed.D. in educational leadership and he is currently completing a Ph.D. program at Union Institute & University.

Mr. Goldson coached, volunteered, and served on numerous community and national committees and boards. He is also an adjunct professor at Bowie State University where he led a committee to assess student portfolios for admittance to the Graduate School of Education. Married with three adult children and five grandchildren, he serves as an Elder in his church.

Gayle Allen-Greene, Senior Moderator

Ms. Allen-Greene brings to Yancy Forums exceptional experience as a school administrator and authority in school governance.

After serving as a Physical Educations teacher and Varsity Girls basketball and softball coach, Ms. Allen-Greene rose through the ranks as an assistant principal and then principal at two high schools. With a proven record of creating a school culture that promoted continual professional development for staff resulting in scholastic and personal growth for students, she is highly respected by peers and parents.

As a passionate educator, she launched an innovative program to increase the number of teachers of color in her district. Creating a Teacher Preparation Program at her high school, she provided yearly internships for 200 students in area elementary and middle schools.

She attended Springfield College, where she attained her B.S. She then went on to attend Central Connecticut State University (MS, 6th yr Administration), and then the University of Connecticut (Executive Leadership Certification).

Her personal goals are to live, love and laugh and to be a blessing to others, while her professional goals are to be a life-long learner and to assist others in reaching their potential as leaders. Ms. Allen-Greene’s hobbies include reading, music, travel and sports.

Roy Araujo, Senior Moderator

With 35 years of experience as an educator, coach, and professional development consultant, Mr. Araujo has an ideal background to moderate forums.

After beginning his career as a high school Math and Science teacher, he was recognized for his leadership abilities and became a principal. He was selected as principal of the year three times.

Highly respected for his ability to create a positive learning environment and a strong connection with all their stakeholders — students, parents, colleagues, and community – he served as an instructional coach to programs in 36 schools.

Mr. Araujo earned his undergraduate in Math and two master’s degrees — in Liberal Arts and in Administration and Supervision. Married with three adult children, in his spare time Mr. Araujo enjoys restoring antique furniture, antique cars, and visiting family in Europe.

Earl Yancy, Founder, CEO & President

Since founding Yancy Forums LLC in 2010, Earl J. Yancy serves as President and Lead Forum Moderator of the professional and leadership development firm.

Mr. Yancy began his professional career as a Yale University faculty member. He later went on to found Yancy Minerals, Inc., which was recognized as “Connecticut Business of the Year”. He also founded a Private Equity firm, YVC Partners, LLC., which had several successful business launches. He credits the lessons from the failure of one of his businesses, Peak Electronics, Inc., about which he collaborated with the Harvard Business School on a case study, as motivating him to found Yancy Forums as a leadership development firm.

A respected New England business leader, Mr. Yancy has served on several community, business and banking boards. He was also Chairman of the Boston-based Regional National Minority Purchasing Council. He has been a long-standing member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boule) as well as an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Yancy earned degrees from Southern University, at Louisiana. HBCU; from the Staatliche Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Berlin, Germany; and from Yale University Graduate School. He received a Loeb Fellowship in residence at Harvard University, where he did doctoral studies that he currently applies in his coaching of medical, business and educational professionals.

Married with three adult children, Mr. Yancy’s hobbies and interests over the years have been landscaping, sculpture, dog training, and martial arts.

Dawn Lezon, Manager of Finance

Ms. Lezon brings to Yancy Forums and its clients more than 35 years of experience providing accounting and financial management services. Ms. Lezon was previously head of finance at an investment advisor and a partner at an accounting firm, responsible for a variety of clients. She has a deep understanding of the unique needs of the education sector, having most recently served as Director of Accounting Programs at an urban college where she transformed an aged accounting program to enhance the curriculum and to respond to current industry changes and demands.

Ms. Lezon earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, magna cum laude, from Muhlenberg College, where she is a current member of the alumni board. She also earned an MBA in finance from the Stern School of Business at NYU. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy.

Married with two adult children, in her spare time Ms. Lezon enjoys reading, walking, and traveling.