Hartford Business Journal

36 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JULY 10, 2023 Movers & Shakers The former fire chief of Hartford, Reginald "Reggie" Freeman, has been named chief risk officer of Cheshire-based property-casualty insurer HAI Group. Freeman most recently served as fire chief in Oakland, California. He left his job as Hartford's fire chief and director of emergency manage- ment in 2021. In the newly created chief risk officer role, Freeman oversees HAI Group's risk control and consulting operations as well as its enterprise risk management function. Freeman's experience includes management in administration, training, fire prevention, public educa- tion, fire investigation and operations. A Cigna executive has been named the new leader of the Bloom- field-based compa- ny's Medicare and individual and family plan businesses. Chris DeRosa, Cigna's president of U.S. government, will succeed senior adviser Chuck Berg in the role. DeRosa has more than 30 years of experience with Cigna. Prior to becoming president of U.S. government, he was president of the company's U.S. commercial national accounts segment and broker exchange. He has expertise in customer reporting and analytics, service delivery, and regional market growth strategies. The Madison Chamber of Commerce announced that Dawn Jackson has been named executive director. She will replace Michele Call, who served in the role for two years. Most recently, Jackson served as director of business development and outreach at the Shoreline Chamber, and was both development director and marketing and community outreach director for the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford. Jackson is president of the Rotary Club of Guilford and serves on the board of directors for Guilford Youth Mentoring. Connecticut State Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez has been named to the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center Foundation board of directors. Perez has served as banking commissioner since 2015, in the cabinet of two Connecticut governors. Anna Brady has been appointed associate dean of the School of Education at Quinnipiac University. Brady, who had been serving as the School of Educa- tion's research analyst and assessment coordinator, starts her new role July 17. As associate dean, Brady will be respon- sible for a wide range of duties, including serving as the school's accreditation coordinator and certi- fication officer, and liaison with the state Department of Education. The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, which provides career and technical education to high school students, adult learners, and apprentices in Connecticut, has named Ellen Solek as its executive director. In her new role, Solek will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization's oper- ations, including strategic plan- ning, program development and financial management. Solek previously served as the system's interim superintendent, where she spearheaded the devel- opment of a new strategic plan and revised its organizational mission and vision. She also previously served as superintendent of Bristol Public Schools. Essex Savings Bank recently named Carolyn Welch vice presi- dent, senior business banking officer. Prior to joining Essex Savings Bank, Welch worked in numerous commercial banking roles at several insti- tutions, including Chelsea Groton Bank, Citizens Bank and Community Investment Corp. Welch is active in the community and currently sits on the New Haven Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is vice chairman of the Community Economic Development Fund Corp. board. Congratulations to the 2023 LeadHER Award honoree MELISSA O'HARA, O'Hara Solutions Group Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and donors, together we raised nearly $345,000 to financially empower local women and their families. @wuforuwct unitedwayinc.org/women THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: LEADING THE CHARGE. INSPIRING THE CHANGE. Reginald Freeman Chris DeRosa Dawn Jackson Anna Brady Carolyn Welch Ellen Solek

• Cover