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Our Leadership

Our leadership team comprises a group of educated and experienced professionals who are passionate about building a safer community for all of us. Each person brings a specific skillset to their role assembling an impressive set of game-changers for the task at hand. CEE also has a number of groups of impassioned leaders to help guide CEE to success, including our Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and Men’s Council.

Leadership Team

Ashley Dunn

Ashley Dunn joined CEE in January 2022. She holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University in Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.

As a domestic violence survivor, Ashley believes in the need to elevate lived experience as lived expertise. She is passionate about the mission to end violence in our community and ensure that all individuals can connect to resources and seek safety.

William Montero

William Montero joined CEE in January 2017. As CFAO, he is responsible for all administrative and financial matters of the Organization. Bill came to us with 25 years of financial experience, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of Dental Associates of CT.

He brings a dynamic skill set which includes strategic planning, treasury management, financial reporting, analysis, and budgeting. He has the ability to work across all functional groups to solve operational and financial issues and facilitate balanced decisions. Bill holds a B.A. in Accounting from Western Connecticut State University.

Samantha Conetta Flynn

Samantha Conetta Flynn, Chief Development Officer (CDO). She holds a B.A. from Western Connecticut State University, a certificate in Fundraising from New York University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration through Marist College. Samantha has worked on various development teams, including other local nonprofits as well as national organizations based out of NYC, helping to grow their fundraising programs. She’s passionate about working for CEE because she knows her contributions to the organization are benefiting her own neighbors since she lives within our service area.

Abilene Ribeiro

Graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work and Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Abilene (Abby) has always volunteered throughout her life. She has offered her skills through faith base organizations helping the community through different projects ranging from music, theater, connection groups, psychoeducational groups, and community outreach. In addition, she has always provided support and counseling to any individuals she came across in her attempt to genuinely help others, which has always been a passion of hers.

Abby has worked as a Family Support Worker, Parent Educator, ESL teacher, and Director of Resource Center for Danbury Public School. Former Anti-human Trafficking Program Director, she was part of a Task Force in Palm Beach County, working directly with the sheriff’s Office and Victim Services. In addition, she worked closely with the FBI, joining forces in the fight against human trafficking. At CEE she had the opportunity to work as a Shelter Manager, and multilingual counselor, Manager of Counseling services and now as a Director of Client Support Services.

Working at CEE has allowed her to exert her passion which is to help others. She is honored and humbled for the opportunity to work at the agency. She is dedicated to continue to strive and provide assistance to those who are in need and wanting to live a life free from violence.  She is certainly proud to be part of this incredible team, passionate about CEE’s mission and committed to helping the community we serve.

Cara Mackler

Cara came to CEE with a B.A. in both Sociology and Gender Studies from the University of Rhode Island. Cara started her work in the anti-violence field in 2008. Previously, she has worked as a Peer Advocate at URI where she provided counseling and advocacy to clients and helped conduct over 150 presentations a year. Cara then worked at the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Prevention and Communications Intern until she moved to Florida where she worked with survivors of sex trafficking as a Residential Life Coach and a facilitator for the My Life My Choice prevention program at Selah Freedom.

Cara has been with CEE since 2016, starting out as a Prevention Educator. She now serves as the Director of Community Impact. Cara shares that prevention and advocacy are in her blood and are what drives her every day. She is passionate about working at CEE because she hopes one day to see a world where our services are no longer needed, and she knows that the path toward that goal is prevention.

Board of Directors

Chairperson
Eric J. Eggan, Esq., Arbitration & Mediation, Eggan Law, PLLC

Vice Chairperson/Development Chair
Elaine Cox, Community Activist

Treasurer
Kelcey Hoyt, Chief Accounting Officer, Linde

Secretary
Glori Norwitt, Esq., Community Activist/Employment Law


Amanda Bristol
Tax Manager, Reynolds & Rowella, LLP

Erin Byrne
CEO, Sisu Communications/Owner, Cotton Candy Fabrics

Courtney Elliott
Manager, Partnerships at Cedar, Inc.

Dr. Paul Fiedler
Pathologist, Nuvance Health Medical Group

Susan Gessner
Community Activist/Communications & Marketing

Dr. Evan Hack
Pediatrician/Partner, Candlewood Valley Pediatrics

Greg Pepin
CPA, Partner, Reynolds & Rowella, LLP

Vicki Taylor-Bloch
Owner, At Home Design

Advisory Council

Deborah Backes
Owner, Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe

Brenda Berta
Community Activist

Wendy Wo Beurket
Community Activist

Pamela Chapman
Community Activist

Rebecca Ciota
Attorney, Rebecca L. Ciota Legal Group, LLC

LouAnn Daprato
Senior Loan Officer, Total Mortgage

Paul P. Dinto
President and CEO, Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors

Eric J. Eggan
Chairperson, CEE/Arbitration & Mediation Attorney, Eggan Law, PLLC

Hillel Goldman
Attorney, Collins Hannafin, P.C.

Kathy Graham
Vice President, Fairfield County Bank

Nancy Hawley
Community Activist

Barbara R. Manners
Selectman, Town of Ridgefield

Nancy Murphy
Community Activist

Mark Nolan
Partner, Nolan Enterprises

Kathy Pape
Community Activist

Karen Ross
Owner, Joe’s Salon & Spa

John Royce
Partner, Candlewood Inn, The Riverview & The Waterview

Stacy Singer-Schulman
Assistant Vice President/Community Development Officer, Savings Bank of Danbury

Paul Steinmetz
Director of Community Relations & Public Affairs, Western CT State University

Allison Stockel
Executive Director, The Ridgefield Playhouse

Eileen Walker
Community Activist

Ashley Dunn
President & CEO, CEE

Men’s Council

Eric J. Eggan, Esq.
Co-Chair, Arbitration & Mediation, Eggan Law, PLLC

Dr. Paul Feidler
Co-Chair, Pathologist, Nuvance Health Medical Group

Greg Pepin
C0-Chair, CPA, Partner, Reynolds & Rowella, LLP

Dr. William Begg III
Vice President of Medical Affairs, Emergency Department, Vassar Brothers Medical Center

John Berisford
President, S & P Global Ratings

Senator Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Senate

David Cappiello
President, Capitol Hill Group, LLC

Ethan Carey
Morning Radio Show Host, i95 FM

Dan Carter
First Selectman, Town of Bethel

Dr. Joseph Cleary
Retired Physician

Paul Dinto
President & CEO, Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors

Monte Frank, Esq.
Pullman & Comley Attorneys, LLC

Hillel Goldman, Esq.
Attorney, Collins Hannafin, P.C.

Irv Goldstein
CEO, Berkshire Broadcasting

Noel Hord
Co-Founder, The Hord Foundation

Reed Idriss, MD Emergency Medicine, Nuvance Health, Danbury Hospital

Matthew Knickerbocker
First Selectman, Town of Bethel

Joe Loth
Head Football Coach, Western Connecticut State University

Rudy Marconi
First Selectman, Town of Ridgefield

Gary Michael
Owner, Michael & Michael

Robin Montgomery
Retired Chief of Police, Brookfield Police Department

Stephen G. Rosentel
CPA, President, Leahy’s Fuels, Inc.

John Royce
Co-Owner, Fairfield Caterers

Thomas J. Saadi, Esq.
CT Commissioner of Veterans Affairs & Justice of the Peace

Andy Sachs
Realtor, Keller Williams

Fred Savenelli, LPC
Clinical Supervisor, Family Study Center

Jeremy Stein
Executive Director, CT Against Gun Violence

Paul Steinmetz
Director, University & Community Relations, Western Connecticut State University

Elvis Novas MNI Targeted Media, Danbury, CT

Andy Sachs Owner, Around the Town Realty, Newtown, CT

Annual Report

Success Story

Mr. Deluco
While working with Mr. DeLuco’s (name changed for privacy) 4th grade class there was a brief moment between activities where a young lady came up to our educator. 

News & Press

Latest news about CEE, press releases, and more.

Safety Planning

Making a plan to guide yourself or a loved one to safety is the first is an essential step to leaving a dangerous situation.

Meet our Leaders

Our leadership team comprises a group of educated and experienced professionals who are passionate about building a safer community for all of us.