Board Leadership
Connecticut Community Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of trustees and managed by a staff of experts in fund management, philanthropy, charitable gift planning, grantmaking and community issues. We are here to help our donors, nonprofits and community.
To reach any of our staff members by phone, please call 203.753.1315.
Board of Trustees
Avery Gaddis
Waterbury
Secretary, Senate Republican Office’s Community Development and Public Affairs| Bio
Daniel Caron
John Michaels
Robert Bailey
Reginald Beamon
Reginald Beamon
Kathy Bower
Kathy is the managing partner at Gager, Bower & Scalzo, LLP. She serves as a Special Master in the United States District Court and Attorney Trial Referee Arbitrator and Fact Finder in the Connecticut Superior Court. Kathy serves on several boards including The Audubon Center at the Bent of the River and the State University of New York Oswego University Foundation as the Governance Committee Chair. She also was the founding member of the Women’s Giving Circle and served as its first Chairperson. Kathy also serves on the Advisory Board for Pride in the Hills. She lives in Southbury with her husband and three daughters.
Dr. Angela Chapman
Dr. Angela Chapman has over 20 years of experience in Administrative Management, with 12 years in public higher education. As Associate Dean of Development at Connecticut State Community College Naugatuck Valley, she leads the Institutional Advancement office. She also teaches Nonprofit Management and Grant Writing as an Adjunct Professor at Charter Oak State College. Dr. Chapman holds degrees from Albertus Magnus College, the University of New Haven (MBA), and the University of Hartford (EdD). She serves as Vice Chair of the Board at A&S Addiction Services, is a Board member for the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, a Corporator for Thomaston Savings Bank, and an active United Way of Greater Waterbury member. Additionally, she has led youth programs at Mount Olive Church of God in Christ for over a decade.
Tony Ciocca
Tony Ciocca is the Managing Director of a national investment consulting practice focused on and dedicated to serving clients’ needs as an objective single-source provider of institutional investment consulting services. Mr. Ciocca has shown a commitment throughout his career to helping companies get the most out of their retirement plans. Mr. Ciocca has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Duquesne University. Mr. Ciocca has been involved with the Connecticut Community Foundation since 2018 and coached youth sports.
Baba Frew
Baba Frew taught Spanish and Human Geography at The Taft School for more than 30 years after earning both her BA and MA from Middlebury College. At Taft, she served as the chair of the Modern Languages Department and held the Edwin C. Douglas Chair, in recognition of her dedication to Taft’s students. Outside the classroom, she was the Director of Community Service, overseeing numerous service-related activities and organizations, and Director of The Global Leadership Institute, a rigorous co-curricular program that brings together students from Taft and Waterbury public schools for shared learning and leadership experiences. She also contributed to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Planning Committee, helping to shape Taft’s community priorities. After retiring from Taft in June, Baba moved to Woodbury, where she lives with her husband, Peter.
Valerie Friedman
Michael Giardina
Michael Giardina, a Cheshire resident, is a partner at Henry & Giardina, LLP, where his practice focuses on estate planning and administration. He is an active member of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, and serves on the board of directors of the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, a nonprofit organization that provides services to help older adults maintain their independence and quality of life. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of Dora’s Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the current Medicaid laws to improve access to services for seniors and disabled adults.
Michael Giardina
Michael Giardina, a Cheshire resident, is a partner at Henry & Giardina, LLP, where his practice focuses on estate planning and administration. He is an active member of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, and serves on the board of directors of the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, a nonprofit organization that provides services to help older adults maintain their independence and quality of life. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of Dora’s Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the current Medicaid laws to improve access to services for seniors and disabled adults.
Jessica Ocasio
Dr. Jessica Ocasio is an Associate Consultant in the Bureau of Educator Effectiveness and Professional Learning for the Connecticut State Department of Education. A native of Waterbury, Mrs. Ocasio is guided by an ardent commitment to holistic excellence and service. She is also the Executive President of the nonprofit Rivera Memorial Foundation, named after her father, firefighter Eddie Rivera. Jessica has led the organization’s creation of its strategic approach. Jessica’s ability to develop collaborative relationships has assisted the RMF’s mission of ensuring youth and families have the opportunity to thrive educationally, socially, emotionally, and economically. Jessica is also the Founder and Executive Director of Annabella’s Angels, a Waterbury-based non-profit that strives to provide support and raise awareness and education for pregnancy and infant loss families and medical professionals. Annabella’s Angels works tirelessly to raise funds to purchase and donate a CuddleCot to hospitals. Annabella’s Angels has placed 13 CuddleCots and 2 Caring Cradles in Connecticut, 1 CuddleCot in New York, and 1 CuddleCot in Massachusetts. Additionally, she is a member of the Connecticut Community Foundation’s Scholarship Review Committee, the Waterbury Public School District Equity Leadership Team, the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and the Greater Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival Organization.
Dr. Ocasio obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts in General Psychology, and Master of Science in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and a 6th Year Certificate of Advanced Studies and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport.
James A. Higgins
James A. Higgins is a resident of Naugatuck. He serves on Naugatuck’s finance board and is involved in parent-teacher organizations across four of the Naugatuck public schools. James serves on committees and boards of several organizations, including, Young Professionals of Waterbury Region (YPOWR), Exchange Club of Waterbury, Credit Union League of Connecticut, and Connecticut Community Foundation’s Building Equitable Opportunity grant committee.
James became a licensed foster parent in 2019 and has cared for multiple youths by opening his home and providing care to those in need. James is the President and CEO of Skyline Financial Federal Credit Union and looks to serve the community further with financial wellbeing for all. James graduated from Albertus Magnus College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a Master of Business Administration in Business and Leadership.
Douglas Johnson
Kathryn Kehoe
Elner Morrell
John Newton
David Pelletier
Adrienne Parkmond
Adrienne Parkmond is a Waterbury resident and Chief Operations Officer of The WorkPlace, Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience in the field, Adrienne has developed and implemented nationally recognized, state of the art workforce development programs. Adrienne currently serves as board chair for Waterbury Promise, president of the New Haven Pearls of Excellence Foundation and a member of Connecticut Community Foundation’s Building Equitable Opportunity grant committee. In addition to these roles, Adrienne has served as a board member or volunteer at several other organizations over many years of service to the community.
Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Villanova University and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law. Adrienne was named among the NAACP’s 100 Most Influential Blacks in CT in 2021.
Christopher Rempfer
Christopher Rempfer is a resident of Southbury and is Professor of English at CT State Community College/Naugatuck Valley in Waterbury where he is Department Chair. Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the Southbury Public Library and also on the Board of Equality Connecticut. At CCF, he is on the Advisory Board for the Pride in the Hills Fund and serves on the grant committee for the Building Equitable Opportunity Fund. A former professional actor, Chris also serves on the Board of Directors of the Palace Theater in Waterbury.
Edith Reynolds
Carolyn Setlow
Brian M. Jones
Kathy Taylor
JoAnn Reynolds-Balanda
JoAnn Reynolds-Balanda retired after a 20-year career with the United Way of Greater Waterbury, where she served as Vice President of Community Impact. She implemented a nationally recognized outcomes measurement evaluation for funded programs and led initiatives addressing homelessness and food insecurity. During COVID, she collaborated with Waterbury leaders to ensure essential services for those quarantined. JoAnn is passionate about early literacy and was recognized for promoting the Sparkler app in Waterbury, which supports child development. Her career also includes roles in Maternal Child Health Coordination, 211 casework, truancy program direction, and as Executive Director of Waterbury Youth Services. A Waterbury native, JoAnn lives in Watertown with her husband, a retired teacher, and has two adult children, both teachers.
Kathleen A. Brochhausen
Kathleen A. Brochhausen, a lifelong Naugatuck resident, serves as Senior Vice President, Community Relations at Ion Bank and Executive Director of the Ion Bank Foundation. Previously, she worked in the human resources field for over 30 years. Kathy has dedicated much of her personal time to volunteer service. She serves on the boards of many nonprofit organizations including Wellmore Behavioral Health, Are You Dense?, Jane Doe No More, Naugatuck Rotary Club, and the Palace Theater. Kathy also serves as the treasurer for the Central Naugatuck Valley Service Unit of the Salvation Army.
Kathy has received many honors for her service to the community. Most recently, in 2021, Kathy was named Citizen of the Year by the Naugatuck Exchange Club for outstanding and dedicated service to the borough of Naugatuck.
Dr. Rebecca Eleck Bruce
Dr. Rebecca Eleck Bruce is a family physician and the medical director for Wheeler Health. In that role, she supervises medical providers in four federally qualified community health center locations and sees patients herself in all four locations. She providers routine primary care to patients of all ages, womb to tomb, prescribes medication assisted treatment for substance abuse disorders, treats HIV and Hepatitis C, and prescribes gender affirming hormones. She also volunteers with the Greater Waterbury YMCA and sometimes teaches yoga at YMCA Camp Mataucha. She has worked for and with nonprofits in Haiti, Guatemala, and Honduras and is passionate about initiatives that extend health care to all. She is a proud mom to two awesome little kids and enjoys getting outside with them as often as possible. In her remaining spare time, she enjoys open water swimming and trail running.
Deborah Foord
Linda C. Halgunseth
Subira Gordon
Subira Gordon is the executive director of Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), where she works to reimagine our public schools through an effort to recreate a better system that reflects the America of today—and tomorrow. Subira was born and raised in Jamaica, in a small rural community with a 2 percent literacy rate. Subira attended Bates College and became engaged in organizing and advocacy efforts, and subsequently completed a master’s degree in Public Policy from New England College. She served as the executive director of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Equity and Opportunity, where she worked closely with grassroots advocates and legislators to create equitable solutions for communities of color. Subira has championed issues including a diverse educator pipeline, affordable housing options and comprehensive criminal justice reform, and is dedicated to excellence and equity in our state’s educational system.
Brian Henebry
Avery Gaddis
Avery serves at the Senate Republican Office’s Community Development and Public Affairs division. He has been advising and assisting the small business community for more than 20 years, specializing in entrepreneurship, business growth and development and strategic planning. Avery has a degree in Political Science from Central Connecticut State University and an MBA from the University of New Haven. His professional experience includes finance, commercial lending, asset management, internal auditing, regulatory compliance and corporate governance. Avery is a former member of the Connecticut Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights, current member of Connecticut’s Minority Business Initiative Advisory Board and serves on the Commission on Racial Ethnic Disparity in the criminal justice system.
Janie L. McDermott
Janie L. McDermott is a partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP, in its Waterbury office. Her practice focuses primarily on trusts and estates, nonprofit matters and land use matters. Janie is a member of Carmody’s Pro Bono Committee and DEI Committee. Previously Janie worked with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD), the ACLU of Connecticut, and was a fellow at Yale Law School’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization.
Janie currently serves on the board of the Litchfield Community Center, and volunteers with Pro Bono Partnership and Lawyers for Children America. She lives in Litchfield.
Janie L. McDermott
Janie L. McDermott is a partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP, in its Waterbury office. Her practice focuses primarily on trusts and estates, nonprofit matters and land use matters. Janie is a member of Carmody’s Pro Bono Committee and DEI Committee. Previously Janie worked with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD), the ACLU of Connecticut, and was a fellow at Yale Law School’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization.
Janie currently serves on the board of the Litchfield Community Center, and volunteers with Pro Bono Partnership and Lawyers for Children America. She lives in Litchfield.
Tomas Olivo
Tomas is the initiative director for the Working Cities Challenge at the RIBA Aspira Career Academy in Waterbury’s South End. Tomas graduated from UCONN Waterbury, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Science, with a double major in Urban & Community Studies and Human Development & Families Studies and a minor in Psychology. Over a span of eight years, Tomas held several roles at Catholic Charities in Waterbury, serving the community through programs including Fatherhood Services, Child Removal Preventive Services, Family Education, Eviction Prevention, and a Basic Needs Program. Currently, Tomas’ work with Riba Aspira is targeted at reducing the disproportionately high unemployment rate of the South End/River Baldwin (RIBA) by increasing the number of residents earning a livable wage. Tomas also serves on Connecticut Community Foundation’s Grassroots Grants Committee.
Jean Solomon
Jean has over 35 years of experience as a Senior Real Estate executive in large-scale property developments and in major management positions. She has been recognized for her unique combination of project management, financial and relationship management skills. Jean serves on the Board of the Gunn Memorial Library in Washington, as an Advisory Committee Member of Riverfront Revitalization in New Milford, and on Connecticut Community Foundation’s Building Equitable Opportunities Committee. Jean worked with Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury (NHSW) to conduct an evaluation of Parks and Recreation Space needs in Waterbury neighborhoods and also served on NHSW’s Design Challenge Committee. Previously, Jean was a Board Member of Brass City Harvest in Waterbury and volunteered her skills as Washington’s St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington. Jean holds a BA degree from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.
Saran D. White
Saran is a mission-driven strategist with over twenty years of experience strengthening the capacity of organizations and systems that increase equity, access and justice in under-resourced communities. With a background in philanthropy, K-12 education, civic engagement and organizational effectiveness, Saran has worked with renowned nonprofits, foundations and thought leaders to effectively implement innovative strategies through collaborative projects and grantmaking. As a leader in change management and the first chief executive of the Leever Foundation—a nineteen-year-old foundation doing place-based grantmaking in Waterbury—Saran has worked to design, structure and implement a more intentional, vision-aligned, equity-driven and community-informed agenda. Saran holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University and a Master of Public Administration degree from CUNY Baruch School of Public and International Affairs.
Patricia Lindenman
Patricia’s vocation in Health Care began when she joined the faculty as an educator in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at County College of Morris, New Jersey. Moving to Connecticut and having a vibrant family life, Trish pivoted to a 20+ year career in Health Care Administration and is now retired. Trish is a long-standing resident of Middlebury and has been a dedicated and active volunteer in her community. As a lover of the Arts, Trish was a founding member of the Marquee Society of Women at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. As a member of the Middlebury Greenway Committee, she proposed a large-scale public art mural project that will be completed in the summer of 2025 by a local muralist. Trish currently serves on the Middlebury Poet Laureate committee, the Steering committee of the Woman’s Giving Circle of the Connecticut Community Foundation, and is a yearly Literacy Volunteer at Long Meadow Elementary School of Region 15.
William Rybczyk
Bill Rybczyk was born in Bristol CT but quickly re located to Torrington where his parents still reside today. After graduating Torrington High School Bill went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Communications at Eastern Connecticut State University. After graduating from ECSU Bill began his involvement with NonProfit Service work by completing a 10 month term in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Based out of its Denver campus Bill participated in projects that included tutoring at risk middle school students, developing a mentoring project at an alternative High School in Southern Colorado, and rebuilding a state park impacted by a forest fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
New Opportunities, Inc. is the community action agency for the Greater Waterbury, Greater Torrington, and Greater Meriden regions and operates over 50 programs for the most vulnerable in those communities. The agency provides services to over 62,000 individuals on an annual basis.
In 1998 Bill began his career at New Opportunities, Inc. as the Assistant Director for a State AmeriCorps project which included recruiting 20 corps members to work with students at the Ancestors Community Charter High School (ACCHS) which was the first of its kind in the City of Waterbury. He worked at ACCHS for three years with students on tutoring, community service, and school to career learning activities until the school’s closing in June of 2001. He then moved on to work in the agency’s Planning Departments where he gathered and analyzed data for grant submissions while also providing direct oversight to the agency’s Youth Employment Program, and Individual Development Account (IDA) program. Bill also established the agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site which has been in operation for 15 years.
He was promoted to the positions of Senior Planner, then Director of Planning, and the Division Director of Research, Development, and Planning. In this capacity Bill was responsible for the oversight of grants/contract development as well as the budget development process. He also provided supervisory oversight to the agency’s Meriden and Torrington programming. Bill is a Nationally Certified Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) trainer which provides a performance and evaluation platform for community action agency activities. Bill currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Waterbury Development Corporation, while also serving on the Board of the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, Greater Waterbury Habitat for Humanity, Greater Waterbury Health Improvement Partnership, and the Waterbury School Readiness Council.
Bill began his appointment of President/CEO of New Opportunities, Inc. on April 1, 2021. One of the major projects during his tenure has included the construction and development of the CT Food 4 Thought, Inc. hydroponic operation in Torrington, CT. The first phase of this development included three greenhouse bays which produce lettuce, arugula, and kale on weekly basis. The operation provides both high nutrition content produce while also providing employment training in an emerging agricultural field. The second phase of construction has included three additional greenhouse bays which began producing five different lettuce varieties in December of 2023.
Dr. Steven Minkler
Steve retired after 38 years with the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities System, serving in leadership, management, and executive roles at four of its campuses. Most recently, he was Dean of the School of Engineering, Science, and Technology at Central Connecticut State University, following a decade as Chief Academic Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Middlesex Community College in Middletown. Throughout his career, he has led diverse teams, forged strong community partnerships, advanced strategic initiatives, and cultivated sustainable resources — all in support of student access and success. Steve serves on the grant committee of CCF’s Building Equitable Opportunity Fund, the Middlesex Community College Foundation, and as Board Vice Chair of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce, where he also chairs the Education & Technology and Scholarship Committees. He is an active member and musician at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Waterbury. Steve and his wife, Karen, have lived in Waterbury for 35 years, where they raised their now-adult daughter.