United Way > About Us > Our Team

OUR TEAM

We are dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities by addressing critical needs such as education, financial stability, and health. We work collaboratively with local partners, volunteers, and donors to create sustainable, impactful solutions for the most pressing challenges faced by communities with a focus on mobilizing resources and creating opportunities that lead to long-lasting, positive change.

All Staff

Board of Directors Regional Advisory Boards

Senior Leadership

Eric Harrison

President and CEO

Jennifer Bengtson

Chief Financial Officer

Brandon Emerson

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Maura Cook

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Development

Jennifer Gifford

Senior Vice President of Impact and Engagement

Administration

Helen Bergin

Director, Human Resources

Finance

Fatiya Adamou

Director, Finance

Kimmy Boulier

Receptionist and Finance Coordinator

Rosemarie Church

Data Processor

Kayla Hernandez

Senior Manager, Accounting

Dean Morneau

Accountant

Coral Ortiz

Finance Coordinator

Marketing, Development and Digital Solutions

Kate Blackburn

Director, Marketing and Communications

Philip Blonski

Director, Major Accounts and Engagement

Anyeline Céspedes López

Manager, Digital Marketing

Amanda Cohen

Manager, Graphic Design and Production

Diana Desnoyers

Digital Business Analyst

Victoria Fletcher

Administrative Assistant

Melina Floyd

Manager, Corporate Engagement

Elizabeth Lambert

Manager, Marketing

Shannon McGill

Senior Manager, Corporate Engagement

Karen Moran

Administrative Coordinator

Shivonne Morgan

Manager, Corporate Engagement

Bob Williamson

Director, Fundraising Operations and Digital Solutions

Community Impact and Engagement

Rebekah Castagno

Director, Health Initiatives

Kenniece Coker

Manager, Community Engagement

Leah Fuhs

Manager, Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford

Russell Hansen

Director, Impact and Engagement Operations

Taniqua Huguley

Director, Economic Mobility Initiatives

Shania Hunt

Manager, Economic Mobility Initiatives

Enrique Juncadella

Director, Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford

Ally McGinty

Director, Strategic Partnerships

Ashlynn Morse

Administrative Asssistant

John Prescod

Director, Education Initiatives

Julia Simpson

Manager, Education Initiatives

Khamari Thornton

Public Ally

Office of the President

Joanne Cohen

Executive Administrative Assistant to the Office of the President

Philanthropy

Samantha Goemans

Director, Individual Giving

Board of Directors

Pete Collins, Chair

Travelers

Irene Bassock, Vice Chair

Cohen & Buckmann PC

Beatriz Gutierrez, Successor Vice Chair

CONNSTEP, Inc. an affiliate of CBIA

Richard J. Tavolieri, Treasurer

Deloitte LLP

Eric Harrison, President and Secretary

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

Vittoria Pace, Immediate Past Board Chair

The Hartford

Donald Allan, Jr.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

Thomas Anderson

East Hartford Public Schools

Montez Carter

Trinity Health of New England

Shellye Davis

Greater Hartford Labor Coalition AFL-CIO

Venton B. Forbes

InterCommunity Healthcare

Rhona Free

University of Saint Joseph

Jessica Hernandez

Chair, Regional Advisory Board - New Britain-Berlin Central Connecticut State University

Steven Litchfield

TD Bank

Leigh Newman

Day Pitney LLP

María Nuñez

Connecticut Children's

James P. O'Meara

Chair, Community Campaign
Webster Bank

Bimal Patel

Hartford HealthCare

Jennifer L. Shanley

Chair, United Way Women United
Robinson+Cole

Jim Shmerling

Connecticut Children's

Sara-Beth Sidla

Chair, Community Impact
Lincoln Financial Group

Vi R. Smalley, Esq.

Chair, Nominating & Governance
Conning

Angela Smart

Chair, Regional Advisory Board – Windham Liberty Bank

Jill Vichi

Pratt & Whitney

Sharon Williams

HSB

New Britain and Berlin Regional Advisory Board

Jessica Hernandez

Chair
Central Connecticut State University

Charles Bogoian

Kenai Sports

Donald Defronzo

Retired

Mary Floyd

City of New Britain

Brad Palazzo

Comcast Corporation

North Central Regional Advisory Board

Karen Bauer

360 Federal Credit Union

Robert Earley

Comcast Corporation

Heidi Gilmore

Town of Windsor Locks

Windham Regional Advisory Board

Angela Smart

Chair
Liberty Bank

Jose Aponte

University of Connecticut

Michelle Beeckman

Sleep Number

Mario Conjura

People's Bank

Paola Fonseca-Fernandez

Centreville Bank

YukShan Li

Town of Windham

Lana O'Connor

Eastern Connecticut State University

Daniel Paquette

Willimantic Public Library

Antonio Santiago, Jr.

Connecticut Department of Labor