Committee members, who include both board members as well as other members of the community, are selected for their expertise, integrity, dedication, judgment and understanding of community issues.

(An asterisk indicates a current board member.)

Executive Committee

  • Peg O'Shea, Chair
  • Nicholas Fortson, Vice Chair
  • Lee-Ann Gomes, Treasurer
  • Carol Williams, Secretary
  • Maryam Elahi, Ex Officio

Governance Committee

  • Barbara Sahagan, Chair*
  • Harry Ferguson*
  • Sandy Hale*
  • Sandra Rueb
  • Maryam Elahi, Ex Officio

Audit Committee

  • Harry Ferguson, Chair*
  • Jason Cote
  • Leah Hartman
  • Denise Lindell
  • Bill Mencer
  • Michael Rauh*

Development Committee

  • Carol Williams, Chair*
  • Cathy Bokoff
  • Rebecca Desjardins
  • Sassy Larrañeta*
  • Catherine Marrion
  • Michael Rauh*
  • Peg O'Shea*
  • Karen Stone
  • Lee Ellen Terry

Finance Committee

  • Lee-Ann Gomes, Chair*
  • Janet Adams
  • Joe DeLong*
  • Nicholas Fortson*
  • Edwin Higgins
  • Susan K. Jones

Investment Committee

  • Nicholas Fortson, Chair*
  • Leigh Bonney
  • Sam Childs
  • Harry Ferguson*
  • Martha Gibson
  • Leah Hartman
  • John Pritchard
  • Barbara Sahagan*
  • Todd Shepard

Environmental Grants Committee

  • Frida Berrigan
  • Cheryl Poirier
  • John Pritchard
  • James Quinn
  • John Sargent

Norwich Youth Grants Committee

  • Nicholas Fortson, Chair*
  • Angelo Callis
  • Abby Dolliver
  • Echo Johnson
  • Sarette Williams

Southeastern General Grants Committee

  • Kia Baird
  • Curtis Goodwin
  • Jeannie Milstein
  • Tracee Reiser
  • Linda Sargent
  • Zakkyya Williams

Willimantic Basic Needs Grants Committee

  • Carol Williams, Chair*
  • Suzanne Blancaflor
  • Catina Caban-Owen
  • Ashley Daley
  • Pedro Lima

Center for Housing Equity & Opportunity in Eastern CT (CHEO) Steering Committee

LaMar Coleman
Eastern CT State University

Amy Dooling
Connecticut College

Maryam Elahi
CFECT

Tracy Espy
Mitchell College

Ron Flores
Connecticut College

Sean Ghio
Partnership for Strong Communities

Shiela Hayes
NAACP Norwich Branch & PARJE

Melissa Kaplan-Macey
Regional Plan Association

Amanda Kennedy, Ex Officio
SCCOG

Beth Sabilia
Center for Housing Equity & Opportunity in ECT

Dina Sears-Graves
United Way of SECT

Christie Stewart
The Housing Collective

Nonprofit Advocacy Council of Eastern CT (NAC) Steering Committee

Allison Blake
Child & Family Agency SECT

Joe DeLong*
CT Conference of Municipalities

Michelle Doucette Cunningham
CT Network for Children and Youth

Leigh Duffy
CLiCK

Maryam Elahi
CFECT

Tracy Espy
Mitchell College

Ron Flores
Connecticut College

Angela Fournier
Windham Human Services

Lee-Ann Gomes*
CFECT Trustee

Jennifer Granger
United Community & Family Services

Shiela Hayes
NAACP Norwich Branch & PARJE

Emma King
Access Community Action Agency

Kathleen Krider
Access Community Action Agency

Avery Lenhart
Windham Region No Freeze Project

Diane Manning
United Services

Kate Milde
Norwich Human Services

Anne Miller
TEEG

Jeanne Milstein
New London Human Services

Deb Monahan
TVCCA

Adrenna Paolillo
LEARN Regional Education Service Center

Julie Savin
Eastern CT Housing Opportunities

Dina Sears-Graves
United Way of SECT

Kathleen Stauffer
The Arc Eastern CT

Katherine Verano
Safe Futures

Cathy Zall
New London Homeless Hospitality Center

Jennifer Zubek
Riverfront Children's Center

Women & Girls Fund Grants Committee - Northeast Area

  • Fran Gustavesen, Chair
  • Myra Ambrogi
  • Tina LaJoie
  • Deb Savoie

Women & Girls Fund Grants Committee - Southeast/Norwich Areas

  • Barbara Sahagan, Chair*
  • Nancy Gentes
  • Lee-Ann Gomes*
  • Catherine Marrion
  • Grace Martino
  • Lyn Tolson

Women & Girls Fund Grants Committee - Windham Area

  • Anne Rash, Co-Chair
  • Carol Williams, Co-Chair*
  • Judy Blei
  • Catina Caban-Owen
  • Leigh Duffy
  • Jo Fox
  • Cynthia Myers
  • Lee Terry
  • Mary Weinland