work. learn. live. (connecticut)

Name:

Partnership for Strong Communities
Yolanda Rivera, Program Manager

Bio:

Yolanda Rivera manages the Hartford Jobs Funnel which is a coordinated system of outreach / recruitment, assessment, case management, pre-employment preparation, job training and retention services for city residents seeking employment. Hartford residents ages 18 and above, have the opportunity to learn valuable skills in an effort to attain careers in the construction, customer service and hospitality fields.

(photo coming soon)

Name:

CT Technical High Schools

Bio:

The mission of the Connecticut Technical High School System is to provide a unique and rigorous high school learning environment that prepares students for post-secondary education, including apprenticeships, and immediate productive employment; and responds to employers' and industries' current and emerging and changing global workforce needs and expectations through business/school partnerships.

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Name:

David Fink

Bio:

David is the Policy and Communications Director for the Partnership for Strong Communities and the Lyceum. In that role, he is the staff director of the HOMEConnecticut campaign, which is seeking solutions to the shortage of housing affordable to workers, young professionals, families and others across the state. David also coordinates press relations and education activities. David comes to the housing field from the worlds of journalism and government. He spent 25 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and opinion writer for five newspapers, including USA Today, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Boston Herald-American and The Hartford Courant, where he served as a legislative correspondent, government editor and associate editor of the editorial page. David left The Courant in 2001 to serve as press secretary for the Speaker of the state House of Representatives in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Name:

Louis Caban, Executive Director

Bio:

Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA) is a partnership between Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford Hospital and Trinity College, a partnership that works cooperatively with the community to develop leadership and improve the economic, physical and social characteristics of Hartford's Frog Hollow, Barry Square and South Green neighborhoods. SINA serves as a catalyst to foster a vibrant urban community where residents, employees, and businesses, can enjoy a high quality of life, and opportunities for success.

Name:

Peter Francese

Bio:

Peter was a co-founder of one of the first demographic information firms: National Planning Data Corporation. While there he developed the first annual household estimates at the neighborhood level. Later he founded and began publishing American Demographics magazine, which quickly became the nation's most authoritative source on consumer trends for business leaders and was nominated three times for a National Magazine Award.

Since then he has served as the Director of Market Analysis for Dow Jones and Director of Education Services for The Wall

Street Journal. While at Dow Jones he authored the concluding chapter ("The Dow in 2100") for The Market's Measure, a book on the history and future of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Francese is the recipient of the Silver Bell Award from the Advertising Council for distinguished public service and served on their Advisory Committee for Public Issues. He holds a graduate degree from Cornell University and has served two terms on the University President's Council.

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Name:

Bill Shiavo

Bio:

Bill is a systems information specialist, at the Travelers Insurance company. Bill has been totally blind since birth. At the Travelers he uses adaptive technology like a Braille output display and software that enables the computer to talk to him so Bill can get his work done each day. Bill received a degree in computer science from Central CT. State University and he took full responsibility and came to travelers knowing exactly what he needed to do the job and Travelers made minor accommodations to fulfill Bill’s technical needs.

Name:	Greg Bradford
Bio:	Greg was a power lifter while a student at the University of Connecticut when at the age of 19 he had a stroke that left him unable to function and permanently disabled. Gregg was in rehab for eight years. After relearning how to walk and talk Greg went back to school and earned a Bachelors degree in Biology. Greg is currently working for the U.S. Forestry where he is a laboratory scientist.

Name:

The American School of the Deaf

Bio:

The school was founded in 1817 and has been a focal point of learning and advancement for deaf and hard of hearing students ever since. Today programs help enhance the quality of life, educate students to enter the workforce, and develop self sufficient adults. The school works with students to train them in direct job training programs that students then take with them in the workplace where they break barriers and become an integral part of the companies they are hired by. .The school helps with job placement, employee training, and cutting edge technological education. The school has also been a site for teacher training and practicum; and has been a springboard from which trained and experienced educators of the deaf have gone forth to educate and to start other schools for the deaf all over the country and they helped found a college in Washington, D.C. The School’s total communication philosophy embraces English, American Sign Language, the integration of speech, auditory training, reading, writing, and use of assistive devices as essential parts of total education that enables students to achieve true language and communication literacy preparing them for the workforce.

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Name:

Julie Evans Star, the Executive Director for the Connecticut Commission on Aging.

Bio:

Julie has earned the distinction of being one of Connecticut's leading advocates for the state's diverse population of older adults. She provides expert testimony at critically important General Assembly public hearings and serves, along with her staff and Commission members, as a credible, objective source of information for state legislators and decision-makers in all levels of government.

Joining the Commission staff just six months after it was created by the General Assembly in 1993, Ms. Starr was appointed executive director of the State Capitol-based agency in 2001. She established and manages the Connecticut Elder Action Network, comprised of key leaders in the field of aging, to encourage and enhance collaboration with diverse organizations that share information, resources, and expertise.
"The Connecticut Commission on Aging continues on its role of advocacy, working to address the needs of a population that is on the verge of unprecedented growth, longevity and diversity. Our nation is home to 36 million people over the age of 65 and 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964."

Name:

John Randall, Navy Veteran, Southern Connecticut State University Student

Bio:

John Randall is a Navy Veteran and a senior at Southern Connecticut State University here he will graduate in May with a degree in communications. John enlisted in the Navy immediately after our nation was attacked on September 11th. By October of that year he was in Boot Camp and served overseas until 2005. When he returned home John sign up for classes at Southern Connecticut State University and only months into the semester John's was called back to active duty to help out in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina ravaged that part of our nation.

Name:

Jack Mordente, Director of Student Supportive Services/Veterans Affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

Bio:

Jack Mordente was nominated by student worker and navy veteran John Randall. John says he first met Jack in the summer of 2005 when he visited his office as a newly discharged veteran: "I was anxious and concerned about my GI Bill benefits and how I was going to fit in as an older student. Jack made me feel very comfortable as he explained my benefits and helped me with the paperwork. He also made me feel at home as he introduced me to other campus veterans." John says that Jack's "ability to establish channels of communication with our students, staff and faculty is truly outstanding and one of a kind." Southern is the only university in the state that maintains a full-time Office of Veterans Affairs, and Jack has headed it since 1975 while serving as an advocate for veterans' rights and benefits on the local, state, and national levels. "We are proud that such an ardent champion of veteran's concerns and leader of veteran's rights is among us on our campus, " adds Ronald Herron, vice president for student and university affairs. In 2007 Jack received the Governor's Service Award. This biannual program reinforces the importance of quality customer service by recognizing the achievements and successes of state employees

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Name:

Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry - Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center

Bio:

Dr. Comer aims to bridge child psychiatry and education talks about healthy child development as the keynote to academic achievement and life success.

A prolific writer, Dr. Comer has authored nine books on education. Dr. Comer has served as a consultant to the Children's Television Workshop, which produces Sesame Street and The Electric Company. He was a consultant to the Public Committee on Mental Health chaired by Rosalyn Carter as well as a member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy (1987-1991). Since 1994, Dr. Comer has served as a member of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future

Dr. Comer uses six developmental pathways to characterize the lines along which children mature--physical, cognitive, psychological, language, social, and ethical. He has proven through research that a lack of developmental support in their homes and communities leaves many of today's children with developmental gaps that impair their ability to learn in school. While more children come to school with experience deficits, we expect all students to meet the high standards dictated by today's workplace and citizenship needs. For students with experience deficits to learn to their highest potential, schools must provide them with the developmental opportunities they lack. Research has shown that in schools where the Comer Process was followed consistently, there was a significantly greater reduction in absenteeism and suspension than in the district as a whole. Comparative studies of Comer and non-Comer schools also demonstrated that student self-competence, self-concept and achievement was significantly more improved

For further information contact:
School Development Program
55 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Voice: 203.737.1020, Fax: 203.737.1023
E-mail: schooldevelopmentprogram@yale.edu

Photo Coming Soon

Name:

Lola Nathan, Prinicpal The Davis Street Magnet School, New Haven CT

Bio:

The Davis School has engaged in teaching students with the Comer method of developmental learning for 8 years now with Mrs. Nathan as their leader. "A School of Distinction" is how Mrs. Nathan refers to her school. Children leave The Davis school where the Comer Process was followed consistently, there is a significantly greater reduction in absenteeism and suspension than in the district as a whole. Comparative studies of the Davis school show that students demonstrate self-competence, self-concept and achievement that is significantly more improved than Non Comer schools in the same district.

To contact:
35 Davis Street
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: 203-946-8660

Name:

Dr. Steven Adamowski, Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools

Bio:

With nearly 35 years as a successful educator and school reformer, Dr. Steven J. Adamowski took over as Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools on November 27, 2006. Working with the Board of Education, he has laid out an ambitious reform agenda in order to close the achievement gap between Hartford students and their peers across the state. Prior to coming to Hartford, Dr. Adamowski was a senior fellow and managing director of the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., where he worked to help school districts improve their effectiveness as standards-based, performance-driven systems.

Dr. Adamowski says: “Many changes are taking place in the Hartford Public Schools as we take the first steps toward transforming our system of schools from a chronically low-performing district, into one where Hartford students are achieving on a par with other students in the state. The Hartford school board recently adopted a new mission and vision for the district. In addition, the board has adopted a strategy for change that will guide us as we work to help our children receive an education that will prepare them to participate in today's global economy.”

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Name:

Connecticut's BioBus

Bio:

Founded in 2001, the Connecticut BioBus is a 40-foot, custom-designed mobile laboratory delivering hands-on bioscience experiments to over 5,000 students through out Connecticut each year. Outfitted with the latest in bioscience equipment and technology, the BioBus brings the life sciences above and beyond the normal classroom curriculum.

The BioBus program is designed for students in 4th through 12th grade. The BioBus accommodates two instructors and up to 24 students at a time. The Connecticut BioBus travels to schools and community events, sparking scientific discovery and igniting interest in scientific careers.

The BioBus visits Connecticut schools free of charge, though each visit requires an investment of time and effort by teachers and the school, including: 1) participation in teacher training; 2) integrating the BioBus visit into classroom lessons, along with running activities before and after the BioBus visit; and 3) assisting BioBus staff in teaching on board the BioBus. Teachers are eligible to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attending a one-day training workshop.

Name:

Ken Kay: Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Bio:

Connecticut students seed 21st Century skills to compete in a global economy. Skills such as problem solving, innovation and creativity have become critical in today's global economy, and educators will now have to incorporate those skills in their classrooms and core classes inorder to prepare our young people to succeed.

Connecticut schools need to do a better job of keeping up with changing educational needs and Ken Kay who speaks nationally to all school as come to CT to help encourage our educators to do just that. Madison public school district is one area in the state where these skills are being incorporated. From the History classes, to the science labs.

New methods of teaching are employed and there to help student master the skills they will need no matter what career path they chose. Daniel Hand High school has incorp orated a Mandarin Language class and TV production classes to help student obtains those 21st Century skills.

Photo Coming Soon

Name:

Project Lead the Way: Pre Engineering Curriculum

Bio:

Project Lead The Way is a hands-on, project and problem-based pre-engineering program that adds rigor to traditional technical programs and relevance to traditional academics. It makes math and science relevant for students, by engaging in hands-on, real-world projects students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning. Student gain the knowledge needed to pursue the high demand engineering or engineering technology programs in college.

The key components of Project lead the way include:

Focusing students on one project over an extended period of time
Working cooperatively and effectively as a class or in small groups
Integrating mathematics, science, technology, and English language arts skills to solve complex problems

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Name:

Cicily Collazo, Manchester

Bio:

Cicily is a high school senior at Manchester High school. She was involved with the Capital Workforce youth to work parternship in her school. Capital Workforce Inc. provided training in her school on how to write a resume, go on interviews, and how to properly speak and dress in a professional work environment.

This summer Cicily was hired by Aetna for a youth to work summer program where she helped out in the finance department. After high school Cicily would like to go to college and major in business.

Name:

Guillermo Acevedo Jr., CT Works Client

Bio:

Guillermo was layed off recently from his job at the CT HUSKY program. He attended classes and got one on one career counseling at CT Works center in Waterbury. The staff at CT Works helped him with finances needed for school, and he is currently enrolled in an associates degree program at Naugatuck Community College.

Guillermo was also refered to the Health and Human services department and was offered a job as a councelor working with people transitioning from welfare to work. Guillermo hopes to go on to get his masters degree in social service one day.

Name:

Frank Limpert, 1st Class Painter, Electric Boat

Bio:

Frank was layed off from electric boat in 2006 along with 900 other EB employees. At that time he was a first class painter for EB and had 18 years on the job. After getting his layoff notice Frank worked with the Peer Councelors at the Eastern regional workforce board to get into a NACE training program. In that program Frank learned about corrosive coatings and became certified to inspect metal for corrosive material which includes everything from ships to bridges.

Frank was eventually called back to EB this year and decided to accept the offer. Frank is receiving job offers regularly since receiving his NACE certificate.

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Name:	Joshua Beebe
Bio:	Coming Soon

Name:

Teresa Chmielowiec

Bio:

Teresa Chmielowiec graduated this May from Eastern Connecticut State University with a major in Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in biology. While at Eastern, Teresa recently concluded an neuropsychology internship at Yale University, where she gave memory tests to patients with epilepsy that had undergone surgery.

Teresa is currently volunteering at local hospitals and working at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford as a CNA in the operating room to gain clinical experience while she applies to medical schools for the following year. Teresa hopes to become a neuro-oncologist and pursue neurological research.

Name:

Divya Krishna

Bio:

Divya Krishna recently graduated from Hamden High School and will attend Carnegie Mellon University this fall. She was born in India and now resides in Shelton, CT. She has worked with the Southern CT State University research team for two summers as part of a NASA funded program called the New York City Research Initiative. Some of Divya’s duties as part of the research team included image processing and analysis of nanoparticles, as well as understanding data collection through the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).

At Carnegie Mellon, Divya plans to study Materials Science and Engineering and to continue conducting research of this nature.

Name:

Leah Mirabelle

Bio:

Leah lives in Connecticut and is entering her final year at Southern Connecticut State University. She will be graduating with degrees in both Physics and Math. This past summer (2007)she participated in a CRISP research fellowship program with director Dr. Christine Broadbridge. Her research involved using atomic force microscopy to study materials at the nano-level. She also worked on experimentation with various sample preparation techniques to prevent particle agglomeration, an important aspect during the image analysis phase.

This experience also allowed her to gain a greater appreciation for an interdisciplinary approach to scientific research, which she will carry over in her future career goals.

Name:	Rachel Rice
Bio:	Coming Soon

Name:

Monica Sawicki

Bio:

Monica Sawicki is a student at Southern Connecticut State University. When finished, she will have a BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics. She was born in Bridgeport, CT and resides in Stratford, CT. She hopes to attend medical school to practice as an Oncologist in Connecticut.

As a student researcher of the Physics department at Southern, she has learned to create nanoscale specimens and use instrumentation of the Electron Microscopy lab for nanocharacterization research.

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Name:

Shanelle Cousins

Bio:

CCAT welcomes Shanelle Cousins to our team as a Modeling and Simulation Intern. Shanelle will learn 3D modeling and plans to use her skills in the Interior Design field in the future. She recently graduated from Bulkeley High School in Hartford and will attend Capital Community College in the Fall. Shanelle plans to transfer to a 4-year college and pursue her dream of becoming an Interior Designer. She will be with CCAT through August 31, 2007.

Name:

Cristal Echevarria

Bio:

Cristal Echevarria graduated from Prince Technical High School in Hartford in June, 2007 with a high school diploma and a manufacturing certificate. Cristal had decided on manufacturing as her technology area because she like working with her hands, she liked using her brain, and she was never bored.

At Prince she took manufacturing and CNC courses, and attended several classes at Asnuntuck Community College where she did machining, blueprint reading and CNC lathe. Through the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) she attended economic conferences where she met manufacturing executives, attended the Engineering Challenge Program at Manchester Community College, and demonstrated how to run a CNC lathe machine at the “Manufacture Your Career” Expo in Hartford in 2006 in front of over 3500 high school students.

This summer Cristal is working as a machinist at Otis Service Center in Bloomfield and she will be attending the University of Hartford’s College of Engineering in September.

Name:

Jeff Hotaling

Bio:

Being born and raised in the small town of Hollowville NY, I learned what a small community was all about. Everyone knew everyone else and being a member of the local volunteer fire department brought that pride in even deeper. I went to Taconic Hills High School (about 110 in the graduating class) and was very much interested in math and science. After high school, I did not go to college full time, but started working at a steel factory. One year later I was promoted to the engineering department assisting with part drawings and BOM. Wanting to get married and with little money to buy a house with in the area, my fiancé and I moved to NC where we lived for 3 years and got married. After our son was born we moved back to NY to be around our family.

I started working at BD in 1999. I have been at BD for 8 years now and plan on being there much longer. I started out as a machine operator on 12 hour nights; then went to a quality advisor on 1 st shift and from there I was promoted to a Facilitator. Now I run a department of 63 associates and I am looking to get into the engineering side of the operation. With persistence and support from my wife and BD, I finished college in fall of 2006 from NWCC with an A.S. in Industrial Diagnostics.

Name:	Kantius Joshua
Bio:	CCAT welcomes Kantius Joshua as a Modeling and Simulation Intern. Kantius will apply his learning while attending Manchester Community College this Fall, majoring in Engineering Science. He recently graduated from A. I. Price Tech in Hartford and enjoys sports and furthering his education and skills. Kantius will be with CCAT through August 31, 2007.

Name:

John Robertson

Bio:

John Robertson graduated from Asnuntuck Community College in 2007 with an Associate Degree in Machine Technology. While attending Asnuntuck John worked part time in the Quality Assurance Department of Sterling Machine Company, Division of Senior Aerospace, and located in Enfield, Connecticut, a major supplier of CNC machined components to the Aerospace Industry.

Since graduating from Asnuntuck John has been employed by Sterling and performs the duties of a “Flight Safety Certificated Inspector”. He conducts ISO 9001 and AS9001 internal audits as well as ISO 14000 Environmental audits. John has also recently been certified by Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Technologies as a “Designated Quality Representative” for Sterling.

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Name:

Cathalina Hayden, CNA - Alexandria Manor

Bio:

Cathalina Hayden came to the United States from Jamaica in 1992. She has two children, Natalie Davis, 22, and Damian Palmer, 27. She has worked as a Certified Nursing Aide for 14 years, the last six years at Alexandria Manor in Bloomfield, CT. She currently works 3rd shift, 11pm-7am.

She earned her high school diploma in 2003 from the 1199 Training and Upgrading Fund. In 2005-2006 she successfully attended the “Bridges to Healthcare Careers” program at Capital Community College in Hartford. She is currently taking classes at Capital Community College and plans to study nursing. She hopes to attend LPN school, then continue on to become an RN.

She has testified at the state capital for the last several years in support of legislation that would provide funding for the creation of additional part-time LPN programs in Connecticut, so that working adults such as herself would have a better chance to further their careers.

Name:	Jennifer Kusaila, RN - St. Mary’s Hospital
Bio:	Coming Soon

Name:

Anthony Posteraro - Radiologist, St. Francis Hospital

Bio:

CA specialist in diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine and non-invasive cardiac imaging, Dr. Posteraro received his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He served as an intern and resident in medicine at Norwalk Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine and as a resident in diagnostic radiology at Brown University Medical School, Providence, R.I.

Dr. Posteraro served as a fellow in nuclear medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.. He holds a certificate in diagnostic radiology from the American Board of Radiology and is a member of the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Roentgen Ray Society, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Society of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

At Saint Francis, Dr. Posteraro will practice as a member of Radiology Associates of Hartford.

Name:

Veron Raymond, RN - Yale New Haven Hospital

Bio:

Veron Raymond went to Gateway Community College 3 years ago at the age of 38, attending the 2 year nursing Associates degree program. She joined the student nursing program at Yale/New Haven Hospital where by she worked during her final year of school.

Veron graduated from Gateway last May and was hired by Yale/New Haven in June of last year (2006) and has been with them ever since. She works on one of the medical/surgery floors as an RN. Prior to that she was a CNA and dental assistant for years. She is also currently helping teach clinical applications to CNA students at Capital Community College in Hartford in her free time.

Name:	Christine Uzpen - Occupational Therapist, St. Mary’s Hospital
Bio:	Coming Soon

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Name:

Martin Greatorex

Bio:

My Name is Martin Greatorex (student in the series 7 course).I am a Registered Rep I hold my Health and Life licenses with the state of CT. I also have my series 6, 63, and 65 (Corporate Registered Investment Advisor). I am a certified CCPS (College Planning Specialist) affiliated with NICCP. I also certified with the state of Connecticut in Long Term Care Partnership, and an over all (CLTC) Certified Long Term Care Specialist designation. I have recently passed my (LUTCF) I am the co-founder of The College Navigator LLC. (Formally The College Authority) and Greater Financial Services LLC.

The College Navigator LLC. is my main focus. We service students and their parents to find the most suitable colleges based on location, size, SAT /ACT /GPA, PHD to student ratios, student attributes est..... looking for the greatest financial aid and increase chances of graduation in four years. We also work on positioning the parents assets and then put together the financial plan to pay for it.

Name:

TasJuaii Moss

Bio:

TasJuaii is a young professional, residing in Hartford, CT. She is employed by The Hartford Financial Services Group in Hartford as a Sales Capacity/Key Initiatives Program Manager. TasJuaii is a native Texan who earned her B.S. in Biology from Tuskegee University, Masters of Science in Management and Masters of Business Administration from Albertus Magnus College.

TasJuaii lives by the mantra of "Do what you can, with what you can, where you are." This drives her to be very active in the Greater Hartford community through organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE), Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals and other community organizations. Her hobbies include reading, playing tennis and traveling.

Name:	Faaflavio Revatta
Bio:	Coming Soon

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Name:	Phil Dietrich
Bio:	I grew up in Groton, where dozens of my friend’s parents worked at Pfizer. After four years as a Chemistry major and three summer internships, I found a job at Pfizer in Analytical Research & Development. When not at work, I spend time traveling around Connecticut to spend time with friends, and of course going to every UConn sporting event that I can get tickets for!

Name:	Lauren Quattrochi, B.S. Physiology & Neurobiology
Bio:	I have lived in Connecticut my entire life; I was raised in Windsor, CT and then moved my freshman year of high school to Avon, CT. I then graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut, Storrs with a degree in neurology and then joined Pfizer as a researcher in Groton, CT.

Name:	Bianca Ramos
Bio:	Coming Soon

Name:

Eddie Rodriguez

Bio:

Heriberto is a manufacturing engineer for Pratt & Whitney, a jet engine manufacturer. He was raised in Hartford, CT from the time he was 8 years old by a hard working mother of three boys, Sonia Torres. He graduated from Hartford Public High School in 2000. Then he attended Central Connecticut State University from which he attained a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Interested in becoming an operations manager at his company, Heriberto enrolled into the Hartford branch of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to obtain his Masters Degree in Management. He will be graduating from RPI with a Masters Degree in Operations Management in May of this year.

Name:	Samantha Valez
Bio:	Coming Soon

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