Frank DeCicco
President, Chair
I’ve always said, “It’s not about the games, it’s about the people.”
To me, there’s something special about a physical game bringing people around a table to share a common experience. As kids, Dave, Tim, Mark, & I grew up going to each other’s houses to play videogames on the same console in the same room. As times evolved, so much of that shifted online. But the need for real, shared experiences never went away. We still crave those moments of fun, strategy, laughter, victory, and in my case, defeat — together.
My love for board games started about 11 years ago when we went to buy Settlers of Catan on a boring Sunday afternoon. From there, the hobby grew into something much bigger: a shared passion, a growing collection, and a weekly tradition built around friendship and connection.
Dave, Mark, Tim, and I have been close friends since childhood, and it’s rare to have a group of friends who all share the same passion for a hobby in such a meaningful way. After years of gathering around a big wooden table in the basement, we started asking ourselves the same question: How can we take this to the next level?
After a lot of conversations and ideas, we came to one clear conclusion: trying to turn our hobby into a business would take away the joy that made it special in the first place. Instead, we started thinking about how we could use it to create something positive for others.
That’s how Board Game Buddies was born.
Dave Cupello
Vice President, Instruction
Board games have become more than just a hobby for me, they're a way to bring people together. Every week, my friends and I gather around the table not just to compete, but to connect. These sessions have become a tradition where we share stories from our personal lives, laugh, strategize, and build stronger bonds. The games give us a reason to meet, but the real reward is the sense of community and camaraderie they create.
What I love most about board games is the depth of strategy and creativity they demand. Unlike video games with set paths to victory, board games offer a world of possibilities where every move can lead to multiple outcomes. They challenge me to think outside the box, to optimize each turn, and to constantly adapt. Chasing high scores and discovering new tactics keeps the experience fresh and rewarding. It’s this blend of competition, creativity, and connection that makes board gaming such a meaningful part of my life.
Mark Maslowski
Vice President, Treasurer
Board games have become one of my favorite pastimes throughout the last 10 years. It has been a way to bring my friends together on a regular cadence. It has also been a personal goal of mine to join a professional board in 2026; I could not think of a better way to do that than combining one of my favorite hobbies with an opportunity to give back to the community. Board Game Buddies allows me to use play as a tool for connection, growth, and positive impact, creating welcoming spaces where people feel comfortable, included, and valued.
Around the table, friends (and sometimes strangers) start talking, laughing, sharing stories, and building connections that go far beyond the game itself. The game may be the reason we sit down, but the real value is the sense of community and belonging that grows from it.
I’ve always loved the creativity and strategy that board games encourage. These games have taken my personal growth to new heights, from a strategic thinking perspective, that has impacted both my personal life as well as my professional development.
I am thankful for time shared with close friends throughout the years and am even more excited to begin to share that with our community.
Tim Victorine
Vice President, Secretary
Family, friends, and my students are the most important things to me. When we started this board game journey more than 15 years ago, I never could have imagined what it would turn into. It has opened the door to new creative and strategic experiences that I didn’t know existed, while also strengthening the bond within our friendship in a really meaningful way.
One of the best parts of learning new games has been bringing them into the classroom to help build engagement, critical thinking, and teamwork. The best part of teaching, though, is the opportunity to build new relationships each year. That is why I feel so strongly about bringing this same passion to Board Game Buddies.
I always look forward to our game nights and to continuing to build on old memories while making new ones through our shared experiences and laughter. Win or lose, the time we spend together cannot be replaced, and the memories we create will never be erased.