An impressive group of Suffolk residents were recognized as Women of Distinction at a recent ceremony in Medford. Organized by state Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, the event included Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Senator Dean Murray, Legislators Dominick Thorne, Nick Caracappa, and Chad Lennon, Brookhaven Town Council Members Mike Loguercio and Karen Dunne Kesnig, and Suffolk Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Alverez-Groneman. The annual ceremony the dedication and commitment of the women who go above and beyond in service to their communities.
Denise J. Nostrom has made an indelible mark on the financial services industry since entering the field in 1990. After beginning her career at Smith Barney as a portfolio assistant, Denise realized her passion for personalized financial advising. The lifelong Long Island resident founded her firm, Diversified Financial Solutions, in 1996, thriving for over 27 years by helping countless clients achieve their financial dreams. Denise is a committed professional, holding Series 7, 24, 51, 53, and 63 licenses, and is licensed in 15 states. She maintains and exceeds the continuing education standards required for her ChFC and CLU designations, as well as her life, health, and annuity licenses and securities registrations. Her expertise has been recognized by prestigious publications such as Long Island Business News, Newsday, Forbes, CNBC, and U.S. News and World Report.
Denise is the founder and president of POWER (Power of Women Exchanging Resources, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in business and leadership by providing a solid foundation of support, education, and networking opportunities. Through POWER, Denise has inspired countless women to achieve tremendous personal and professional success.
This financial expert’s leadership extends beyond her professional career into her community, where she is actively involved with the Patchogue-Medford School District. She awards college scholarships, mentors students in the Career Raiders Internship program, and serves as a volunteer cheerleading coach. Her dedication to education and community service earned her induction into the Patchogue-Medford High School Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National Business Honor Society in 2024.
Her achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Peak Brokerage Services Integrity Award in 2021 for her outstanding work in empowering clients and the National Association of Professional Women’s Woman of the Year award for her excellence and dedication to her profession.
Jodi Moran is a lifelong resident of Medford who has consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to serving others. A 1995 graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School, Jodi is married to Terrence Moran. Together, they are raising their twin sons, Logan and Aidan, who attend Patchogue-Medford High School and share their mother’s passion for community involvement.
Jodi has dedicated her career to Suffolk County Community College’s Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding, where she serves as principal office assistant. She utilizes her skills to support the Center’s mission and advance understanding of social justice issues, including the preservation of the Holocaust Collection.
Jodi’s extensive and varied volunteerism reflects her deep commitment to her community. She has served as a parent representative on the Patchogue-Medford School District Safety Committee, is actively involved in the PTA, and currently serves as vice president of Friends of Art and Music Education (FAME), advocating for the arts in schools.
Her dedication extends to the welfare of animals, as she volunteers with Almost Home Animal Rescue, where she has become known for her expertise in caring for guinea pigs. Her sons also participate in this volunteer work, following the example she sets.
Jodi’s passion for history and respect for veterans has led her to engage in initiatives that support these causes. One such effort is her involvement with VFW Post 2937, where she instills in her sons the importance of honoring those who have served our country.
Jodi strongly believes in the power of volunteerism and strives to instill these values in others. She consistently gives 110% to every cause she supports. Her dedication to being a good citizen, a loving wife and mother, and a pillar of her community is evident in all she does.
Sergeant Linda Piotrowski, a resident of Lake Grove for the past 11 years, has served her community with distinction since joining the Suffolk County Police Department in September 2005. She has consistently demonstrated her dedication to police service, beginning as a patrol officer in the 6th Precinct, where she protected the Centereach, Ronkonkoma, and Farmingville areas and later rising through the ranks to her current position as sergeant. As a patrol officer, Linda displayed a profound sense of duty, often running toward danger to assist those in need. Her commitment to making a positive impact on her community and protecting the vulnerable has been a hallmark of her career.
In 2021, Linda transitioned to the Community Oriented Policing Enforcement (COPE) unit, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community, particularly in underserved areas.
Her leadership and vision have been instrumental in coordinating multiple community initiatives, including free women’s self-defense classes and educational support programs for women in recovery. Linda’s efforts have been recognized by her community, elected officials, and the Police Department. Her work has left a lasting impact on the lives of many.
In 2023, Linda assumed the role of sergeant in charge of the SCPD Youth Explorers Program, overseeing the supervision and training of young individuals aspiring to careers in law enforcement. Her dedication to mentoring the next generation of police officers is evident in her efforts to restructure and revitalize the program, ensuring it provides an exceptional experience for all participants.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Linda gives back a lot to her community, serving as a Peer Support Volunteer for the Suffolk County Police Department, teaching free women’s self-defense classes, and participating in several committees focused on domestic violence awareness, human trafficking prevention, and community safety.
Linda has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including Cop of the Month and departmental recognition and proclamations from various elected officials, all of which speak to her extraordinary contributions and tireless service to her community. Linda’s passion for service, education, and law enforcement is matched only by her dedication to her family—her husband, Lieutenant Matthew Piotrowski, and their son, Matthew Jr., who are her greatest sources of pride and motivation.
Nerina Sperl is a lifelong public servant and tireless advocate for the Medford community. She has distinguished herself through steadfast dedication to community service, fiscal responsibility, and the betterment of her neighborhood. Nerina moved to Medford in 1987 with her husband, Ray, and their three children, Michael, Peter, and Jenna, quickly becoming active participants in the community through scouting, athletics, school, and civic activities.
Professionally, Nerina has served Suffolk County for 25 years as chief auditor in the comptroller’s office, where her work has led to the recovery of millions of dollars in misspent taxpayer funds. Her passion for responsible government spending was not limited to her professional life—Nerina was instrumental in forming the community watchdog group Concerned Taxpayers of Patchogue-Medford (CTOP) in response to significant school tax increases in the early 1990s. Through her efforts, fiscally responsible individuals were elected to the school board, bringing much-needed accountability to the district’s financial management.
Nerina’s dedication to education and youth development is evident through her many years of service with the Patchogue-Medford School District PTA, where she served as treasurer and fundraiser, and her involvement in scouting as assistant cub master and Girl Scouts troop leader. She also served on the Patchogue-Medford School Board of Education’s Finance Committee, helping to steer the district through challenging fiscal times. She is a longtime member and treasurer of the Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association and has spent more than 30 years working to enhance the quality of life in Medford by collaborating with all levels of government to ensure responsible land use, traffic mitigation, and environmental protection.
Narina’s leadership was crucial in the successful effort to prevent the establishment of a VLT “casino” in Medford, which would have violated town codes and state regulations. She’s also contributed to regional projects as an Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations member. Through her work with the Medford Hamlet Foundation, which she co-founded in 2008, Nerina played an essential role in developing the Medford Branch of the Patchogue-Medford Library. This project took 15 years of perseverance and partnership. Her vision for the library was to create a community hub that would serve as a center for learning, connection, and pride for the residents of Medford.
Nerina’s commitment to her community extends to her involvement with St. Sylvester’s Church, where she served on the Adult Faith Formation ministry to help adults seeking sacraments. Nerina and her husband are the proud parents of three successful children and the delighted grandparents of four grandchildren, Cassandra, Gregory, Penelope, and Oliver, who benefit from the values of service and community that Nerina has instilled in her family.
Amy Thomas is a dedicated 26-year volunteer with South Country Ambulance, having joined in 1998 when she was just 18. She has since proven to be a devoted volunteer who gives her time freely and works to constantly advance her EMS education and career while serving her community. Amy has been a New York State EMT-B for 21 years while climbing through the ranks to become the department’s chief of administration, a position she has held since 2010. This title makes her the third in command of the busiest EMS agency in the Town of Brookhaven and the seventh busiest EMS agency in Suffolk County.
This is no small responsibility as the South Country Ambulance District is 24 square miles with 18 miles of waterways. Within the command's boundaries are the Suffolk County police headquarters, county jail, county fire training grounds, Southaven County Park, a federal wildlife refuge, all South Country school district buildings, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, large industrial sites, and more than 6,000 residential homes.
Over the years, Amy has taken a proactive response to community education by coordinating CPR and first-aid training for many groups and going into school districts to train children on bike safety and other child-specific topics. Over 3,000 children and 500 adults have been taught in the past few years. Amy has also continued her own EMS education. She has become certified or taken additional training in drowning emergencies, prehospital trauma life support, pediatric education, and advanced national incident management classes.
Amy oversees the department’s Continuing Medical Education program, which ensures that department EMTs and paramedics are credentialed by the State of New York. In addition to her EMS responsibilities, Amy is a volunteer coach with Bellport Soccer and serves on the board of directors for two local non-profits. During her tenure, Amy has given more than 20,000 volunteer hours to the community she grew up in and resides with her husband, Neil, and their three children, Hunter, Lochlyn, and Eastlyn.
April Coppola has lived in the William Floyd community since 1984 and graduated from its high school. She and her husband, Rob Fleischmann, reside in Shirley and have three children who graduated from William Floyd: Skylar Fleischmann, Isabella Coppola, and Thomas Coppola. April has served as a member of the William Floyd Board of Education since her election in 2016. Her fellow trustees selected her as the board vice president in 2019 and subsequently chosen as board president in 2022.
As a member of the Board of Education, April has been a strong advocate for the district, helping ensure students have access to top music, arts, athletics, and technical education programs. Under her leadership, the district’s graduation rate has climbed to 90%, and the community’s tax levy has been reduced by more than $23 million over two years. The school’s bond rating has improved and has repeatedly earned the highest rating in the New York State Comptroller’s fiscal health report. April also supported the successful passage of a capital project referendum that has dramatically enhanced school facilities and community resources.
In addition to her service with the Board of Education, April is involved in many local organizations working to serve and improve the community, including the William Floyd Community Summit, where she serves as treasurer and chairperson of the Beautification Committee, the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley, where she’s served as a board member since 2014, as well as volunteering her time as a member of the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association, where she serves on the board of directors.
April also organizes and participates in various events, including working to beautify the area through flower planting projects, spring and fall community clean-ups, and a partnership with Boy Scout Troop 138 of Mastic Beach to maintain Osprey Park. She also maintains the corner of William Floyd Parkway and Montauk Highway, the gateway to her community, where the statue of William Floyd is located. She can often be seen with her husband planting flowers and pulling weeds to ensure the location continues to look great.
Danielle Paisley has devoted her life to serving the public and championing community engagement. A resident of Babylon for 17 years, she is a distinguished alumna of St. Anthony’s High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Providence College, a Master’s Degree in Library Science with a concentration in Public Librarianship for Children from Queens College, and an Advanced Certificate in Public Library Administration.
Danielle has been a cornerstone of the Patchogue-Medford Library for 27 years. She began her career as a children’s librarian in 1997, advancing to the head of young adult/audiovisual services and assistant director, ultimately becoming the director in 2017. Under Danielle’s directorship, the Patchogue-Medford Library became a certified Sustainable Library in 2021 through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and New York Library Association, reflecting her commitment to environmental stewardship and forward-thinking leadership. Danielle has been instrumental in significant achievements, including reopening the historic Carnegie Library in 2016 and opening the new Patchogue-Medford Library Medford Branch in 2024. Her leadership was also recognized with the prestigious 2023 John Cotton Dana Award for the innovative Window Aquarium project.
Danielle’s dedication extends beyond the library, as she serves as secretary of the Greater Patchogue Foundation, director and trustee for the Greater Patchogue and Medford Chambers of Commerce, and is an active member of the Patchogue Rotary. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2022 Medford Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year and the 2020 Honoree of the Power in Heels Award by the Patchogue Chamber. Danielle is a devoted wife to her husband of 22 years, Bryan, and a loving mother to their three daughters, Anna, Maggie, and Sarah. She is a true embodiment of dedication, leadership, and community spirit, inspiring her colleagues, friends, and the community at large.