Our Team
To reach our staff, call the main office number, (860) 233-3853 and the extension number below.
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Steve is our Executive Director. He oversees grant research, writing, and reporting, as well as manages agency operations and strategic planning. Steve has seen all sides of LVGH prior to his current role, starting first as a computer lab volunteer, then as a Program Assistant for the Basic Literacy program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from UConn and a master’s degree in International Management from King’s College London. Outside of LVGH, you will find Steve planning his next travel adventure, reading about early American history, or plotting ways to get the Hartford Whalers to return to the capital city.
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Vanessa Cruz is our Office Manager. Vanessa greets all visitors at our front desk and is dedicated to helping our students and staff. She’s bilingual and can speak both Spanish and English. She assists with our intake process, welcoming/guiding students, and helping us make sure things run smoothly. When not at LVGH, you can find Vanessa with her two adorable cats watching and reading One Piece together.
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Jackie is LVGH's Childcare Coordinator and enjoys coming up with activities to keep our young students engaged. She attended Our Lady of Elms College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. After working at Allstate Insurance Company, she became a stay-at-home mom raising two daughters. Over the years, Jackie has volunteered for various programs at her church and her kids’ schools. When not at LVGH, she enjoys traveling with the family, long walks with her loyal golden retriever (Logan) and reading the latest best seller.
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Katie manages all things communication here at LVGH, including our social media pages, our e-newsletter, and this very website. She attended UMASS Amherst where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Outside of work, Katie can be found out catching a concert as often as at home reading a good book. She is happy to chat about all things music, movies, books and more, but be warned- after enough conversation, she will probably try to guess your zodiac sign.
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Rebecca is our Director of Programs. She ensures that students have the proper resources they need to succeed. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from UConn and a Masters from Teachers College at Columbia University. Rebecca has a passion for travel and education which is clear from the moment you meet her. She is fluent in Italian and even had the chance to live in Florence, Italy where she taught ESOL for five years! Previously, before moving back to CT, she worked as a High School Social Studies Teacher in NYC. You’ll usually find her keeping her tiny humans and plants alive.
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Rose heads up our Basic Literacy program, coordinating and supporting Basic Literacy students and tutors in Hartford, and she does so with enthusiasm, warmth, and a good sense of humor. Rose also manages our Community Development Block Grant and oversees the work of our Basic Literacy Program Assistants. She’s been with LVGH for over fifteen years, and during that time she has touched the lives of countless students in Hartford, Bloomfield, and formerly at the Clark Family Resource Center.
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Diane is our Development Officer, managing all fundraising efforts to support LVGH’s mission and its programs. She first joined LVGH as a volunteer ESOL tutor in 2018. Like so many of our tutors, Diane believes she has gained much more in experience and inspiration from her hard-working students than she could ever provide during their weekly classes. Diane is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. When not at LVGH, you will find her reading, taking long walks or attempting to tame her backyard garden. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and cheering on the Hartford Yard Goats.
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Cecilia is a Basic Literacy Program Assistant. She was originally a student at LVGH and eventually sought out the opportunity to work with us! Cecilia is from Peru and travels there with her husband to visit family and friends. One of Cecilia’s favorite activities is going to the movie theater and watching the latest movies in sci-fi or fantasy.
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Angie moved to the U.S. in December 2022, and working at LVGH has helped her so much with adapting to a new country. She understands the students and feels passionate about supporting them in their transitions as well. Angie studied Education and English for two years at a university in her home country, Argentina, and is hopeful to continue her studies here. She loves to learn and believes that learning makes us all better people. Outside of work and school, Angie also loves reading, cooking, and watching comedy movies.
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Brenda is our ESOL Program Manager. She oversees the ESOL programming and intakes to ensure both tutors and students have the resources and support they need. She’s bilingual and can speak both Spanish and English. She attended Trinity College where she earned a bachelor's in Educational Studies and Studio Arts. During college, she volunteered as an ESL tutor for two years and helped develop a tutor program guide. Outside of LVGH, you’ll find Brenda doing something creative, such as painting and photography, or plotting her next road trip adventure.
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Kathy is our Career Navigator. She provides career planning and job search services for LVGH’s Career Pathways students. She also partners with employers, educational institutions and community organizations to facilitate placement opportunities. Kathy previously served as our Training and Development Manager and has taught ESOL classes for ten years at LVGH. She has a B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. When not at LVGH, you’ll find Kathy spending time with friends and family, and exploring the Maine coast.
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Kristen Mongillo is the Basic Literacy Program Assistant. She greets visitors at our front desk and assists in supporting operations of the Basic Literacy Program. Kristen is also a basic literacy tutor and is dedicated to providing an accessible and fun learning environment for all readers. Kristen has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Connecticut and has attended the Boston University Wheelock College of Education where she studied for her master’s degree in Curriculum & Education. Prior to joining LVGH, Kristen was a 7th grade ELA teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts. When Kristen is not in the classroom teaching reading, you can find her with her nose in a book (usually a fantasy book). In addition to her passion for reading and education, Kristen enjoys spending time with her friends and family and volunteering for various organizations in Connecticut.
Interested in joining the LVGH team?
2023-2024 Board of Directors
Chair – Jared Chase
Editor, Pension Real Estate Association
Vice Chair – Neha Pande
Director, Internal Audit
Munich Re
Secretary – Les Katahara
Retired, Attorney
Pratt and Whitney
Priya Crum
Owner
RC3P Tech LLC
Haleigh Guerrera
Market Research Analyst
Travelers
Aliina Hopkins
Managing Director
CCI, Inc
Trish Hesslein
Community Marketing Manager
Tribune CT Media
Sharon Manns
President
Better Quality Management
Flora Pretashi
Market Manager
M&T Bank
Stephen Morris
Executive Director
LVGH
NON VOTING
Corporators
2023
Kara Venus
Senior Marketing Manager, ixlayer
2022
Christine Owens
Retired, AVP, Sr. Counsel, The Hartford
2021
Marsha Ball-Davis
Dean of Student Services, Capital Community College
Asha Potdar
Lead-Enterprise Data Modeling & Information Governance, The Hartford
Cengiz Searfoss
Director of Corporate Finance, Aetna
2020
Amanda Raus
Morning News Anchor, Fox61
2019
Aliina Hopkins
Managing Director, The Advisory Board Company
Giuliana Musilli
Attorney
2018
Todd Piro
Host/Correspondant, Fox News
Debra Taylor
V.P. Product Developement, IFG
Matthew Teter
Senior Manager Product Sales Support & Analysis, Comcast
2017
Gene Evans
Interactive Sales Manager, Comcast Spotlight
Robert J. Fiondella
Principal, Wealth Management Advisors
Joan McCarthy Gentile
VP and Assistant General Counsel, The Hartford
Peg Newton
Retired Teacher, LVGH Volunteer ESOL Tutor