John G. Tapinis, owner of the tax practice accounting firm John Tapinis & Associates, Ltd.,  has been elected to a one-year term as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Staten Island Mental Health Society (SIMHS).  Tapinis has served on the SIMHS board since 2004 and held the positions of  treasurer and chairman of the Finance Committee for the past three years.

Also elected to one-year terms as officers of SIMHS board were Staten Island residents Lorraine Karelas,Vice Chair; Anthony J. DeFazio, Treasurer; and Elizabeth Palagiano, Secretary.   Mary J.  Spinelli, MD, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and attending physician at Staten Island University Hospital, was elected to the board for a one-year term.

Karelas, a member of the board since 2006, is a psychiatric nurse who is currently employed as an owner and  manager of residential and commercial properties.

DeFazio, a member of the board for five years, is a retired government senior administrator and manager whose recent positions include seven years with the NYC Human Resources Administration as director of Enforcement and Customer Services.

Palagiano, a retired teacher, joined the board in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years as a Staten Island community volunteer.