Meet Our Team

Please see the following brief descriptions of the responsibilities of Officers and Managers at CEA.

CEA Officers

• 

  SHEILA COHEN
  President

  sheilac@cea.org

  The 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.

• 

  JEFF LEAKE
  Vice President

  jeffl@cea.org

  The 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.

• 

  TOM NICHOLAS
  Treasurer

  tomn@cea.org

  The 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.

• 

  STEPHANIE WANZER
  Secretary

  stephaniew@cea.org

  The 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

• 

  MARK WAXENBERG
  Executive Director

  markw@cea.org

  As the Chief Staff Officer, Mark supervises the entire staff of CEA and oversees all program and administrative areas of the association. Mark also advises the CEA Board, develops strategies to accomplish organizational objectives and coordinates CEA's activities among departments.

• 

  DONALD E. WILLIAMS JR.
  Director of Policy, Research and Reform

  donw@cea.org

  The 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.

• 

  VINCENT LOFFREDO
  Director of Government and Political Relations

  vinniel@cea.org

  As director, Vinnie manages the legislative and political activities of the association at the state and federal levels including screening, developing, researching, and lobbying legislation, and developing testimony for legislation. He develops strategy for legislation, assists CEA-PAC and the Board of Directors in the endorsement of candidates for state and federal political office, and develops strategies for assisting endorsed candidates to get elected.

• 

  JANET STRECKFUS
  Director of Finance, Membership and Human Resources

  janets@cea.org

  The Director of Finance supervises the finance department and is responsible for accounting and finances, cash management, human resources and benefits management, membership records and dues collection, meeting and events planning, purchasing, printing and media distribution, reception, and executive administration support.

• 

  MARILYN MATHES
  Director of Affiliate Services and Member Training

  marilynm@cea.org

  The 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.

• 

  NANCY ANDREWS
  Director of Communications and Member Benefits

  nancya@cea.org

  The 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

• 

  CHRISTOPHER HANKINS

  chrish@cea.org

  As Legal Counsel, Attorney Christopher Hankins 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.

• 

  MELANIE KOLEK

  melaniek@cea.org

  As 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.

• 

  ADRIENNE DELUCCA

  adrienned@cea.org

  As 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.