Meet Our Team
Please see the following brief descriptions of the responsibilities of Officers and Managers at CEA.
CEA Officers
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SHEILA COHEN
sheilac@cea.org
PresidentThe president is the chief executive officer of the Association and its policy leader. Ms. Cohen represents the Association as spokesperson, as presiding officer of all governance meetings, and as the CEA representative on committees outside of the organization. She works closely with the executive director to address the needs and the goals of the CEA and its membership.
As a registered lobbyist, the president works in collaboration with CEA staff to promote and pass CEA's legislative agenda, serves as a member of the Finance Committee and appoints the chairpersons and members of all committees and commissions.
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JEFF LEAKE
jeffl@cea.org
Vice PresidentThe vice-president assists the president in representing the Association as spokesperson, and is an integral part of CEA's legislative and political action leadership effort. Mr. Leake is the president of the Connecticut Education Foundation, the CEA charitable foundation that administers the Children's Fund, the Minority and DiGiovanni Scholarship Funds, the Boland Fund, and the Holiday Bear Project.
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TOM NICHOLAS
tomn@cea.org
TreasurerThe treasurer chairs the CEA Finance Committee, formulates budget recommendations, and establishes procedures and guidelines for formulating and adopting the Association's annual budget. The treasurer also works to monitor and control expenditures directly under governance control. The treasurer is also a liaison to the Henry Barnard Fund which is a fund established to assist retired teachers experiencing financial strife.
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STEPHANIE WANZER
stephaniew@cea.org
SecretaryThe secretary oversees the preparation and maintenance of all records of meetings of the CEA Representative Assembly, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and governance. Stephanie also serves as chair of the CEA Constitution Revision Committee and its policy subcommittee.
CEA Managers
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DONALD E. WILLIAMS JR.
donw@cea.org
Executive DirectorAs the Chief Staff Officer, Don supervises the entire staff of CEA and oversees all program and administrative areas of the association. Don also advises the CEA Board, develops strategies to accomplish organizational objectives and coordinates CEA's activities among departments.
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RAY ROSSOMANDO
rayr@cea.org
Director of Policy, Research and ReformThe director is responsible for monitoring emerging trends in public education, human and civil rights issues, and retirement issues. He oversees and conducts research in these areas and provides research support for the legislative program. The division develops and delivers training and professional development in a variety of areas.
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JANET STRECKFUS
janets@cea.org
Director of Finance, Technology, Membership, Building Operations & Human ResourcesThe Director of Administration and Finance department and is responsible for all property management, Information Technology, accounting and finances, cash management, human resources and benefits management, membership records and dues collection, purchasing, printing and media distribution, and executive administration support.
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MARILYN MATHES
marilynm@cea.org
Director of Affiliate Services and Member TrainingThe director has the following responsibilities: Uniserv representatives, collective bargaining, contract enforcement, field political and legislative organizing, data research and management analysis, membership training, and the assimilation of new teachers into association programs. The division is responsible for the Summer Leadership Conference, CEA/NEA Orientation, the Regional CEA Collective Bargaining Conferences, and the New Teacher Conference.
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NANCY ANDREWS
nancya@cea.org
Director of Communications and Member BenefitsThe director is responsible for increasing awareness of the organization's goals and gaining member and public understanding of CEA priorities. She develops and oversees CEA periodicals and special publications; conducts media relations; produces web and broadcast productions; develops and implements the CEA issue advocacy/advertising program; implements local community relations programs; maintains and develops CEA's web presence; and provides support to Association leaders on all communications matters.
Member Legal Services
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MELANIE KOLEK
melaniek@cea.orgAs Legal Counsel, Attorney Melanie Kolek has represented members and local affiliates before courts and administrative agencies in a variety of matters involving salaries, benefits and working conditions including workers' compensation claims, enforcement of arbitration awards, tenured teacher termination hearings, unemployment compensation claims, unfair labor practice charges, freedom of information complaints, bargaining unit clarification, and numerous other issues concerning working conditions. Attorney Kolek is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and is part of its Education Law, Labor & Employment Law, Workers' Compensation and Litigation Sections. She also sits on the Executive Committee for the Workers' Compensation Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.
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ADRIENNE DELUCCA
adrienned@cea.orgAs Legal Counsel, Attorney Adrienne DeLucca has represented members and local affiliates before courts and administrative agencies in a variety of matters involving salaries, benefits and working conditions including workers' compensation claims, enforcement of arbitration awards, tenured teacher termination hearings, unemployment compensation claims, unfair labor practice charges, freedom of information complaints, bargaining unit clarification, and numerous other issues concerning working conditions.
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REBECCA MITCHELL
rebeccam@cea.orgCEA Legal Counsel Rebecca Mitchell represents members and local affiliates before courts and administrative agencies in matters involving salaries, benefits, and working conditions, including workers' compensation claims, enforcement of arbitration awards, tenured teacher termination hearings, unemployment compensation claims, unfair labor practice charges, freedom of information complaints, and bargaining unit clarification. Attorney Mitchell previously served as CEA's UniServ Rep in Unit 1, representing teachers in Bridgeport. Before joining CEA, she represented union members as assistant general counsel with the National Association of Government Employees in Springfield, Mass., and lead counsel for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics.
