Category: Speaker Announcements (Page 6 of 11)

Josiah H. Brown is a nonprofit professional with experience in university administration, public schools, philanthropy, government, and community partnership. He is (effective July 1, 2021) executive director of Connecticut CASA–after having in 2019 launched CASA of Southern Connecticut, part of the national CASA network for children facing abuse and/or neglect and in need of court-appointed special advocates. Before, he was the first associate director of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. He worked with New Leaders for a summer during its start-up, responsible for researching prospective partner cities. Previously, he was chief of staff to the president of the New School (then Jonathan F. Fanton). In earlier roles, Brown was an aide to U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro and to the director of a foundation-sponsored center at Columbia University. He worked for UConn Upward Bound and ConnPIRG and has volunteered with various urban youth organizations and public schools–including as a member of the New Haven Public Schools’ Community Engagement Team.

As a volunteer, he is a former president of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven. He is a founding board member of, and now chairs, the Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven. He coaches youth basketball during winter. At Yale, since 2008 he has been an associate fellow of Saybrook College and adviser to students there. He is an occasional contributor to the Good Men Project, New Haven Independent, and Times of India, and to a blog at www.josiahbrown.org.

He has a B.A. with distinction in history, magna cum laude, from Yale and a master’s in public policy from Harvard.

He and his wife, Sahar Usmani-Brown, live in New Haven with their two children.

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Bryan T. Cafferelli was appointed Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) in March 2023. From January 2019 to his appointment as commissioner, Mr. Cafferelli served as legal counsel of the Connecticut Senate Republican Office where he was responsible for providing counsel to senators and caucus staff with legal and legislative matters, including drafting processes, procedures, and policy.

Previously, he served as a drug control attorney for DCP from April of 2017 to January of 2019. In this position, he was responsible for managing the agency’s prescription drug enforcement cases, including all aspects of administrative action, rulemaking processes, and statutory and regulatory development. He has also previously worked as special deputy assistant state’s attorney for the Office of the State’s Attorney in the Judicial District of Stamford, and as chief of staff and legal counsel for former Lt. Governor Michael Fedele.

Cafferelli earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

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Kristin Sullivan is an election law expert who joined the Office of the Secretary of the State in July 2023 as Connecticut’s Director of Elections. With a public policy career that spans more than 20 years and includes time in both the public and nonprofit sectors, she has worked with a diverse group of legislators, election officials, advocates, and nonprofit leaders.  As Director of Elections, she works with the Secretary of the State and local election officials across the state’s 169 municipalities to ensure secure, fair, and accessible elections for all Connecticut voters.
 
Prior to joining the Secretary of the State’s Office, Kristin served as Research Director at the Center for Election Innovation & Research. While at CEIR, she collaborated with a broad coalition of stakeholders—including advocates, academia, state and local officials, and the media—to drive evidence-based policy aimed at restoring trust in elections and promoting innovative solutions around voter engagement and election integrity.  Previously, Kristin was Chief Legislative Analyst at the Connecticut General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research focusing primarily on federal, state, and local election administration, voting rights, and campaign finance laws. She guided a diverse team in providing comprehensive support to the legislature across multiple disciplines through in-depth policy research and legislative analysis.

Kristin holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As Director of Elections for Connecticut, she is a member of the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) and a board member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).  

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Stephanie oversees all operations at the New
staff and over 150 volunteers in providing an exceptional experience to all visitors. Throughout my career, Stephanie has played a key role in developing new and powerful ways of attracting audiences and building brand value for non-profits, entertainment venues, and major content companies through digital marketing campaigns, creative content, and leveraging new technologies, including augmented reality.

Stephanie’s career has long been at the intersection of digital communications and the aerospace industry. I have created countless marketing, training, and technical materials for the aerospace industry including companies such as Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Engine Alliance, Barnes Aerospace, among others. The opportunity to transform our somewhat hidden gem into the world-class
destination it deserves to be makes this a dream job!

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Bill began his government affairs career by working directly for two Democratic Speakers of the House of Representatives, learning the intricacies of the legislative process from inside this key leadership office. Following service on behalf of the Speaker, Bill entered the private sector and served as the Director of Government Relations for the Connecticut State Dental Society, one of Connecticut’s largest health related associations, and thereafter became associated with a large Hartford lobbying group. During his extensive career as a lobbyist Bill established a strong reputation for being able to accomplish the legislative and administrative goals of his clients. He believes in a bipartisan, leave no stone unturned approach to advocacy in Hartford.

Bill has a wealth of experience within state government and brings these talents to the team at FOCUS Government Affairs. During his five years on the staff of the Speaker, Bill developed strong ties to both parties and learned how to navigate the legislative process in order to achieve the goals of adopting legislation. He served on the staff of Speaker Richard. J Balducci during the fiscal crisis of the early 90’s providing him with a keen understanding of how government can best operate in challenging times.

Mr. Malitsky brings his drive for success and commitment to excellence to the forefront of any challenge. He has a great deal of experience and expertise in crisis management for the clients he represents. Bill has worked on a variety of complex issues such as: insurance, health care, environmental and tax issues, as well as, energy, pharmaceutical, business, education and construction and development issues. Knowledge of the people involved in decision making is a vital role in any lobbying activity. Bill is uniquely able to combine his knowledge of the people involved in State Government with his understanding of the legislative process and provide his clients with a seamless approach to achieving results. He is also a frequent speaker before client groups, providing them insight into the lawmaking process and best preparing them to advocate for their positions.

College

Southern Connecticut State University, BS, 1989

Video of the meeting

Ed’s Presentation

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Anthony G. Alessi, MD, is a board-certified, Connecticut neurologist specializing in general neurology, neuromuscular diseases, EMG and sports neurology.

Dr. Alessi is a Clinical Professor of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut and is Director of the UConn NeuroSport program. He serves as a consultant to many professional and collegiate sports organizations and was named Ringside Physician of the Year 2009 by the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians for his efforts in making boxing safer.

As CEO and Chairman of Colonial Cooperative Care, Inc., he oversees this physician-owned, Connecticut medical management company and insurance brokerage.

Dr. Alessi’s career in medical journalism includes hosting Healthy Rounds, a weekly medical information program broadcast on WTIC Hartford. His book, Healthy Rounds: A Doctor’s Lessons for a Winning Lifestyle, is a compilation of his weekly columns published in the Norwich Bulletin.

Video of Dr. Alessi’s Presentation

Col. Frank Tantillo, CT Army National Guard

Subject – “CT Guard Status and Activities”

Colonel Frank A. Tantillo is Distance learning student at the United States Army War College, serves in the Connecticut Army National Guard and works as an Attorney for Travelers Ins. Hartford, CT.

He received his commission as an Engineer Officer from Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Early Commissioning Program in 2000. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Airborne School, Mountain School, Sapper School, Command and General Staff College, the Advanced Operation Course, and the United

States Army War College Defense Strategy Course and Defense Planners Course.

He holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law, Hamden Connecticut and a B.A. from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with 1 OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 OLC, Navy

Commendation, Army, and Air Force Achievement medals the OEF Campaign Medal, the GWOT Expeditionary medal the Parachutist Badge, Ram’s head (MTN School), the Combat Infantryman and Combat Action Badges, and the Sapper Tab.

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Lori Riley has been a sportswriter at the Courant for 25 years, covering everything from high school sports to UConn women’s basketball. She went to Rutgers University, and cut her teeth working at the Daily Targum. She also worked at the Times of Trenton and the Asbury Park Press, covering high school, college, the Yankees, Mets, and Giants.