Executive Team

	Tom Fitzgerald Chief Executive Officer Tom is a vocal advocate for cooperative action in the educational community, and is committed to positioning E&I as education’s premier group purchasing organization. He is a regular speaker at many higher education events, an on-going contributor to the Federal Reserve of NY Regional Economic Report, and an active long-standing member of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Tom is a voracious reader and a self-admitted life-long learner. When he’s not strategizing new ways to advance E&I’s mission, you can find him aggregating goals on the soccer field.
	Gary D. Link Senior Vice President, Contracts & Consulting Group Gary specializes in assisting higher education institutions and K-12 school districts to achieve their financial goals by realizing greater efficiencies and Return on Investment, as well as in ensuring the Cooperative continues to build a best-in-class contract portfolio. Gary is passionate about college sports, travel, and exercise. He’s a former private pilot whose commitment to E&I’s membership is rivaled only by his love for the beach.
	John D. Orlando, CPA Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John’s focus at E&I is on transforming the financial, information technology and human resource areas into a more strategic function that supports and provides organizational leadership to the Cooperative. In the rare moments John manages to escape his office, he enjoys spending time outdoors, working on home improvement projects, and most importantly, watching his two beautiful grandchildren grow up. Mantra: “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” -Michelangelo
	Stephen Spinelli Senior Vice President, Member Services & Communications Steve’s responsibilities include corporate marketing, member communications, national member relations organization, membership, market development, portfolio support, e-services, and business partner relationship management. He remains firmly focused on strengthening the Cooperative’s commitment to member and supplier satisfaction. Steve is a fan of Frank Sinatra, the New York Yankees and the benefits of hard work. His true joy in life is making memories with his family, including his three amazing grandchildren. Words to live by: You can trust the truth.