CONNECTICUT PUBLIC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Housing Reporter
- News / Cold Weather Shelters Look Toward Winter, Push CT Lawmakers for Funding
- News / CT 's Cold Weather Shelters Prepare for Flu Season
- News / CT 's Home Health Visit Program for Bridgeport Newborns to Expand to Norwich
- News / CT Home Flood Repair Costs Are the Highest in the Nation, Study Finds
- News / CT Landlords Urge Lawmakers to Increase Housing Construction
- News / CT to Redevelop 21 Blighted Properties to Boost Housing and Business Growth
- News / CT Warming Centers Fear Being in the Cold As State Funding Dries Up
- News / Four Months After Apartment Fire, Hartford Takes Legal Action Against Landlord
- News / Homeless Advocates Ask State for More Than $30M
- News / Housing Program Awarded $50M to Build Affordable Homes for 'Missing Middle
- News / Tenants Unions Expand across CT, Serving As a Voice for All Renters
- News / Unhoused CT Families Get a Head Start on Housing With New Program Expansion
Abigail is Connecticut Public's housing reporter, covering statewide housing developments and issues, with an emphasis on Fairfield County communities. She received her master's from Columbia University in 2020 and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2019. Abigail previously covered statewide transportation and the city of Norwalk for Hearst Connecticut Media. She loves all things Disney and cats.
An affordable housing complex in Stamford which hasn't been updated in more than 30 years is undergoing massive renovations. More than 150 residents will benefit from the upgrades.
Connecticut lawmakers and homeless advocates are asking the state legislature to guarantee annual funding of nearly $25 million for homeless services.
The initial lawsuit began last year, against the company RealPage, but was expanded to include the nation's six largest corporate landlords, who are accused in the pricing scheme through the RealPage algorithm.
For the past few years, Connecticut warming centers were funded by COVID-19 relief dollars, which are set to expire. Shelter organizers are worried about how they will keep their doors open.
Un equipo de siete trabajadores comunitarios de salud y enfermeros realiza visitas a los hogares para llevar a cabo chequeos médicos de rutina. Además, ayudan a las familias a acceder a servicios sociales y recursos, suministrando pañales y fórmula.
Under the proposed law, public housing agencies and landlords cannot retaliate against Section 8 voucher recipients and renters in low-income housing developments for creating tenants unions.
Fifty apartments suffered water damage as a result of the fire forcing residents to relocate to local hotels. For the first month of displacement, residents were moved to hotel rooms without kitchen access.
Connecticut landlords are outlining their hopes for the upcoming legislative session, with a focus on housing construction.
Hartford's housing task force has released a list of landlords that the city deems to be negligent. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam says he plans to increase fines and building and health code enforcements for four apartment building owners.
Greyhill Group owns the Concord Hills apartment complex in Hartford, which was damaged in a fire last August. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam says the city is targeting Greyhill Group for its delay in repairing the apartments, leaving tenants without secure housing.
A state program aimed at providing homes for unhoused families with children is being expanded to 50 additional homeless families.
A free state pilot program, which sends nurses and health workers to the homes of new mothers and newborns in the Bridgeport area, is expanding to Norwich.
Tenants unions have gotten towns to establish fair rent commissions and pushed the legislature to make it easier for renters to secure legal aid when facing eviction. Now, they're getting more and more popular.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the BOARD
- Public Board Director
Aedhmar Hynes is a leader in the communications and marketing industry. She has ranked among the top 50 most powerful global communications professionals and in 2019 was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame. Most recently, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Text100 one of the world's largest, digital communications agencies with 22 offices and over 600 consultants across Europe, North America and Asia. Her specialization has been in the technology industry and her consulting work included clients such as Adobe, Cisco, Harmon, IBM, Lenovo and Xerox. Aedhmar has worked in the communications and marketing industry for more than three decades, leading and supporting many of the world's most important brands through digital transformation and technology disruption.
In addition, Aedhmar is an experienced public Board Director. She is currently the Senior Non-Executive Director of The IP Group plc IPO.L (LSE) and has served as a Director of Rosetta Stone Inc. RST (NYSE) and Tupperware TUP (NYSE).
She is the immediate Past-Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the current Chair of Nominations & Governance Committee of The Page Society, the preeminent industry body for Chief Communications Officers of Fortune 500 companies. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the MIT Media Lab and a Board Director of TechnoServe. In 2019 Aedhmar was inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame. Her most recent awards include The 2019 Humanitarian Award from Concern Worldwide, being named the 2018 Global Communications Professional of the Year and receiving The NUI Galway Alumni Award for Business and Commerce. Prior to this she received The Center Plank Mentoring Award, The Page Distinguished Service Award and The Global Technology Award for Communications. She is a 2008 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute, a member of The Aspen Global Leadership Network and a member of The International Women's Forum.
Job Titles:
- Planned Giving Project Coordinator
Antoine Lewis. Antoine is an experienced and accomplished broadcaster with expertise in news, sports and entertainment.
Recently, Lewis built ESPN's First Take into the #1 morning sports show for 11 consecutive years, consistently generating record-breaking ratings month-over-month. At ESPN he served as Vice President, Studio Production and Coordinating Producer.
In addition, he had significant experience building an Asian presence for ESPN's show brands.
Prior to ESPN, Antoine had leadership and executive producer roles in news in Denver, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Chicago.
He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications. He has also served as a guest lecturer at Northwestern University.
Lewis holds a Master of Science in Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism & Economics from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
Job Titles:
- Reporter
- Investigative Reporter, Tow Fellow for Race, Youth & Justice
- Public 's Tow Fellow
- U.S. Education Secretary Touts Connecticut Prison Education Program
He was previously a Report for America corps member at Spotlight PA State College, where he wrote about rural affairs. Prior to that, he covered public safety at The News & Observer in Raleigh, NC.
Ashad was a Stabile Fellow at Columbia Journalism School and attended New York University. He now calls New Haven home.
A water main break cut off water at the Osborn, Robinson and Cybulski correctional facilities in Enfield and Somers, according to prison officials.
The ombuds position has remained vacant due in part to a disagreement among Lamont, lawmakers and an advisory panel over who should fill the role.
Health officials cited Johnson Memorial Hospital last year after learning its chief administrative officer was only present at the facility one day a week. It has since hired an executive director responsible for day-to-day management.
Most Connecticut prisons have centralized cooling systems. But that isn't the case at Osborn Correctional Institution, a medium security prison in Somers that houses more than 1,100 people.
Osborn Correctional Institution, a medium security prison in Somers, lacks a central cooling system outside its medical unit and school area.
The number of educational staff working in the prison school district sank near its lowest level in the last two decades during the 2022-23 school year, according to a recent annual report.
The state Inspector General's office said it all started when officers were trying to stop a stolen Hyundai Elantra.
Connecticut's Division of Criminal Justice is working to improve efficiency and fairness in Connecticut's criminal justice system through a project called Moving Justice Forward.
The community adopted new protocols in February, which are showing early signs of success. But opinions are mixed on the role police should play in school buildings.
Children in Connecticut who commit low-level crimes will have more alternatives to an arrest after lawmakers passed a bill expanding diversionary programs.
A bill creating a juvenile diversion program may provide help and opportunities to students who are chronically absent or have committed minor offenses.
More police departments in the state are using rapid DNA testing machines, which reduce the time it takes to test evidence.
Prison reform groups say the move to renovate and reopen the Middletown facility shows a disregard for the lives of incarcerated youth.
The ombudsman will serve as an independent watchdog for the state correctional system.
According to court documents, two corrections officers are accused of punching an incarcerated person who refused to comply with their orders. A third allegedly kicked the man while he was on the floor.
Educational programs help people transition out of prison and find work. But educational attainment in Connecticut prisons has dropped.
Educational attainment in the state prison system has dropped sharply in recent years. Fewer people are getting high school diplomas, finishing vocational programs or enrolling in classes offered through the prison school system.
There were plenty of musicians to take in at the Soundside Festival in Bridgeport, like Goo Goo Dolls, Boyz II Men, Lisa Loeb and Grace Potter. Noah Kahan performed - and issued an apology to Connecticut.
Go on a musical journey as an all-star band heads to one of the country's most prestigious jazz festivals.
Concertgoers in Bridgeport said they were pleased with changes the festival made after an inaugural year plagued with parking problems, long lines and bad sound.
Originally from Westport, Connecticut, Chelsea Cutler proves talent can be discovered anywhere.
A new music concert in Bridgeport brought in tens of thousands of fans to Connecticut over the weekend. But the two-day "Sound on Sound" festival was marred by parking problems, long lines and bad sound.
Job Titles:
- an Investigative Reporter for the Accountability Project
- Investigative Reporter
The bureau will field calls, provide referrals and coordinate trainings on how to serve this community.
The court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case that will test whether a decades-old state law that allows voters to petition for the arrest of people they suspect of violating election rules is constitutional.
Once Joe Ganim was released from prison, he returned to the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he staged his political comeback. In 2015, Ganim defeated several candidates to become mayor once again - and he's been in office ever since.
In the 1990s, a young political newcomer named Joe Ganim became mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. At the time, he was considered a rising star in state politics. But his career took an unexpected turn, and the FBI got involved.
A state commission that once served the community shuttered in 2016, leaving a gap in state services.
We requested records from federal agencies to get more information about transit issues happening in Connecticut.
Federal law requires transit agencies to provide equitable service to riders with disabilities. But in Bridgeport, there are questions about whether the local public transportation agency is meeting that goal.
It's the third time incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim has squared off against Democratic opponent John Gomes in four months, following evidence of ballot-box tampering last year.
The Accountability Project obtained new video in the case of a woman who was charged with false reporting after telling police she was the victim of a sexual assault.
Information was missing from some state licensing records. Now, the Medical Examining Board wants to know how DPH will catch sanctions in other states.
Our investigation found that the victim is not alone, and many other victims of sexual assault have similar experiences when reporting their assault to the police.
Bria Lloyd joined Connecticut Public as an investigative reporter for The Accountability Project in November 2022. She's also the co-host of the station's limited series podcast, 'In Absentia'.
Before coming to Connecticut, she spent time in the Washington, D.C. area working at Scripps News, Al Jazeera English and PBS NewsHour.
Bria graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a Bachelor's degree in Communication. In her final semester, she was awarded journalism student of the year. While in college, she interned at NBC4 in Washington, D.C. and local TV station WDVM in Hagerstown, MD. After graduation, she was hired as a multimedia journalist at WDVM.
Job Titles:
- Vice President & Executive Director / TV Programming & Acquisitions
Since 2013, Carol Sisco has overseen Connecticut Public's television division in her role as Vice President and Executive Director of Television Programming and Acquisitions. She serves as station manager for Connecticut Public's three television networks - CPTV, Spirit, and CPTV PBS Kids 24/7 - and is responsible for the development and implementation of multi-platform programming strategies to increase viewer engagement, enhance audience support, and create new content opportunities. Sisco represents programming and acquisition interests across the company as well as with national programming affiliates and partners.
Sisco has over 20 years of experience in public and employee relations, advertising, marketing communications, producing, and multimedia. Prior to 2013, she oversaw communications and employee administration activities for Connecticut Public as Vice President of Corporate Communications and Human Resources. She is also an adjunct professor of communications at the University of Connecticut and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Carolyn Kuan has been the music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour on Where We Live, she joins us for a conversation about her work and how she's seen the orchestra evolve during her tenure.
Job Titles:
- Conversations With Trader Joe 's and Costco Aficionados
Job Titles:
- Editor of Local News Programs and Podcasts
Cassandra Basler oversees Connecticut Public's flagship daily news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and coordinates breaking news coverage on the air, online and in your morning email inbox. She also edited the seven-part podcast series "Generation Barney" about the media we loved as kids and how it shapes us. She's an editor of the station's limited series investigative podcast, "In Absentia" and producer of the five-part podcast "Unforgotten: Connecticut's Hidden History of Slavery". Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Here & Now.
Basler came to Connecticut by way of Columbia Journalism School in New York City, where she graduated with a Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship and used it to cover the integration of Syrian refugees in Germany during the height of the world migrant crisis.
Previously, Basler worked at WSHU Public Radio in Fairfield, Connecticut as a Morning Edition producer/reporter, a local correspondent for The New England News Collaborative, and a midday newscast anchor. She later served as senior editor, helping to produce everything from newscasts, to features and a biweekly travel podcast.
Basler grew up just north of Detroit, Michigan. There, she worked on a live morning talk show and in the newsroom at the local public radio affiliate during Detroit's historic municipal bankruptcy filing. Her favorite freelance job was working as a researcher and contributing writer for the first Detroit guidebook to be published in three decades, "Belle Isle to 8 Mile: An Insider's Guide to Detroit." Before that, she studied English, German and Urban Studies at the University of Michigan.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, demanding they move quickly to approve newer UV-filtering ingredients for sun protection.
Four people accused of misusing COVID-relief dollars meant for the City of West Haven were indicted today. A federal grand jury in Hartford indicted former State Rep. Michael DiMassa and three others, charged in the theft of more than $1 million in federal COVID-relief funds.
The first phase of Gov. Ned Lamont's promised 3 million at-home COVID-19 test kits will not make its way to Connecticut as expected. State officials had said Wednesday night that supply chain issues grounded the shipment of tests, but they later confirmed on Thursday evening that a purchase deal fell through.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said this week the city is doing all it can to ensure that schools will remain open through a class-by-class quarantine strategy. Still, he warned parents to prepare for remote learning at a moment's notice. The guidance comes as students are set to return from holiday break next week, soon after Connecticut continues to chart record COVID-19 positivity rates.
Connecticut's daily COVID-19 testing rate has continued to climb since the spread of the omicron variant hit the state, with a record 14.98% positivity rate reported Tuesday afternoon.
Police said there is no threat to public safety and all people involved have been identified.
Recent legislation signed by Gov. Ned Lamont mandated that school districts include Native American studies in kindergarten through 12th grade social studies courses, starting in the fall of 2023.
Bronin did not share in his announcement what he plans to do after his current term ends.
Connecticut State Police arrested five New Haven officers Monday on criminal charges of reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons.
A 2013 report from the National Hurricane Center estimated that Sandy harmed 3,000 Connecticut homes, with damage hovering around $360 million.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Vice Chair
Catalina Samper-Horak is a highly experienced non-profit executive, community leader and social sector entrepreneur. A seasoned collaborator across sectors, she was the founder and first executive director of Building One Community (B1C) based in Stamford, Connecticut. B1C launched as Neighbors Link Stamford and was established to address the needs of low-income immigrants. After stepping down from B1C, she served as interim CEO of 4-CT and organization created to address the needs of CT's most vulnerable residents disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. She is on the board of Americares Free Clinic and the investment committee of Social Venture Partners-CT.
Born and raised in Colombia, Samper-Horak has lived and worked in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA, bringing a robust portfolio of experience working in the non-profit sector across countries. Samper-Horak holds an M.S. in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; an M.A. in Non- Profit Management from The New School, New York, NY; and a BS in Biology from Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
There are about 92,000 students with disabilities across Connecticut, according to the state's Department of Education. This hour, we'll hear about the experiences of local students with disabilities - and how we can better support them.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of the Hartford
- Host / Producer, Audacious With Chion Wolf
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, featuring conversations with people who have uncommon or misunderstood experiences, conditions, or professions.
She is the winner of a 2021 Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation for her episode, Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women's Post-Mastectomy Stories.
She won a second Gracie Award in 2022 for the episode, I Regret Becoming A Parent.
Her third Gracie was awarded in 2024 for Best Host.
She is also a recipient of The Advocate's Champions of Pride 2021 as an "unsung hero who is making inroads for LGBTQ+ people in their fields of work and in their communities every day despite the risks or challenges."
She is the host of Other People's Poems, which happens every first Friday at Hartford Flavor Company. People share one poem they love that someone other than them wrote. Those who have their poems memorized win a loofah.
Previously, she produced and hosted The Mouth-Off - a live storytelling event at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, and a live advice show at Sea Tea Improv's underground comedy theater called Asking for a Friend with Chion Wolf.
She is also the founder of Pedal to the Medal, a pre-Eversource Hartford Marathon bike ride that has raised over $16,000 for Hartford's non-profit, educational bicycle store, BiCi Co.
Wolf is a founding member of the Hartford-based marching band, the Hartford Hot Several. After destroying 18 trash cans with too mighty a swing, she now plays a proper bass drum with sound-activated twinkly rainbow lights inside of it with pillow stuffing to make it look like a cloud in there. There is also a very loud cymbal attached, which she prefers to hit more often than the songs call for.
Chion is also a certified judge with the International Chili Society and is unapologetic about her love for onions and white chocolate, which makes her tremendously easy to shop for.
She is a proud homeowner in Hartford's Asylum Hill neighborhood, where she cares deeply and enthusiastically for her pollinator and veggie gardens, four chickens, a couple hundred Russian honey bees, her cat, Whiskey, and her also-Russian dog, Gray.
Job Titles:
- a Look Back at Inauguration Days Throughout History
- Producer for the Wheelhouse
- Producer, the Wheelhouse & Where We Live
Barney, the purple dinosaur, taught kids all over the world the importance of loving and caring for one another. But not everyone loved him back. This hour, we listen to an episode of Connecticut Public's new podcast, Generation Barney.
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, made its debut at the Olympics this summer. But the sport has an illustrious history. This hour, we take you from the streets of the Bronx to the global stage.
Korean Dramas, or "K-Dramas," are not just entertaining and cinematically stunning. They also help viewers feel less lonely. This hour, we're joined by Jeanie Y. Chang, licensed therapist and author of "How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life."
Children living in Gaza face a number of challenges - and their mental health is a top concern. That's according to Janti Soeripto, president and chief executive officer of Save the Children. She visited Gaza in March.
Chloe Wynne is a producer for The Wheelhouse and Where We Live. She previously worked as a producer and reporter for the investigative podcast series, Admissible: Shreds of Evidence, which was co-produced by VPM and Story Mechanics and distributed by iHeartRadio. She began her journalism career at inewsource, an investigative newsroom in San Diego, Calif., where she covered housing, education and crime. She earned her master's degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2021, where she focused on audio storytelling.
Not all illnesses and chronic conditions come with symptoms that are visible to the naked eye. This hour on Where We Live, we unpack why these illnesses are so difficult to diagnose. Plus, we hear about the stigma faced by folks who are suffering under the surface.
This hour, we're talking about the best part of waking up: coffee! We explore the unexpected role that coffee has played in Connecticut's history and talk to local brewers and baristas leaving their unique marks on the industry.
Job Titles:
- CT Lawyer Who Represented Proud Boys Leader in Jan. 6 Case 'Thrilled' by Trump Pardons
- General Assignment / Breaking News Reporter
- Governor Names CT 's First Chief Equity and Opportunity Officer
- News
- News 'Like a Hallmark Movie': CT Public Hits the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail
- News / CSCU Unions Paint Picture of System in Decline, Demand Increased Funding
- News / CT Awarded $291M for Rail Improvement Projects
- News / CT Birds in Danger from Common Pesticides, Audubon Report Says
- News / Gone but Not Forgotten: Hartford to Commemorate Whalers' 50th Anniversary
- News / Hartford 's Downtown Library Reopens Nearly 2 Years After Flooding
- Officer Andrew Teeter Shot and Killed Mike Alexander - Garcia During an Incident Last Year
One of their attorneys called Trump's pardons "a big middle finger to America." Trump says the move "ends a grave national injustice."
CT lawyer who represented Proud Boys leader in Jan. 6 case 'thrilled' by Trump pardons
Reacting to news of impending pardons for individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, a Connecticut lawyer who represents a member of the far-right Proud Boys group said he was "thrilled" his client was preparing to leave federal prison.
Residents of Hartford's North End have regularly endured flooding and sewer backups during heavy rains for years. Now, officials say the agreement will mean fewer stormwater-related flooding events and cleaner discharge into waterways.
The officials say they're being forced to raise local taxes while the state sits on a surplus.
Despite pleas from several displaced tenants still yet to find permanent housing after an August fire forced them from their homes, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said the city would stick to its Jan. 10 deadline and stop paying for temporary housing in the form of hotel stays.
The trail includes stops at filming locations for 22 Christmas movies by studios like Hallmark and Lifetime, with recommendations for places to eat, drink and stay.
The announcement comes after "the driest two-month period ever recorded since records began in 1905."
Connecticut's Democratic leaders on Wednesday expressed both dismay and determination when it comes to a second Trump presidency.
The civil liberties group says the Secretary of the State has the ability to correct the mix-up without disenfranchising early voters.
"People love Christmas movies," says the state's brand director. Visitors can now see the sites around Connecticut where nearly two dozen holiday flicks were filmed over the last decade.
The audit report finds purchases of expensive meals, alcohol, sports tickets, dry cleaning and more were made using state credit cards.
Milner, who died in November, became both Hartford's and New England's first popularly elected Black mayor when he took office in 1981.
The report, commissioned by the governor's Office of Policy and Management, recommends reducing staffing levels, among other cost-cutting measures.
The Connecticut university cites "uncertainties" about Trump's immigration policies.
Chris Polansky joined Connecticut Public in March 2023 as a general assignment and breaking news reporter based in Hartford. Previously, he's worked at Utah Public Radio in Logan, Utah, as a general assignment reporter; Lehigh Valley Public Media in Bethlehem, Pa., as an anchor and producer for All Things Considered; and at Public Radio Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., where he both reported and hosted Morning Edition.
His work has also appeared on WNYC's Gothamist, NPR.org, and NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, and newscasts. In 2020, Chris, Carter Moore and Dani Hayes jointly won the Utah SPJ award for best continuing coverage (radio) for their Utah Public Radio reporting on the disappearance and murder of Lizzy Shelley and the
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer.
He started as a radio host in 1992 and moved to CT Public in 2009.
His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Hartford Courant, many Hearst newspapers, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, Forbes FYI, Mademoiselle, Mirabella, Backpacking, Bicycling, and McSweeney's.
He teaches in the political science department at Yale. As an onstage interviewer and moderator, he has shared the stage with Stephen King, Anthony Bourdain, Joyce Carol Oates, Kurt Vonnegut, Tig Notaro, Marc Maron, Amy Tan, Bob Woodward, Tim Gunn, Alice Waters, Al Franken, Molly Ivins, Anita Hill and many others
He is allergic to penicillin. He dislikes coffee mugs that are black or any dark color. He finds them very upsetting.
Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
The Colin McEnroe Show compiled a list of favorite episodes from 2023. Enjoy ten shows hand-picked by the team and crafted into one convenient playlist for your listening pleasure.
This hour, novelist Joyce Maynard joins us again to talk about her latest novel, the blurring of life and fiction, and her new career running a hotel in Guatemala.
This hour on The Colin McEnroe Show, a look at the artist who defined the birth of rock and roll and was the genre's first superstar: Elvis Presley.
Stephen Sondheim was among the most important figures in the history of musical theater. This hour on The Colin McEnroe Show, our tribute to Sondheim.
Elvis left two legacies. Musically, he pulled several American musical traditions out of the shadows, braided them together, and made them mainstream.
This hour, we talk about two Connecticut dance halls, each springing from the vision of two very different men who took their respective dance halls down…
We had trouble mustering enthusiasm to wrap up our final episode of this second season of Pardon Me. Last week's roller coaster of a trial culminated in…
Donald Trump's legal team delivered their defense of the former president Friday. They followed a tightly argued and visceral presentation delivered by…
Who's afraid of the Bix bad Beiderbecke?Hartford has an amazing jazz history, and Colin has a lot of jazz musician friends. This hour, a little onstage…
We took a chance that House Democrats were going to send the Article of Impeachment to the Senate this week. We were wrong. Instead, the House will…
The House will transmit its Article of Impeachment charging former President Trump with "incitement of insurrection" to the Senate on Monday.We still…
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Chief Marketing Officer of Equitable and a Member
Connie Weaver is the Chief Marketing Officer of Equitable and a member of the company's Operating Committee. In this role, Ms. Weaver oversees and aligns marketing, digital, and insights and analytics efforts to advance business objectives and grow the strategic value and positioning of the company through deeper client engagement and an enhanced end-to-end client experience. She is focused on implementing programs to advance the company's holistic approach to helping clients reach their goals allowing more Americans to face the future with confidence. Since joining the company in 2019, Ms. Weaver has played a key role in the launch and positioning of the Equitable brand in the marketplace.
Prior to joining Equitable, Ms. Weaver served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at TIAA, where she oversaw the transformation of the company's marketing strategy, digital experience and brand. Previously, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at The Hartford, and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of AT&T. She has also led award-winning organizations in investor relations and marketing as an executive at Microsoft, McGraw-Hill and MCI.
Ms. Weaver has diverse board and advisory experience, having served on the boards of several corporate and non-profit entities. She currently serves on the boards of Make-A-Wish America, National Council on Aging and Connecticut Public Media among others.
Ms. Weaver holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Textile Science and Marketing from the University of Maryland, and has completed the executive financial management program at Stanford University, the executive marketing management program at Columbia University, and the global strategic planning program at IMEDE (Switzerland).
Job Titles:
- Managing Editor, New England News Collaborative
Job Titles:
- Latino Communities Reporter
Job Titles:
- Chief Underwriting Officer
- Senior Vice President, Underwriting, Product
Deanna Fox serves as Senior Vice President, Underwriting, Product and Partnerships at Connecticut Public overseeing underwriting sales, commercial partnerships as well the development of commercial digital products.
Previously, she was Senior Vice President, Sales for The Philadelphia Inquirer, a public benefit corporation, where she oversaw the advertising sales teams for local and national sales as well as programmatic revenue and events.
Deanna has worked for over 20 years with local media organizations, focusing on digital products and innovation. She has held positions throughout the United States including with Gannett, where she was one of the first digital leaders for a local market. She also oversaw sales for Advance Communications, Digital First Media and Calkins Media, where she helped launch the first streaming channel for a local print media organization in the U.S.
She serves on the Community and Communications board of the Derry Township School district and volunteers with Cocoa Packs, fighting childhood hunger.
Deanna embarked on her media career after attending Whitworth College in Spokane, WA and majoring in Accounting. She is a Washington State native, the daughter of wheat and cattle farmers and could double clutch before she graduated from high school. She and her husband Joe have 1 daughter and 2 sons.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Deidre Tavera serves as Chief Development Officer at Connecticut Public overseeing institutional advancement efforts including leadership giving and major gifts, grants and foundations and legacy giving.
Previously, Deidre was Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer for Hartford Public Schools leading strategic and program planning, community partnerships, internal and external communications, fund development and grants management.
Deidre has worked for 30 years with many nonprofit and community-based organizations overseeing educational programming, community relations, marketing and communications, organizational development, fundraising, and board governance. As a senior leader at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts she led strategic planning efforts, designed an award-winning arts education program and a community venture to reach the elder market and initiated the start-up of a human resources department. As a consultant, she worked with over 30 nonprofit organizations facilitating planning and community discussions designed to advance the missions and improve service delivery and partnerships with stakeholders.
Deidre received a B.A. in Psychology from St. Michael's College and an M.A. in Communication from the University of Hartford. She studied in Madrid, Spain and worked as an EFL teacher at the American Language Institute in Lisbon, Portugal. Deidre is a Board member of Hartford Performs and Hartford Promise, is a Corporator of the Hartford Public Library, Past Chair of the Women and Girls' Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation and served on the St. Michael's College Board of Trustees and National Alumni Board.
Lawyer DeVaughn Ward says health care access will be one of his top priorities in his new role as the interim ombudsman for the state corrections system.
Roger Williams is a principal of a video production company and has worked at various media companies including Warner Communications, Turner Broadcasting, ESPN, Travel Channel, Speedvision and Outdoor Life Network. Mr. Williams also has served as a Federal Bankruptcy Trustee for the United States Department of Justice, serving in the Wilmington, Delaware office.
Roger Williams was elected Constable in November 2017. Previously, he served on the Town Council from November 2011 to November 2015. While on the Town Council, he chaired the Public Safety Sub-Committee as well as the Finance and General Government Sub-Committee. Mr. Williams also served on the first School Safety Committee and the Saxe Building Committee. Roger Williams has been a resident of New Canaan since 1995.
Job Titles:
- Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim Won Another Term in Office Tuesday, Ending an Election Contest That Was Upended by Allegations of Voting Misconduct by Ganim 's Supporters
- General Assignment Breaking News Reporter
Job Titles:
- Assistant Secretary
- Administrative Services Manager
- Administrative Services Manager and Board Liaison
Emily Caswell serves as Administrative Services Manager and Board Liaison at Connecticut Public, a role she took on in 2023. Prior to that, she held several other digital and communications-related positions at Connecticut Public, including Digital Coordinator and Communications & Traffic Coordinator, among others.
In addition to her service at Connecticut Public, she has held positions at several media and marketing organizations throughout New England.
A Connecticut native, she holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing from Central Connecticut State University and an M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication from Marist College.
Emily Wang is a practicing physician and Yale professor who works to improve the health of people leaving prison, who are at higher risk for certain conditions.
Job Titles:
- Senior Editor ( Fairfield County )
Job Titles:
- Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut School of Business
Eugene Salorio is Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut School of Business where he teaches courses in business strategy and international business in both the MBA and undergraduate programs. His research and publications have principally been in the areas of international trade, foreign direct investment, and corporate political behavior. He has received both the undergraduate and MBA teaching awards from the School of Business as well as the school's service award. Professor Salorio's activities at UConn include two terms as vice president of the UConn AAUP chapter and separately the contract bargaining committee on two occasions, University Senate Diversity Committee, Provost's Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan, and the School of Business Strategic Planning Committee.
Professor Salorio was on the faculty at Baruch College/City University of New York and Georgetown University prior to joining UConn in 2001. He has a D.B.A. In International Business from Harvard University, a M.B.A. in Finance and an M.S. in Business Policy from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Medieval History from Wesleyan University.
Professor Salorio began his professional career as a copyboy at The New York Times, where his byline appeared in over 20 stories in the Sunday Business and Financial News section. He later served as a U.S. Foreign Service Office in Brazil and Washington, D.C., and subsequently as Treasurer of the Pan American Seafood Corporation, a medium size multinational with operations in Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and El Salvador.
Professor Salorio has been engaged in multiple local community groups and activities, particularly those involving one or another of his children. His most important service was as a Commissioner on the CT State Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Committee (LPRAC), including several years as treasurer.
Job Titles:
- Associate Social Media Editor
Job Titles:
- Host / Producer, the Wheelhouse
- News / Bueckers Confident As UConn Moves past Mercer to Open the 2022 NCAA Tournament
- News / UConn Wins ‘Ugly - Lookin' NCAA Tournament Game in Front of Sell - Out Crowd
Ahead of his Oval Office exit, Joe Biden has issued pardons, traveled overseas, and made the environment a priority. What does he have left to do and what do these moves say about the Biden legacy?
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Executive Director of the State of Connecticut 's Office of Film
George Norfleet is the Executive Director of the State of Connecticut's Office of Film, Television and Digital Media. He began his professional career in advertising before moving into commercial and then feature film production. He has worked on films and television shows helmed by many of Hollywood's top directors and producers, consulted on tax, finance and production structures for film and television productions and spoken on tax incentives at Cineposiums, seminars and film industry conferences across the United States.
As the Executive Director of Connecticut's Office of Film, Television & Digital Media, George oversees all of the office's programs and operations and focuses the state's resources on marketing Connecticut as a prime destination for film, television, entertainment and digital media companies to conduct production operations or to establish a locus in the state from which to do business.
George serves on several boards including the Council of Motion Picture and Television Unions, the Association of Film Commissioners International, the Council of State Government's Eastern Trade Council, and the Connecticut Economic Development Association.
Governor Ned Lamont joins us in-studio at the top of the show. Plus, our panelists explore the intersection of politics and health insurance.
Gov. Ned Lamont is issuing an executive order that will require staff at nursing homes and long-term care facilities to get coronavirus booster shots. The order came as the state announced the daily COVID-19 case rate held steady at about 23%, after climbing to a record high of nearly 24% early in the week.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- General Counsel
- Member of the BOARD
- Member of the Board of Directors of Numerous Eversource
Gregory B. Butler is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Eversource Energy. He is responsible for Legal, Corporate Governance, Federal Government Affairs, Internal Audit and Security, and Energy Supply.
Greg serves as a member of the Board of Directors of numerous Eversource subsidiaries as well as the Eversource Energy Foundation. In addition to serving on the board of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, he serves on the Boards of Hartford Health Care, Connecticut Business Industry Association, Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (AdvanceCT), Hartford Stage and Metro Hartford Alliance. He is a member of the Energy Bar Association and is a senior member of The American Leadership Forum. He was also a member of the Transition Teams for Governors'-elect Ned Lamont and Dannel P. Malloy and has played roles in numerous political campaigns at state, local and national levels.
A native of Cazenovia, New York, Greg earned a bachelor's degree in history from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1980 and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Albany Law School of Union University in 1988. He is admitted to the practice of law in New York and to the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Irshad Manji's tips for celebrating with civility during polarizing times
Job Titles:
- Associate Social Media Editor
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Co - Chairman of the Hoffman Auto Group
Jeffrey S. Hoffman is Co-Chairman of the Hoffman Auto Group. Mr. Hoffman is involved in numerous professional associations and sits on the Boards of several Greater Hartford organizations, including The Bushnell, Hartford Stage Company, Mandell Jewish Community Center, MetroHartford Alliance, Goodwin College and University of Hartford. He is a major supporter of the arts, education and medical organizations in the Greater Hartford Community.
Job Titles:
- Producer, Morning Edition
Jennifer Brown received her A.B. from Bryn Mawr College in 1982 and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985. In 1985-86, Brown served as a law clerk for the Hon. Harold A. Baker, U.S. District Court (C.D. Ill.). She practiced law in litigation at Winston & Strawn in Chicago before entering legal academe as a Bigelow Fellow at the University of Chicago.
From 1990-1994, she was an assistant and then associate professor of law at Emory Law School. She joined the Quinnipiac Faculty in 1994 and became a Full Professor in 1996. From 1997 until 2013, Brown also served as Director of Quinnipiac's Center on Dispute Resolution. In 2013, she was appointed Dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Law, and during the 2019-2020 academic year, served as the Interim Executive Vice President and Provost of Quinnipiac University.
Over the years, she has taught as a visitor in the law schools at the University of Illinois, Georgetown, and Harvard. For several years she served as a visiting lecturer and senior research scholar at Yale Law School. Her areas of expertise include alternative dispute resolution, LGBT legal issues, and lawyers' professional responsibility.
Job Titles:
- Faking It: Munchausen Syndrome and the Compulsion to Be Ill
- Jackpot! a Lottery Winner and a Savvy Lawyer Talk about Life After Luck
- Life Advice, One Audacious Guest at a Time
- Producer, Audacious
On this episode of Audacious, we follow first-time, non-violent offender, Mike West, before, during, and after he spends a year incarcerated.
On this episode of Audacious, meet birder, Peter Kaestner! He discovered a new bird species, and became the first person to catalogue 10,000 birds!
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Operations
- Senior VP of Operations & Business Development
Joe Coss is the Senior Vice President of Operations and Business Development. In this role, he oversees Connecticut Public broadcast operations including Engineering, IT, Traffic, as well as TV and Radio Operations. He is also responsible for leading strategic business growth initiatives such as the expansion of a New Haven based studio in 2017 and into Fairfield County in 2021.
His focus has been on refreshing company infrastructure to modernize company technology and streamline workflows. Joe serves as the Vice Chairman of the PBS Engineering Technology Advisory Committee (ETAC).
Prior to joining the company in 2011, he worked as a freelancer in live sports production as a camera operator and director. In addition, he was the Sports Information Director at Post University, leading media strategy for 17 NCAA sports and the launch of their football program in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Mayor
- Lead in Bridgeport Mayoral Election, but Race Still Up in the Air
Mayor Joe Ganim keeps winning elections with the support of Bridgeport's Democratic political machine. Machine politics has a rich and controversial history in the United States. Today, critics say it's thriving in Bridgeport - and that it's holding the city back.
Joe Ganim declares lead in Bridgeport mayoral election, but race still up in the air
Joel Vengco Joel is the Senior Vice President of ITS and Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIDO) At Hartford HealthCare where he leads all technology operations and services, enterprise applications, data and analytics and digital transformation across Connecticut's largest health system. He has more than 20 years of healthcare technology, informatics and innovation experience and is focused on harnessing the power of data and digital to transform care delivery to be more a personalized and orchestrated experience for patients. Prior to Hartford HealthCare, Joel was the SVP and CIDO at Baystate Health where he led several innovative partnership and technology initiatives with significant finance growth and returns. Prior to Baystate Health, Mr. Vengco was Vice President and General Manager at GE Healthcare, where he led a$1.5 billion eHealth business and developed a population health platform eventually leading to a joint venture between GE and Microsoft called Caradigm. He has also held leadership positions at Boston Medical Center, Mass General Brigham's Clinical Informatics R&D and Eclipsys Corporation. Mr. Vengco has been recognized by Becker's Hospital Review as "Top 35 Digital Leaders in 2023", "Top 100 Digital Leaders in Healthcare" and "Top 100 Health System CIOs To Know" every year since 2013. Mr. Vengco holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College and has Masters degrees from Harvard University and the Boston University School of Medicine.
John Burbank has served in the role of president with broad global experience in consumer marketing, media, and retail. He is responsible for creating billions of dollars in shareholder value through digital innovation and big data/analytics.
He has led joint product and data partnerships across industry leaders such as Nielsen, P&G, AT&T, Time Warner, Walmart, Amazon, Facebook, Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent. He has shown repeated success in building new consumer data businesses while balancing privacy and regulatory constraints.
Mr. Burbank is an experienced Fortune 250, public-company director (NYSE:Entergy), investor and advisor to more than 30 startups, and developer of 10+ patented approaches to data collection and analytics.
Job Titles:
- Producer, the Colin McEnroe Show
Job Titles:
- Senior Director / Visuals and Television Production
Job Titles:
- Incumbent Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim Defeated Challenger John Gomes, His Former Aide, for the Democratic Primary, With Results Announced Early Wednesday Morning
Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said Tuesday that he received the most votes in the city's municipal election, but the results may not determine the final outcome of a bizarre race thrown into uncertainty due to allegations of ballot box abuse.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon
Kenneth Alleyne is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon practicing in Connecticut and Manhattan. He is the co-founder of Zing Health, a Medicare Advantage plan, and HartHaven Partners, a health care investment firm. He is a member of the board of the UConn Health Center, Connecticut Public Television and Radio, and Louis Armstrong Education Foundation and Student Achievement Through Opportunity. He served on the Community Committee of the state's Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group.
He formerly served as a board member at Community Health Services, a federally qualified health center in Hartford. He is a graduate of Williams College and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Yale University.
Job Titles:
- How Do They Remember That? Meet Two World - Class Memory Champions
Lauren Komrosky oversees the Digital Services Bureau and the Membership teams including strategy, development and execution of all digital products and services and all membership communication and revenue.
Lauren joined Connecticut Public in 2015 focused on market research and development where she helped establish qualitative audience research and quantitative performance reporting that fueled programming and business decision making, developing a new data driven culture. Soon thereafter, Lauren moved into a new role leading a research team in June of 2017 to help drive a new divergent strategy around audience development, community engagement, and digital content development. In 2019, Lauren joined the newly established Digital Services Bureau to lead a team of experts who focused on data, digital audience engagement, and digital product development.
Prior to Connecticut Public, Lauren spent much of her career in the marketing and advertising industry at such firms as DRAFT/FCB and Ogilvy & Mather in New York and Los Angeles, then focusing in on digital marketing specifically with a heavy emphasis on performance-driven marketing at the San Diego agency, BusinessOnline.
A Connecticut native, Lauren and her husband Mike like to soak up all that the state has to offer with their two daughters and Golden Retriever.
Job Titles:
- Senior Producer, the Colin McEnroe Show
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Community Engagement
Lucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Before joining the company's senior leadership team, Lucy was the Executive Producer and Host of Connecticut Public's morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live, for nearly seven years. Under her leadership, WWL went beyond news headlines and interviews with policymakers to feature more conversations about Connecticut and the stories of its residents.
In 2021, Lucy and the Where We Live team received a first-place award among large stations from Public Media Journalists Association or PMJA for this interview with a Norwich woman. In 2020, Lucy received a national Gracies Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for her conversation with a Connecticut mother and her trans-son. And in 2018, Where We Live received two national awards from Public Media Journalists Association, formerly known as Public Radio News Directors, Inc., or PRNDI, in the categories of "Call In Program" and "Interview."
Lucy was a public radio journalist for 24 years covering everything from education to immigration, juvenile justice, and child welfare issues to veterans' affairs and the military. She began her career at WDUQ (now WESA) in Pittsburgh.
She and her husband, Jason, live in Suffield with their two children and a small zoo.
Mariana Monteiro will be responsible for ensuring the state government is representative of Connecticut's population.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- President
Mark Contreras, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Public, has led several media businesses through digital transformation. Prior to his role as Dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University, Contreras served as CEO of Calkins Media, a privately-held local television, digital and local newspaper publishing company. Calkins developed innovative strategies to maximize audience reach, engagement and revenue by embracing streaming media platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV. He previously led local newspaper publishing and digital businesses for three public companies including Capital Cities/ABC; Pulitzer, Inc; and The E.W. Scripps Co.
In addition, he served as Chairman of the News Media Association and the American Press Institute. He is a Fellow of the Millennium Class of Henry Crown Fellows of the Aspen Institute. He serves on the Board of Directors of PBS and American Documentary, as well as Highlights for Children in Columbus, Ohio and Woodward Communications, Inc in Dubuque, Iowa.
Job Titles:
- Associate Social Media Editor
Job Titles:
- Editor, All Things Considered / Midday News Anchor
- U.S. Department of Justice Finds State's Youth Prison Violates Children 's Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Justice finds state's youth prison violates children's civil rights
Job Titles:
- Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Treasurer
- Chief Financial Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc
Meg Sakellarides, Chief Financial Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc, the parent company of Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio has over thirty-two years of financial management and business experience, specifically with for-profit financial services organizations and non-profit broadcasting and educational institutions. A 1986 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Connecticut with a B.S. degree in Accounting, Ms. Sakellarides is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Connecticut and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Ms. Sakellarides spent seven years as a manager with the Big 4 accounting and consulting firm of Deloitte, specializing in audit services for corporate, banking, and not-for-profit clients. Clients included Emhart Corporation, TD Bank, and the City of Hartford. After her tenure at Deloitte, Ms. Sakellarides spent five years at CIGNA Corporation, an international healthcare insurance company, where she was responsible for human resource development and training for the Financial Executive Development Program (FEDP) for accountants and actuaries. In addition, her financial responsibilities at CIGNA included leading and managing the customer service and financial operations of their Reinsurance Division. The FEDP at CIGNA is one of the country's most prestigious financial and executive leadership programs and Ms. Sakellarides participated in that executive development program throughout her career at CIGNA.
Ms. Sakellarides has been with Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. for twenty-three years as its Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for all financial, administrative, legal and compliance matters for the Company. Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. is a $20 million operation with three television stations, five radio stations, and has a wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary. While at Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc., Ms. Sakellarides was selected from hundreds of applicants to participate in PBS' inaugural class for its Diversity Training Program, a year-long executive development program held at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Ms. Sakellarides is very active in the Hartford community and has been a Board member of several non-profit organizations, including the Connecticut Women's Council, the Learning Corridor, Inc., and formerly the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Ms. Sakellarides is active in the local arts community, recreational sports, and religious ministry, and currently resides in East Haddam, Connecticut with her husband, Scott Mokoski. Ms. Sakellarides and Mr. Mokoski have two adult children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager of Projects and Radio Programming
Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel is vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian for the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut. This hour, she joins 'Where We Live' to talk about the importance of storytelling.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Connecticut Commission
Michael P. Price has served as Chairman of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts and its successor, the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee since 1992 under both Democratic and Republican Governors. He is the longest serving artistic director of a professional theatre in the United States. As the Executive Director of Goodspeed Musicals since 1968, he has produced more than 235 musicals, including 75 world premieres and transferred 19 productions to Broadway, including the world premieres of Shenandoah, Man of La Mancha and Annie. His productions have won 13 Tony Awards and 33 nominations.
He has also accepted two special Tony Awards on Goodspeed's behalf. In 2019, he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Price is married to Jo-Ann Nevas Price. They have two children, Daniel and Rebecca.
Job Titles:
- News
- State Government Reporter
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- PwC 's Technology Impact Officer
Mitra currently serves as PwC's Technology Impact Officer, leading a business unit she founded to develop a suite of technologies addressing key elements of PwC's ESG agenda.
Mitra also leads the Women-in-Tech ERG which she founded and grew to a thriving community and serves as a champion for diversity in technology.
Prior to joining PwC, Mitra founded two startups and led them profitably, with successful exits. Mitra holds dual bachelor's degrees from UCLA in Computer Science and Linguistics, as well as graduate certificates from MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson School of Management and Stanford University.
She serves as Board Director for the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, Creative Visions, Girls with Impact, and is a Founding Partner of StartUp UCLA. Mitra was appointed by the Los Angeles Mayor to serve on the Mayor's Council on Innovation and by the Governor of Colorado to serve on the Colorado Innovation Network.
Mitra is fluent in English, French, Farsi and Spanish and enjoys leading and serving multinational organizations.
Paul A. FitzPatrick is a 1969 graduate of The College of the Holy Cross, where he was student body president and class president his junior year. His graduate school studies include a M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado during which time he also taught journalism at the college level. Paul has been a recipient of various cable industry awards and has been among industry publication list of ‘Top 100' cable television executives, including in 2005 when he was ranked #4..
Paul's early experience focused on public policy, education and politics where he worked in the Office of Telecommunications Policy and was a Junior Fellow at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies' Communication Program. He was also a speechwriter for the Governor of Colorado and co-manager of a Colorado congressional primary and general election campaign. Paul then joined Titsch Publishing, Inc. as COO and editor-in-chief. The sale of the company's industry focused publications to International Thomson (now Thomson Reuters) several years later marked Paul's transition to programming networks and TV production.
From the early ‘80s to 2000, Paul served as CEO or COO of The Golf Channel, The Weather Channel, NewsTalk Television and Cable Satellite Public Affairs Networks (C-SPAN). From 2000 to 2010, Paul was executive vice president of RHI Entertainment, the #1 producer and distributor in the world of made-for-TV, award winning movies and mini-series and COO and CEO of Crown Media Holdings, which owned and operated Hallmark branded channels versioned in 17 languages and distributed in over 100 countries. From 2010-2016, Paul was CEO and COO of RLTV, a cable television and online network serving the interests and needs of the 110 million 50+ audience of Boomers, Seniors and GenXers.
Following his retirement in 2016, Paul devoted much of his work-related efforts in assisting RLTV's founder and chairman in securing a sale of the company, completed in late 2017. In early 2018, Paul established Lymestone Media Services, LLC. Clients include programming content and distribution organizations. His next goal is to explore additional, new immersive experiences and adventures that tap his 50+ years of business leadership, groundbreaking initiatives, public service and politics.
He and his wife, Nancy, are parents of three children and grandparents of two granddaughters and a grandson. A family preoccupation is just about any sport--baseball particularly, in which their sons and other family members played and worked.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the BOARD
Peter Kelly received his J.D. from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, his B.S., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In 2003, Mr. Kelly received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Central Connecticut State University and an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences from University of St. Joseph. He served as Democratic National Committee Finance Chairman (1981-1985) and National Treasurer (1979-1981). He served as senior political advisor to Al Gore in 1988 and 2000, Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and John Kerry in 2004. He was among the founders of our American democratization foundations and served as Chairman of International Foundation for Electoral Systems which worked in over 70 countries around the World.
Mr. Kelly is a founder and now Of Counsel of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C. He was Chairman of (currently known as) Prime Policy Group in Washington, D.C. and Managing Director (Latin America) of Burson-Marsteller, an international public relations company and as Chairman of PBN Company, based in Moscow, Russia. Over the years, Mr. Kelly has served on over three dozen civic boards, local, national and international. He is a former Chairman of Metro Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Greater Hartford Arts Council and St. Francis (Hospital) Foundation. He currently serves as Chairman of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, a Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Malta House of Care, Inc. (funding free primary health care to the uninsured of Central Connecticut).
Job Titles:
- Assistant Treasurer
- President and COO from One of Hartford Financial Services Group
Radha Radhakrishnan retired as a President and COO from one of Hartford Financial Services Group companies. For nearly three decades, he held various management positions in actuarial, corporate planning, commercial, specialty and reinsurance departments. Prior to joining The Hartford, he was an Assistant Professor with the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia.
Radhakrishnan came to USA in 1969 from India in pursuit of graduate studies. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras, India and his Master of Science degree, specializing in Operations Research and Management Science, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
Over the years, he has served on number of non-profit boards -Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding (CCIU), Covenant to Care for Children (CCC), Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH), Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society (CVHTS). He served as chairman for the United Way-The Hartford Group and also served as chairman of Connecticut Public advisory board. Radhakrishnan lives in Simsbury and enjoys classical music, travel, and Bridge tournaments.
Job Titles:
- Visuals Journalist, New England News Collaborative
Job Titles:
- New Haven Acting Police Chief
New Haven Acting Police Chief Renee Dominguez has withdrawn her nomination to take the job on a permanent basis. Dominguez would have been the city's first official female chief, but was rejected by the city's Board of Alders on Monday.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
Job Titles:
- Animator and Graphic Designer
Sara Bronin is an architect and attorney who chaired the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission for seven years. She joined Where We Live to discuss her new book, 'Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World.'
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon said his four-month investigation into the Social Equity Council - the government body that was set up to ensure the state's new recreational marijuana industry also benefits the communities that were hit hardest by the war on drugs - found no "evidence of criminal wrongdoing."
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Human Resources, Training and Development at Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc
Sonja Pasquantonio is the Vice President of Human Resources, Training and Development at Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. In this role she manages and oversees all aspects of a multi-faceted Human Resources function, a job that cares for 143+ employees in all worker categories. She has over 27 years of human resources experience, including two decades in various national and international roles working with government agencies.
Prior to coming to Connecticut Public, Sonja was the Human Resources Director at the State Education Resource Center a non-profit turned quasi-public agency focused on providing professional development and information dissemination in the latest research and best practices to educators, service providers, and families throughout the state, as well as job-embedded technical assistance and training within schools, programs, and districts..
Sonja is a Public Media Business Association (PMBA) board member and holds a M.A. in English Literature from Old Dominion University and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Capella University.
She's traveled--and lived--all over the states and internationally, but currently resides in East Granby, Connecticut with her husband, Mike, their two daughters, and one knucklehead dog.
Job Titles:
- Addressing Student Loneliness and Isolation on College Campuses
- Author Scott Shigeoka on Getting Curious about Curiosity
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong Talks With Host Catherine Shen for the Hour about His Work Nationally and Locally, Including His Top Priorities for 2025
- Local Author and Pilot on Diversity in Aviation and Her Path to Flight
- PBS Chef Lidia Bastianich Shares Her American Story, Plus Tips for Holiday Cooking
- Senior Producer, Where We Live
Wildfires are fairly uncommon in the Northeast, but that could be changing. On the next WWL, author John Vaillant joins us for the hour. He's the author of Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World.
PBS Chef Lidia Bastianich shares her American story, plus tips for holiday cooking
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor to Governor Ned Lamont
For over 20 years, Thea Montañez has dedicated herself to strengthening the community she proudly calls home through her work in government, business, and the nonprofit sector.
Currently, Thea serves as Senior Advisor to Governor Ned Lamont and Chair of the Governor's Kids Cabinet. Among other responsibilities, she leads interagency efforts to connect more Connecticut residents to opportunity, as well as efforts to develop public-private partnerships focused on that same goal.
Most recently, Thea served as Chief of Staff and then Chief Operating Officer for the City of Hartford, Connecticut, where she managed an annual budget of $600MM and oversaw day-to-day operations for 1,500 employees and all thirteen municipal departments. During that time, she helped Mayor Luke Bronin lead Hartford through unprecedented challenges, including successfully averting municipal bankruptcy and managing the City's COVID response and recovery efforts. As the former COO, Thea also led the development and implementation of several city-wide initiatives designed to better support the needs of survivors of community violence, as well as justice involved youth and adults, and those living with addiction, mental illness and housing instability. In addition to her work in the public sector, Thea ran her own consulting firm, focusing on strategic communications and community affairs. She also led local grant making for The Hartford Financial Services Group.
Outside of work, Thea has volunteered her time with several nonprofit boards and commissions. She currently serves as a member of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee. She has also previously been a member of the Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission, the University of Saint Joseph Board of Trustees, and the Hartford Public Library Board of Directors. Among other awards, she was named a Center for Children's Advocacy "Champion of Children", and previously named to Connecticut Magazine's "40 under 40". She is also a proud first-gen college graduate from Syracuse University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Member of the BOARD
Mr. Barnes is Chairman of the Board of Directors and chairs the Executive Committee. He has served as a director of New England Bank Shares, Inc. as well as Valley Bank. Mr. Barnes' qualifications to be a member of our Board of Directors include his experience in the fields of distribution, manufacturing, finance and governance with numerous organizations throughout his career, including the Company's distribution business.
In addition, Mr. Barnes has owned and managed several businesses and has experience in the commercial lending field. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Company for over 30 years and has served as chairman, trustee or director for over 20 non-profit organizations.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Chief Content Officer
- Chief Content Officer at Connecticut Public and Executive Editor, New England News Collaborative
Vanessa de la Torre is Chief Content Officer at Connecticut Public, overseeing all content with a mission to inform, educate and inspire diverse audiences across the state, including on radio, television and our organization's 60-plus digital platforms.
Since 2020, she has also led the New England News Collaborative, a regional hub of top public media stations producing news and in-depth storytelling throughout New England.
Previously, de la Torre was a reporter for Connecticut Public and the public radio collaborative Sharing America, covering issues of race, identity and culture.
Before joining the public media world, de la Torre wrote for newspapers such as the Hartford Courant, where her investigative storytelling on Hartford education won regional and national awards. She also was part of the Courant team that was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting.
De la Torre grew up in El Centro, Calif., a desert town near the U.S.-Mexico border, and is a graduate of Princeton University. She received her master's degree from Stanford University's Graduate Program in Journalism. More recently, de la Torre has served on the board of the award-winning New England chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Job Titles:
- President of YMR Consulting
Yvette Meléndez is president of YMR Consulting, a management consulting organization. She is a former healthcare policy executive, with over 30 years of experience public policy and has led large government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Meléndez retired in 2017 as Interim President of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, where she also chaired its Board of Trustees. Ms. Meléndez is the former Vice President, of Government Relations and Strategic Community Alliances for Hartford HealthCare. Ms. Melendez' experience includes a diverse background in administration, public policy focusing on human services, public health, and education as well as extensive leadership involvement in the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
In addition to serving on the board of Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, Ms. Melendez has diverse corporate and nonprofit board experience including the Boards of The Mitre Corporation, the Connecticut Health Foundation, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford Region, and the UConn/Hartford Board of Advocates. She served as Vice Chair of the CT Board of Regents for Higher Education, and served on the boards of the Wadsworth Atheneum, the World YWCA and the Metro Hartford Alliance, among others.
A native New Yorker, Yvette received a B.A. in History from Brooklyn College, and an M.A. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Job Titles:
- Digital and Multimedia Producer / Editor, New England News Collaborative