Sam Cannan

Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative Inc.

As the Chairman and Head Watchmaking Instructor, Sam Cannan brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative.
The most important thing that Sam brings is his passion and love of the art of watchmaking and a unique ability to convey that passion to his students.

Sam has been in the field of horology for over twenty years and is a Master Watchmaker.
As a graduate of a school of watchmaking in the United States, Sam has trained extensively in Switzerland, is a certified instructor and was trained by a number of watch brands.

Sam is a consultant in the watch and jewelry industry, providing training and horological services facility design.

Sam was:
 • the director of a watchmaking school in the states, the same one he had graduated from years before.
 • the director of watch service for one of the largest and most prestigious jewelry chains in the USA. 
 • the owner and operator of  a large internet watch service facility in the USA for the service and repair of vintage watches.

Sam has a Certificate in Organizational Development from Cornell University, holds a degree from Chesapeake College and is a graduate of the National Tooling & Machining Association apprenticeship program.

scannan@veteranswatchmakerinitiative.org
Tel: 1-888-838-8380  ext.1

Susan Musman

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Susan helped shape the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, (VWI), from its inception and currently serves as the Executive Director, overseeing all aspects of the organization. She is responsible for building the infrastructure and putting into place all the necessary operational needs for VWI.

Susan started her career at major general advertising agencies in the media department.  Leaving as Media Director, she moved to the direct response discipline for Doubleday/Book of the Month Clubs. After a few years, she shifted areas to lead the marketing operations groups, which consisted of 10 departments and a staff of 120+.

While building the VWI organization, Susan worked at three luxury e-commerce watch websites. She oversaw the repair department, photography, web content management and fulfillment operations.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from CUNY- Baruch College.

smusman@veteranswatchmakerinitiative.org
1-888-838-8380  ext.2

Jim Bland

Director of Marketing 

Jim brings over twenty years of operations management, marketing and communications experience to the organization.
 
He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration from Penn State University, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. John’s University, New York; an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Middlesex County College, New Jersey.
 
His experience spans the manufacturing, high-tech, and nonprofit industries where he served as director of marketing, communications director and manager of sales and operations.
 
He has worked in the global market directing international branding initiatives and directed marketing and communication efforts for an international association operating in over 70 countries.
 
Within the U.S., he was instrumental in introducing several new products and services within the telecommunications industry; directed sales efforts to introduce new products and grow sales into new markets; assist in strategic planning efforts for nonprofit and for profit organizations; and owns and operates a privately held business. His passion for education and principles of business management and operations has led him to be an adjunct instructor at the college level.
 
As related to the field of horology, Jim Bland served as Director for the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors for five years. In that capacity, he was responsible for the marketing and communications efforts for their museum, trade school and international association. He worked to raise awareness of the organization with successes including media placement in over 100 publications including The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, AAA Worldwide Magazine and Auto Week. Thanks to his efforts, the organization was featured in New Yankee Workshop and Made In America and even hosted a contingency of Ambassadors to the United States from over sixty countries. He also worked closely with elected officials, submitted position papers to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, curated special exhibits and wrote grant applications.  
 
jbland@veteranswatchmakerinitiative.org
Tel: 1-888-838-8380  ext.3

Janet Wolf

Board Member,
Treasurer

Janet C. Wolf is a multifaceted marketing executive having been part of the executive team at three of the world’s largest media companies. She is currently Marketing Director at The McCall Pattern Company, responsible for formulating and executing new digital, social and retail strategies to grow the business.

Janet’s expertise also includes innovative problem solving, win/win negotiation strategies and change management leadership. She has an MBA from The University of Chicago in Marketing and Finance and an undergraduate degree from Brown University. 

Janet has served on a number of non-profit boards, including DMALI (Direct Marketing Association of Long Island), The Community Synagogue of Port Washington and Shelter Rock Tennis & Country Club, where she was President from 2007 to 2009.

janetcwolf@gmail.com

Carrie Teitcher

Board Member,
Secretary

Carrie has been an integral part of the VWI since its very beginnings, offering invaluable guidance.

She joined the faculty of Brooklyn Law School in 1984 and teaches legal  writing courses. Carrie was an early advocate of using technology in the classroom and has employed it in her own legal writing classes to  facilitate learning. She has written and lectured on the importance of  using computer technology in both doctrinal and skills courses. Carrie  formerly practiced as an associate with the firm of Stroock &  Stroock & Lavan.

Carrie holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and B.A. Political Science from Brooklyn College.

cteitcher@gmail.com

Joe Borella

Board Member, Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Inc.

For the past 30 years, Joe Borella has been involved in the jewelry and watch supply business as one of the owners of DRS in New York City. Joe heads the Watch Material division that sells the full array of tools and equipment to the horological trade. He is well known in the industry as an honest and straightforward businessman with excellent customer service. Many of his clients have been with him for years and can even be considered friends.
Joe was a Board Member with The Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking.
He brings many contacts to the organization and will assist with fund raising.

Joe will be producing a line of specialty items that will be sold to benefit the VWI. A percentage of sales of these items will be donated to the VWI

Joe holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting from NYU.

joeborella@yahoo.com

Ted Brachfeld

Board Member, Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Inc.

Ted has been in the field of horology for 20 years.  He has been a watch and clock repair instructor and has restored vintage time pieces.
Ted is presently a horological training consultant and will be working on course development and assisting with instructional duties.

Ted holds a PhD from Ohio State University and a certificate from the NAWCC School of Horology from both the watch and clock programs.

horologist@earthlink.net

Renee Hoffman

Grants.

Renee Hoffman, a native Delawarean, is married to a retired Master Sergeant.  She has three children and six grandchildren.

Renee owned and operated a small business in Little Haven, DE for over twenty years.  She is currently the Executive Director and Outreach Coordinator of the Frederica Senior Center.

Renee has a vast knowledge in the non-profit industry.  She is dedicated to care, compassion and equal rights for the disadvantaged and disabled elderly in Delaware.

Renee has extensive knowledge and ability in grant writing and will process grant requests for VWI.