Join Us for The Center for Empowerment and Education’s Virtual Annual Meeting
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 7:00-8:00 PM
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 and Ambassador’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.
Cara During
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 Chief Program Officer. 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
Erin Byrne CEO, SiSu Communications/Owner, Cotton Candy Fabrics
Vice Chairperson/Development Chair
Vicki Taylor-Bloch, Owner, At Home Design
Treasurer
Kelcey Hoyt, Chief Accounting Officer, Linde
Secretary
Amanda Bristol, Senior Tax Manager, CironeFriedberg
Courtney Elliott
Manager, Partnerships at Cedar, Inc.
Dr. Paul Fiedler
Pathologist, Nuvance Health Medical Group
Kelly Garretson
AVP, Human Resources, Eastern Region, Nuvance
Susan Gessner
Community Activist/Communications & Marketing
Dr. Evan Hack
Pediatrician/Partner, Candlewood Valley Pediatrics
Imranul Haque
Director, Tax Technology, Linde
Reed Idriss
Medical Director, Nuvance Health GoHealth Urgent Care
Elvis Novas
Software Engineer, Meredith Corp.
Greg Pepin
CPA, Partner, Reynolds & Rowella, LLP
Chelen Reyes
CEO, Union Savings Bank
Dayna Beylouni-White
Zone Sales Director, PepsiCo-Frito Lay
Ambassadors Council
Deborah Backes Owner, Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe
Brenda Berta Community Activist
David Cappiello President, Capitol Hill Group, LLC
Dan Carter First Selectman, Town of Bethel
Pamela Chapman Community Activist
Rebecca Ciota Attorney, Rebecca L. Ciota Legal Group, LLC
Elaine Cox, Co-Chair Community Activist
LouAnn Daprato Senior Loan Officer, Total Mortgage
Paul P. Dinto, Honorary Member President and CEO, Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors
Eric Eggan, Esq. Arbitration & Mediation, Eggan Law, PLLC
Paul Fiedler, Co-Chair Pathologist, Nuvance Health Medical Group
Kathy Graham Vice President, Fairfield County Bank
Barbara R. Manners Selectman, Town of Ridgefield
Rudy Marconi First Selectman, Town of Ridgefield
Nancy Murphy Community Activist
Mark Nolan Partner, Nolan Enterprises
Glori Norwitt, Esq. Community Activist/Employment Law
Kathy Pape Community Activist
Karen Ross Owner, Joe’s Salon & Spa
John Royce Partner, Candlewood Inn, The Riverview & The Waterview
Stacy Singer 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
Virginia Young Community Activist
Ashley Dunn President & CEO, CEE
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.
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