Bruce is CEO and Publisher of The Connecticut Mirror. He is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization, revenue generation, product innovation, reader engagement, and all business operations. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Cornell University.
Category: Speaker Announcements (Page 3 of 14)
Speaker programs at Wednesday DMA Meetings
State Senator Derek Slap was elected in the special election on February 26, 2019, to represent the 98,000 residents of the 5th State Senate District towns of West Hartford, Farmington, Burlington, and the western portion of Bloomfield. He previously served one term as state representative for the 19th House District, serving constituents in West Hartford, Avon and Bloomfield.
Derek makes his home in West Hartford with his wife, Alex, daughters Maggie and Zoe, and son, Charlie. He is Vice President of Advancement at The Village for Families and Children, one of the largest provides of mental health services in Connecticut. Derek has been a lecturer in political science at Yale University and an adjunct communications professor at Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut State, Southern Connecticut State and Eastern Connecticut State universities. In 2017 he won an “ARC Angel Award” from ARC for his advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.
Legislative Goals:
As Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee, Derek is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure Connecticut’s institutions of higher education meet the state’s workforce needs. Improving accessibility and affordability of higher education and workforce training programs are important issues that Derek works on as co-chair of the committee.
Other legislative priorities include supporting our non-profits, our local public schools, and folks with disabilities. Derek has also been a leader in the effort to improve governance and transparency at The Metropolitan District (MDC).
As always, one of Derek’s most important goals is enacting an affordable, balanced, and sustainable biennial budget that meets the disparate needs and inequities in Connecticut.
Legislative Accomplishments:
The very first bill Derek introduced and led passage of was to create an independent consumer advocate for the MDC. The bill won unanimous passage in both legislative chambers.
Derek also introduced a bill in 2017 to help close the gender wage gap, by prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. The bill eventually passed in 2018 and Connecticut was one of the first states to enact such a ban – now law in many states across the nation.
Derek also played a role in helping Connecticut become a national leader in combating age discrimination. He introduced a bill to keep questions about age, high school and college graduation and attendance dates off job applications. The bill was passed with strong bipartisan support in 2021.
Derek is an advocate for improving access to healthcare for all children, regardless of immigration status. He is also a champion for the environment, gun safety laws, and voting reforms such as early voting.
Experience and Education:
Derek is the former Chief of Staff for the Senate Democratic Caucus, where he managed a 70-person staff, helped achieve significant budget savings, and worked with citizen activists to address issues such as gun safety, school security and mental health reforms; GMO labeling; and access to high quality Pre-K.
Before his tenure as Chief of Staff, Derek was Director of Communications for Senate Democrats for four years. Derek has also been Deputy Chief of Staff/Communications Director for the Secretary of the State, Communications Director for the DeStefano for Governor campaign, and Director of Public Information for the City of New Haven.
Derek was also a news anchor and reporter at NBC Connecticut from 1999 until 2004, and before that worked at TV stations in Florida and at CNN Headline News in Atlanta.
Derek earned his MBA from the UConn School of Business and bachelors’ degrees in Broadcast Journalism and International Relations from Syracuse University, where he graduated Magna cum Laude
Jackson Laboratory Professor, President Emeritus, and Honorary Fellow, Edison Liu, M.D., is an international expert in cancer biology, systems genomics, human genetics, molecular epidemiology and translational medicine with a focus on breast cancer. He has authored more than 350 scientific papers and reviews and co-authored two books. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry and psychology, as well as his M.D., at Stanford University. He then received his residency and fellowship training at Washington University, St, Louis, and Stanford, and postdoctoral training in molecular oncology at the University of California at San Francisco with Nobel Laureate, J. Michael Bishop.
From 2012 to 2021, Dr. Liu was the president and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory, an independent research institute focused on complex genetics and functional genomics. During his tenure, JAX grew significantly in revenue, employee headcount, international presence, research scope, philanthropy and physical footprint. Under Liu’s leadership, JAX established The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, Conn., and added production facilities in Ellsworth, Maine and Japan and established a joint venture in China to the institution’s headquarters campus in Bar Harbor, Maine, and production facility in Sacramento, Calif.
Previously (2001-2011), he was the founding executive director of the Genome Institute of Singapore and the president of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO). He was also the scientific director of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Clinical Sciences in Bethesda, Md. (1997-2001), where he was in charge of the intramural clinical translational science programs. In his earlier career, Dr. Liu was a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was the director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer; the director of the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology at UNC’s School of Public Health; and the Chief of Medical Genetics.
Throughout his career Dr. Liu has received numerous accolades and awards, including the AACR Rosenthal Award and the Brinker International Award, both for breast cancer research; the Public Service Medal from the President of Singapore for his contributions to resolving the SARS crisis; and the Chen Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement in Human Genetics. He was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation, as President of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO), as a foreign member of the European Molecular Biology Organization, and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Liu has served on the governing boards of the AACR, American Cancer Society, and the Foundation for the NIH. He holds honorary degrees from Queen’s University (Belfast, Northern Ireland), University of Southern Maine, and Colby College (Waterville, Maine).
Research Focus Synopsis
My laboratory is focused on understanding the systems genetics of breast cancer biology and its translational impact. Currently, there are four major programs in the laboratory:
- Dynamics of BRCA1 promoter methylation
- Oncogenic drivers of genomic signatures in cancer
- Clonal dynamics of therapeutic resistance in triple negative breast cancer
- Identifying host genes that determine response to immune checkpoint inhibitors
The Town Manager’s Office also maintains the Mayor’s schedule, produces proclamations for special occasions and recognition, and works with the Town Clerk on preparing agendas for the Town Council and subcommittees. To make an appointment with the Mayor or request a proclamation, email Yeraida Reinheimer.
Town Manager
Rick Ledwith is the Town Manager of West Hartford, Connecticut, a full service municipality with a population of 64,083. West Hartford is an award-winning community known for its diversity, excellent schools and municipal services, and great quality of life. West Hartford has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1919, the first municipality in Connecticut and one of the first in the country to adopt this form of government.
Rick has worked for the Town of West Hartford since 2001 in several capacities. Prior to being appointed Town Manager, he served as the Executive Director of Human Resources, where he has worked extensively with every municipal department as well as the West Hartford Public Schools.
Rick and his wife Tara have lived in West Hartford for 27 years and are proud to have raised three children in town.
Michelle Troy is a professor of English. She teaches English Composition and Literature; English Literature: Romantics, Victorians, Moderns; and Studies in Contemporary British Literature.
“I enjoy seeing them grow into themselves, leaving more capable and confident and inspired than when they arrived,” Troy says of teaching Hillyer students.
Troy’s research interests include:
- Anglo-American culture in continental Europe between the wars
- Modernism and the literary marketplace (crossfeed between publishers, authors, agents)
- Modernism and mass market periodicals
- The paperback revolution
Education
PhD in English (with distinction), Loyola University Chicago
MA in English (with distinction), Boston College
Courses at Harvard Extension
Courses at Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
BA in Philosophy, Boston College
WALT ANSEL grew up in a boatbuilding and sailing family in Mystic Connecticut. He has taught restoration and boat building at the WoodenBoat School for 25 years. Walt is recently retired from directing the HB duPont Shipyard at Mystic Seaport. He has worked on restoring the Whaleship CW Morgan, Dragger Roann and the Grand Banks Schooner LA Dunton. He has built dories, whaleboats and skiffs; some with his boatbuilder father Will. Walt lives in Mystic with his genealogist wife Carol and two beloved grey farm cats. They are proud parents of a son Douglas, a film maker in LA and a daughter Evelyn who is a maritime curator and author. Walt spends too much time at sea catching striped bass.
Bill joined the Old Guard last year. He graduated from the University of Connecticut, School of Engineering with a BSEE Bill Rose in 1977 and has been active in the electronics industry starting in 1978. He has held positions in design and development of electronic products as a design engineer, and in management at the Director and VP level at Leviton, Hubbell, Coleco, and Grumman Aerospace. He was also a founder and VP of Engineering at Infravision, a startup company that developed systems for embedding data in video streams. In 2001 he founded WJR Consulting and continues to provide consulting services to the streaming video industry.
During his career Bill has developed well over 100 products, been awarded 17 patents and has held various roles in electronics industry standards organizations including:
- President, High Definition A/V Networking Alliance (HANA) and Chairman of HANA’s Marketing and Technical Working Groups
- Chairman of the Consumer Technology Association Technology and Standards Council
- Chairman, IEEE Task Force on unlicensed use of TV Broadcast spectrum
Born in Queens, NY Bill moved to West Hartford from Long Island in 1982 where he raised his children with his wife of 43 years. His interests include spending time with his now extended family, golf, bowling, and DIY projects.
Here are his slides: Daniel Bissell Presentation Slides
Lawrence Ward became University of Hartford’s seventh President on July 1, 2024. He previously served as Vice President for Learner Success and Dean of Campus Life at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs at American University’s Kogodd School of Business in Washington, D.C.
Ward earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UConn, his Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan, and his Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.
He has held multiple leadership positions in higher education: as member of the NCAA Board of Governors, chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council, and Trustee at Albertus Magnuss College in New Haven, CT.
Several years ago Bob and Jane took a 22 day trip across China. Along the way they had four plane rides, an overnight train ride, stayed overnight at a farmers home and three days on the Yancey River as the river was rising 3 feet per day. Some of the highlights of the trip was visiting: panda museum, Tibet, terra-cotta warriors, the Great Wall of China along with several other interesting stops.
Bob is a West Hartford native who graduated from Hall High and started working in Hartford for the Connecticut Natural Gas company. He moved to Pittsfield as Senior Vice President of the Berkshire Gas Company. His next move was to Washington DC area where he was President of a natural gas trade association. His latest venture was flipping 30 homes in the West Hartford area.
Bob has been very involved helping civic and community groups and he served as President for: two local Homeowners Associations, two Chamber of Commerce, Avon Canton Rotary, Seniors Job Bank and The Old Guard. He is very active with his church and helped coordinate the refurbishing of the Church steeple. He is also active on several Old Guard committees: Habitat, MOW, UConn Hospital Volunteer, Food Share and most importantly—Golf.
Bob is married to Jane with three children, five grandkids and one great grandchild.
Renee Bernasconi is President & CEO of Seabury, Inc., a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She holds an MBA in Healthcare Management, is a licensed administrator, and has spent her career in senior living and aging services, focusing on mission-driven leadership, community, and innovation. Renee serves on the Connecticut Department of Social Services Advisory Committee, is a member of the LeadingAge Connecticut Board. She was instrumental in changing state legislation to enable Life Plan at Home programs in Connecticut—the first such program in the state and the fifth in the country.