Leadership
Our Leadership Team
Meet our dynamic leadership team, driving our organization forward with expertise and passion.
We are proud to have a team of talented and experienced leaders who have a passion for success. Our leadership team is committed to driving innovative ideas that create long-term value to our organization. We invite you to learn more about our leadership team, their backgrounds, expertise, and their vision for the future. By getting to know our leadership team, we are confident you will see why they are the driving force behind NYSACCME’s success.
Officers
Robert F. Waltman, D-ABMDI
President | Livingston County
Robert is lifelong resident of Dansville, NY, a graduate of Dansville Central School, Herkimer County Community College with an A.A.S. Degree, and Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY. Rob has been a licensed Funeral Director since October 1983. In 1993 he sought the position of Livingston County Coroner and has been serving since January 1, 1994. Rob joined NYSACCME in 1995 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2000, where he has continued to serve. He is also an accredited Medico-Legal Death Investigator.
Rob is a self-employed Funeral Director working in numerous funeral homes in the area. He is very active in the community. He has been an active member of the Union Hose Co No. 1 of the Dansville Fire Department for 40 years, having served in numerous positions including Department Fire Chief, in 2003-2005, and as a former Emergency Medical Technician He is a member and has served as Deacon for the Dansville Presbyterian Church. Rob served as commander of the Sons of the American squadron #87 of the Daniel Goho American Legion Post #87. He is active in the past commanders club where he also serves as chaplain.
Michael Sikirica, M.D.
1st Vice President | Rensselaer County
Margaret Luck
2nd Vice President | Rensselaer County
- Elected, Fulton County Coroner 1981-present
- Nathan Littauer Hospital Lifeline Manager 1980-present
- Autopsy Assistant 2000-present
- Diplomat American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigations
- (St. Lewis University School of Medicine) 2005-present
- Board Member of NYSACCME 2005-present
- Board Member of International Association Coroners & Medical
- Examiners (IAC&ME) 2016-present
- NYSACCME Member 1982-present
- Fulton County Traffic Safety Board 1995-present, Acting Chair
- Fulton County Emergency Medical Service Board 1999-present
- Fulton County Child Abuse Investigation Team 1999-present
- Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery County Critical Incident Debriefing
Richard J. Tesoriero, DC
Secretary / Treasurer | Oswego County
Richard received his B.S. degree from Upper Iowa University in 1977 and attended Palmer College of Chiropractic graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1980.
He received several post graduates degrees – Diplomate of American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedics and a Diplomate of the American College of Forensic Professionals.
Oswego Town Councilman for the past 8 years and just started another 4 year term
He has been a Deputy Coroner in Oswego County for 23 years and Senior Deputy Coroner for the past year.
He and his wife Angela live on Black Sheep Farm in the Town of Oswego.
Scott M. Schmidt, CFSP, D-ABMDI
Former President | Orleans County
Scott became a licensed NY State Funeral Director in 1984 and soon after took a part-time job as a Pathologist Assistant with Dr. Ruth Barrett at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital in Albion, NY. Eventually, he started assisting Dr. Okay at Medina Memorial Hospital, until choosing to run in 1989 for the Office of Orleans County Coroner. Scott was appointed by the County Legislature in 1997 to Chief Coroner, and has continually held this position to date. He joined NYSACCME shortly after being sworn into Office in January of 2000. He has been active in NYSACCME, and has attended every Educational Conference – with the exception of a loss in his immediate family, the events of 9/11/01, following a personal serious illness in 2017, and scheduling conflict in 2018. He is currently, the longest serving President of NYSACCME, and was instrumental in the passage of the Minimum Training for Newly Elected or Appointed County Coroners legislation in 2017. He is a member of the Region 2 DMORT Team under the U.S. Dept. of HHS, and served as a Federal Training Officer from 2003-2018. He transferred to the DMORT VIC – a specialty team in the National Disaster Medical System, which interviews the families of victims of Mass Fatality Incidents. Scott has served as a Subject Matter Expert on the NYS Dept. of Emergency Management Office Working Group, and assisted in writing the “Mass Fatality Planning Guidance Document” – for use across New York State counties – writing such documents that includes the County Emergency Plan of Operation.
He continues to work full-time as a Funeral Director with Mitchell Family Funeral Homes based in Albion, NY and is the manager of Bates, Wallace & Heath Funeral Home in Middleport, NY.
In his spare time, Scott serves as Organist and Music Minister at Barre Center Presbyterian Church and Albion First Presbyterian Church. He lives in Medina, NY – has two daughters: Hayley and Danielle, as well as a Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Chihuahua, cat and two chinchillas.
Dedicated Team
Best Engineers
24/7 Supports
Board of Directors
Robert Lemieux
Washington County Coroner
I am a native “Adirondacker”, growing up in Long Lake, NY. My wife, Linda, and I have 2 grown daughters: Jamie, and Jennifer. We have 3 grandchildren: Isabella, Kyler, and Davie. I retired from the South Glens Falls, New York School District, where I served as an Elementary School Principal.
I currently work for a local funeral home. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Potsdam, and a Master of Science Degree from the College of Saint Rose. My certifications include: School Administrator and Supervisor Certifications.
I completed the Municipal Police Basic Course for Police Officers (1983), as well as an EMT for over 30 years. In addition, I am a member of the Argyle Fire Department for 20+ years, and over 40 years in Fire Service. I am a Lead Educator in the County’s Juvenile Fire Program, and a member of the Washington County Fire Advisory Board. I was accredited as a Medico-legal death investigator by NYSACCME in March of 2019.
As a family, we go camping every summer and love to go to Pennsylvania for the ” Mud Auctions ” in March of each year. I love to Cross Country Ski, and snowshoe, but most of all, we enjoy spending time with our family.
Paul L. Marra III
Albany County
Howie VanRensselaer
Cattaraugus County
Howie T. VanRensselaer of Randolph is an elected County Coroner in Cattaraugus County, a position he has had for the past 13 years, since being elected in 2011.
Mr. VanRensselaer has been in the Funeral Industry his entire adult life and has been a licensed Funeral Director in New York since 1988. He is the owner and operator of his family’s third generation business, VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home in Randolph since 1996.
Howie is a graduate of Randolph Central School and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse. He is the past President (25 years) of the Allegany-Cattaraugus County Funeral Directors Association, had served on the Board of Directors for New Directions Youth and Family Services for 27 years, Southern Tier American Red Cross Board of Directors, New York State Funeral Directors Association Board, Past President of the Randolph Lions Club and served as the Treasurer of the Randolph Cemetery Association for 22 years.
In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, golfing and traveling.
He had also served as a volunteer on the board of directors for the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation and the American Red Cross of Western New York.
He and his wife Gretchen (Kartman) VanRensselaer are the parents of three children; Rachel, Gage and Lucy and are former foster parents for the Randolph Children’s Home.
Mr. VanRensselaer is the son of Howard and Bethany VanRensselaer of East Randolph.
Roger Schenone, DO
Chemung County
- Education: B.S., magna cum laude, Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology – 1979
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology – College of
- Osteopathic Medicine – 1983
- Resident and Chief Resident, Internal Medicine, Baptist Medical Center of New
- York – 7/1/1984 – 6/30/1988
- Certifications: Internal Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Correctional Health Care
- Certified Medico- Legal Death Investigator, NYSACCME
- Fellow, American College of Osteopathic Internists
- Professional Experience:
- Internal Medicine/Geriatrics practice in Elmira, N.Y. 1989 – 2019
- Medical Director, Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, 1996 – 2021
- Medical Director, Bethany Nursing Facility, 2007 – 2019
- Chemung County Coroner, 2010 – present
- Major, Medical Corps, USA
- Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, Arnot Health, 2012-2015
- Assoc. Director of Medical Education, Arnot Health, 2015 – 2019
- Associate Professor of Medicine, LECOM, 2019 – present
My wife Cathy and I moved from Long Island to Elmira in 1988. Most of my hobbies occur outdoors. I wanted to live on a piece of property large enough to allow me to pursue some of these interests which include bowhunting and training English Sringer Spaniel field trial dogs.
In 2010, Chemung County was in search of some new coroners. I was appointed in 2010, along with 3 other physicians, and have continued in office since that time. After being appointed I immediately joined NYSACCME and availed myself of their many excellent educational programs which prepared me extremely well for the position.
I have two children and one grandchild. Love spending time with family. It is a great honor for me to serve on the NYSACCME Board.
Terri Haskins
Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Wayne, Yates
John C. Prindle, MD - At-Large
Broome County
- Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, Graduated 1966
- Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City, NY, Rotating Intern 1967
- U.S. Army Medical Corp., Vietnam 8th Field Hospital, ER
- Physician in Charge 4th Artillery Group, Group Surgeon Fort
Bragg, NC, General Medical Officer, Captain, 1967-1969 - Lisle Medical Office, Lisle, NY, Family Practice, 1969-1972
- Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City, NY, Emergency Medicine, 1972-1978
- Chenango Bridge Medical Group, Binghamton, NY, Family
Practice 1978-1997, Medical Director / Chair of Medical Group, - Guthrie Clinic Inc., Binghamton, NY, Family Practice & Regional
Medical Director, 1997-2000. Change in ownership, operated by - UHS of Johnson City then Lourdes Hospital of Binghamton.
- United Medical Assoc., UHS of Johnson City, NY, and Lourdes
- Hospital, Binghamton, NY, Family Practice, 2000-2009
- Broome County, Coroner, 1985-Present
- N.Y.S. Medical Society, Broome County Medical Society,
Member, 1966-Present - MedNet Ltd, Binghamton, NY, Member & CEO, 1992-1999
- DMORT (Disaster Response Team under NDMS), Physician / Member, 1995-2005
- Retired from practice in 2009 and enjoying semi-retirement by
running a small sawmill and cutting occasional timber.
Chad H. Deans, Coroner
Clinton County, New York
• 1997 graduate of the State University of New York College of Technology at Canton, AAS Mortuary Science
• Licensed Funeral Director since February 02, 1999 working in various funeral directing positions at various locations in New York State
• Former laboratory aide/autopsy assistant
• Resides in the Village of Champlain, Clinton County, New York with wife, Heather who is a retired teacher of foreign language. They have a teenage daughter, Kathryn and a teenage son, Aaron
• Former Assistant Federal-State Supervisor at United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock and Poultry Program, Quality Assessment Division
• Elected Clinton County Coroner in 2019 and took office on January 01, 2020. Re-elected to this office in 2023 and currently serving in this position
• Member of the Board of Directors at St. Mary’s Mission Center in Champlain, New York
• Member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners since September of 2024
• Current Supply Pastor at Rouses Point First Presbyterian Church in Rouses Point, New York
Michael J. Speer - At-Large
Sullivan County
- Resides: White Sulphur Springs, NY
- Married 44 yrs. to Debbie Morelli Speer
- Son, Ryan and daughter, Carly
- Graduated from Monticello High School, class of 1972,
- Currently working for The Resnick Group as Controller and Safety & Compliance Officer
- Former 1st Vice President of First Nationwide Bank, former
- Chief Financial Officer of a bottled Spring Water Company
- Coroner of Sullivan County since 1997
- Past Chief, White Sulphur Springs Fire Department
- Past Exalted Ruler of Monticello Elks Lodge #1544 & Life Member
- Past Treasurer of the White Sulphur Springs Fire District
- Past Treasurer of the Monticello Fire Department
- Honorary Member of the Monticello Fire Department & Life Member
Dianne R. Vertes, PhD, MD
Onondaga County
Dr. Dianne Vertes, a board-certified Forensic
Pathologist, works in a locum tenens capacity. As such, she has been able to avoid retirement and combine work with travel. In her primary practice, she provides services to the Onondaga Medical Examiner’s Office and is the Onondaga County NYSACCME representative. She has previously served as the association’s executive secretary. Since joining NYSACCME she had practiced in ME and Coroner jurisdictions, namely Erie County ME
office, Broome County at Wilson Hospital, New Zealand coroner’s offices in Auckland and Christchurch and the ME office in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
Dr. Vertes has lectured numerous times at NYSACCME Coroner 101 and biannual conferences and has served as a host as well. She is active in such forensic venues as National Association of Medical Examiners, American Academy of Forensic Scientists and International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. Dr. Vertes is an adjunct faculty member at Syracuse University where she team teaches an undergraduate and graduate student course in Forensic Pathology.
Robert Williams
Tioga County
Robert Williams is an elected Coroner in Tioga County, NY and an appointed Emergency Management Coordinator of Tioga County Emergency Services/Deputy County Fire Coordinator and as a County Fire Instructor. Bob is also an Associate Harness Racing Judge for the New York State Gaming Commission.
Bob has taught under graduate level instructor for Excelsior College in Criminal Justice, for SUNY Broome Community College in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security and for Empire State College in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and at the graduate level for Elmira College in the Corporate and Community Education, Adult Education Graduate Program and the Emergency Disaster Preparedness Management Graduate Program as well as a Disaster Management non-credit course.
Bob holds an AAS in Police Science, Bachelors in Law Enforcement and Psychology and Master’s Degrees in Adult Education and also Emergency Disaster Preparedness Management. Bob previously served as a NYS certified Master Police Instructor. Bob has a history of serving his community and various organizations and agencies in positions too numerous to list. Brief examples include, thirty years in Law Enforcement including Chief of Police for the Village of Owego for twenty years, thirty two years with the Village of Owego Volunteer Fire Department and 10 years with the Campville Volunteer Fire Department, in several leadership positions, Board Member for many local foundations and non-profit organizations. Mr. Williams served in the United States Air Force and the New York Air National Guard.
Dr. Nadia Granger
Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Wyoming
Counsel
Jeffery Tompkins DA
Lewis County
Special Directors
Brian Ehret
Special Director Medicolegal Death Investigators
Brian Ehret is the Chief Forensic Investigator at the Center for Forensic Sciences in Syracuse, New York and has over 33 years of experience in forensic science and medicolegal death investigation. As an adjunct professor at Syracuse University and a respected leader in the field, Brian is a past president of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). He is involved in numerous prestigious organizations in the field of forensic science and medicolegal death investigation to include the ABMDI, the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME), the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners (NYSACCME), the National Institute of Standards and Technology – Organization for Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), and the Forensic Technology Center for Excellence (FTCoE). In addition, Brian is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation (SUDC) and has been a leader in raising SUDC awareness. Brian presents on state, national, and international levels emphasizing the importance of legally defensible death scene investigations with the need for standardized procedures.
Angela Hadfield
Special Director Organ and Tissue Community
Scott Hoag
Representing Law Enforcement
Administrative Assistant
Tami Greenwood
Madison County