Who We Are
Our Leadership
The Collaborative is led by its Steering Committee, whose members represent local, regional and state government, philanthropy, nonprofits, academia, and grassroots leaders from community centers of power, all united by a shared passion for shaping age, dementia and disability-inclusive communities.
Steering Committee
Rebecca Augur
Responsible Growth Coordinator, Intergovernmental Policy and Planning Division Office of Policy and Management
Adrienne L. Billings-Smith
Equity Officer & Title VI Coordinator, Town of West Hartford
Shazia Chaudrhy
Director of Community Inclusion and Belonging, LiveWell
Molly Cole
Executive Director, CT State Independent Living Council
Claire Côté
Statewide Senior Center Coordinator and Municipal Liaison, Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services
Joel Cox
Director of Human Services, City of Manchester
Gail Crockett
Community Leaders Fellowship, Town of West Hartford
William DeMaio
Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Town of Newington
Leonardo Ghio
Project Director, Northwest Hills Community Health Network of CT
Cynthia Hyland
Community Leaders Fellowship
Nancy Kessler
Community Leaders Fellowship, Town of Newtown
Gretchen Knauff
Director of Disability Services, City of New Haven
Christy Kovel
Director of Public Policy, Alzheimer’s Association
Melissa Lang
Director, Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut/AgingCT
Ken Lesser
Mayor, Town of Wethersfield
Deborah Migneault
Clinical Research Associate, UCONN Health Center on Aging
Loryn Ray
Director, Department of Senior Services, Town of Woodbury
Paula Shea Stabnick
Board Member Liaison, Connecticut Community Care
Christie Stewart
Senior Advisor, Center for Housing Opportunity
Michael Werner
Legislative Aging Policy Analyst, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
