Honorees
Faithful to the Mission
Our honorees are united by pride, purpose, and passion.
2024 Spirit of Service Honorees
Christopher R. Concannon ’92MBA has been Chief Executive Officer of MarketAxess since April 2023. Prior to serving as Chief Executive Officer, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2019 to April 2023. He has deep and critical knowledge regarding automated trading, the delivery of innovative technology solutions, market structure, and clearing operations.
Mr. Concannon has extensive experience leading companies in the global exchange industry. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Cboe Global Markets, Inc., one of the world’s largest exchange holding companies, until 2019; it was a position to which he was appointed upon Cboe’s acquisition of Bats Global Markets, Inc. in 2017. Until the acquisition, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Bats Global Markets, which he joined in December 2014 and where he successfully launched Bats’s initial public offering in 2016.
Mr. Concannon has more than 20 years of experience as an executive at Nasdaq, Virtu Financial, and Instinet, and as an attorney at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He earned a B.A. from The Catholic University of America, an M.B.A. from St. John’s University, and a J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.
Donna and Robert Drummond met as children, became high school sweethearts, and continued their relationship as students at St. John’s University, where Donna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 1982, and Robert his degree in Business Management in the same year.
Donna, a Certified Public Accountant, has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Expense Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at Northwell Health since 2002. There, she leads Northwell’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions, and serves on the US Health Care Climate Council.
After several years in the technology field, Robert changed careers. He was a social studies teacher for the New York City Department of Education. Subsequently, he worked for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, as a religion and social studies teacher.
Catholic education is a cause the pair have supported throughout their lives, including the Tomorrow's Hope Foundation. Robert served as a Music and Youth Ministry Leader at St. Raymond's Parish, East Rockaway, NY.
Donna has served on several boards throughout the years. She was Folk Group Leader at Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Floral Park, NY; President of the St. John’s chapter of Theta Phi Alpha; Treasurer for the Sodality of Our Lady; and School Board member at St. Raymond’s Parish, and has served with several health-care organizations related to her responsibilities at Northwell.
Frank J. DellaFera, R.Ph. ’81P, and his wife, Janet DellaFera '81CBA, founded Fera Pharmaceuticals in 2009. The company’s mission is to keep vital treatment choices alive for people who need them.
While the company’s focus is eye care, other therapeutic areas of need are also addressed. Prior to building Fera, Mr. DellaFera held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Sandoz US, one of the world’s largest and most successful generic pharmaceutical companies. Before his appointment to CEO at Sandoz US, he served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for the organization. Mr. DellaFera was Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at Eon Labs, which was acquired by Sandoz.
Earlier in his career, he held several sales, marketing, and business development positions for various emerging pharma companies. He began his career at Eli Lilly and Company.
Mr. DellaFera earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions (now the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) at St. John’s University.
He currently serves as an Association Director for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and is a member of the Cancer Institute Advisory Council at the Northwell Health Foundation and the Board of Governors for St. John’s University. Additionally, he previously served on the Board of Directors for Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club for 10 years.
Daniel J. Finnegan served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of Booking Holdings Inc. (formerly The Priceline Group Inc.) from 2009 until his retirement in 2018. There, he played a key role in seamlessly integrating multiple, high-profile acquisitions. Today, he is a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chair for StubHub and Kiwi.com (a Czech-based online travel company).
He also served as an ex-officio member of Booking’s Group Management Board. He previously held the positions of Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from October 2005 to January 1, 2009, and Chief Compliance Officer with the company from April 2004 to October 2005.
Mr. Finnegan served as Chief Financial Officer for CS Technologies, Inc., a technology consulting company, and Chief Financial Officer and Controller for the North American division of Coty Inc., a manufacturer of cosmetics and fragrances. He began his career with KPMG LLP, where he served in the audit practice for nine years.
Mr. Finnegan is a Certified Public Accountant. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John’s University in 1984.
Past Spirit of Service Recipients
John R. Bender ’87CBA
Mary Jane Helenek ’82P, ’84GP, ’87MBA
Solly Walker ’57CBA, ’94HON
Nickolas Davatzes ’62C, ’64G, ’95HON (posthumously), President and Chief Executive Officer of Arts and Entertainment Networks
Robert E. Evanson ’58CBA, retired President of McGraw Hill Education and former Chairman and CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment
Anita Gomez-Palacio ’65Ed, ’89PD, Retired Executive Director of Operations, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
Member, St. John’s University Board of Trustees
Rev. Bernard M. Tracey, C.M. ’70C, Executive Vice President for Mission, St. John’s University
Thomas J. Cox ’82CBA, Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Group, LLC
Thomas J. Donohue ’63C, ’85HON, Advisor and Former Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Michael Roemer ’84CBA, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Discover Financial Services
Paul C. Wirth ’79CBA, Retired Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Morgan Stanley
**Held a virtual dinner due to COVID-19
Gregory S. Hendrick ’87C
Susan Hendrick ’87C
Mark Kritzman ’73CBA
Joan Lacagnina ’88CBA
Richard C. Vetter, Sr. (posthumously)
Virginia Nash Vetter ’90SVC (posthumously)
Yvette E. DeGannes '86CBA
Pascal Desroches, M.B.A., C.P.A. '86CBA
GLOBE
Anmarie C. Galowski
James E. Galowski '85CBA
Robert A. Mangione '77P, '79GP, '93PD, '99Ed.D.
Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M. ’09HON
Sharon F. Hajjar ’79SVC, ’86P
John H. Hajjar, M.D., FACS ’77C
Francesca M. Kurre
Frank L. Kurre ’84CBA
Synchrony Financial
Brother Alfred J. Smith, C.M.
Valerie L. Sodano, Ph.D. ’49CBA (posthumously)
Gerard A. Sodano ’49CBA (posthumously)
Eileen A. Tarantino ’80CBA
Joseph A. Tarantino ’80CBA
UnitedHealthcare, Inc.
Lesley H. Collins ’83SVC
William L. Collins ’76C, ’12HON
Rev. Pedro Pablo Opeka, C.M.
Anissa Mitrano Shannon ’89SVC, ’91Ed
James J. Shannon ’87CBA
Anthony Butler
Kevin F. Reed ’75C
James P. Riley, Jr. ’74CBA, ’75MBA, ’03HON
John P. Clarke, Esq. ’55CBA, ’57L
Robert Kalenka ’84CBA, ’91MBA
William J. Montgoris ’67CBA, ’88HON
Margaret A. Montgoris ’68Ed
Robert B. Catell
Christie de Nicola
Anthony J. de Nicola
Lewis S. Ranieri ’86C, ’87HON
Margaret LaRosa D’Angelo ’70Ed
Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON
William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON
James P. Pellow, Ed.D.
Paul J. Evanson ’63CBA, ’10HON
Hon. Raymond W. Kelly ’71L, ’98HON
Mary Ann Mattone
Carol A. Kelleher
Denis P. Kelleher ’65CBA, ’91HON
Frank J. Sciame
Mary Carnesecca
Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON
George T. McDonald
Maria C. Schwartz
Joseph H. Schwartz ’70C, ’72MBA, ’09HON
Elizabeth Mirante
Arthur J. Mirante II, Esq. ’68L, ’98HON
Patricia M. Shea ’83C
Brian T. Shea ’83CBA, ’16HON
Eleanor B. Taffner ’94HON†
Donald L. Taffner ’53C, ’89HON†
†Deceased
Kathleen M. Foley, M.D. ’65UC, ’92HON
Jeffrey R. Holzschuh
Salvatore J. Zizza ’67UC, ’72MBA, ’07HON
Richard DeZego ’06HON
Paula C. McInerney
Thomas E. McInerney ’64UC, ’01HON
Mary P. Tobin ’00HON†
†Deceased
Richard F. Chapdelaine ’84HON
Sr. Judy Garson, R.S.C.J. ’07HON
Joseph M. Mattone, Sr., Esq. ’53C, ’55L, ’94HON
Bernard D. Kennedy, Esq. ’54CBA, ’58L, ’99HON
Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, D.C. ’82HON†
Linda S. Sanford ’74Ed, ’98HON
†Deceased
Hon. Joseph W. Bellacosa ’59C, ’61L, ’87HON
Raymond F. Kennedy, Esq. ’63CBA†
Frederic V. Salerno ’95HON
James J. Schiro ’67CBA, ’95HON†
†Deceased
*Did not host dinner due to the tragic events on 9/11.
Nina Aversano ’66Ed
Hon. Hugh L. Carey ’42C, ’51L, ’67HON†
John F. McGillicuddy ’79HON†
†Deceased
Edward D. Miller
Charles R. Walsh ’66MBA, ’85HON
Jayson S. Williams ’90SVC
Peter J. Tobin ’65CBA, ’96HON