Hartford Business Journal

34 Hartford Business Journal • July 20, 2015 www.HartfordBusiness.com 40 Under Forty 2015 Handwriting font in the photo caption 40 Under Forty 2015 Jacquelyn Santiago Kathryn Shafer J acquelyn "Jackie" Santiago is chief operating officer at COMPASS Youth Collaborative Inc. "Youth are my inspi- ration and my deepest desire is to see them thrive in our communities" is how Santiago describes her motivation for helping schools and youth succeed. She is a champion for equal opportunities for youth, a dynamic youth development trainer, and an advo- cate for at-risk youth. To foster success in youth, Santiago has played an increasingly important role creating and developing after-school programs, creating comprehen- sive school day supports for schools, and creating impactful outreach and crisis inter- vention programs for at-risk youth. Santiago graduated from Trinity College with a major in sociology and is currently completing her Master's Degree at the School of Business at Quinnipiac University. She began her career as an education organizer at Hartford Areas Rally Together before joining COMPASS in 2001. Santiago serves as an internal leader that develops performance management processes that measure and evaluate progress against goals for the orga- nization and builds and supports high-perfor- mance teams at COMPASS. She oversees all programs, including the COMPASS commu- nity violence prevention program. She is also a mom to a 12-year-old son. Q&A I prepare for the unexpected in life by….. I pray daily for guidance so that God can grant me serenity and guide me through life's unexpected situations that may be out of my control. I plan and prepare as best as I can in my daily life. I am responsible in my daily living and ensure that I meet all my obligations like paying my bills, saving money, getting insurance, and treating people well, etc. When unexpected situations arise, I am confident that I have prepared as fully as possible yet there may be life situations that are out of my control. So I remain flex- ible and adapt to the situation as best as I possibly can or find ways to make change depending on the situation. If there is one person whose life and career you want to imitate, who would it be? Oprah Gail Winfrey is my role model in life. Winfrey was born into impoverished conditions and struggled through life challenges includ- ing sexual abuse. Oprah began her career in radio broadcasting, however, she is now an example of perseverance, resilience and hope for the world. She is more than her millions of dollars, she is an inspiration for people. With her as an example, I expect to continue to be a role model for youth. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about ... Learning! What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Puerto Rico Most traveled to tourist destination? Walt Disney World Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Italy Favorite Connecticut destination: New Hartford and scenic Farmington River U tilizing her law degree, Kathryn Shafer has sought to widen the spectrum of housing choice across the state, recognizing that an affordable home with access to transportation, educa- tion, community services and health care advances opportunity. At the Partnership for Strong Communities, she guides town officials and residents on the ways to foster understanding and achieve consensus on the needs and benefits of a wider array of housing. She works with developers to leverage opportunities and public financ- ing and convenes stakeholders to promote solutions. Prior to joining the Partnership, Shafer developed multi-family affordable, work- force and supportive housing in urban, suburban and rural communities statewide while at the Women's Institute for Housing & Economic Development. Shafer guided all aspects of development, navigating project financing through a variety of private and public programs. She came to Connecticut to join Common Ground, supporting the expansion of that organization's operations, including successful community develop- ment at The Hollander, its flagship project in downtown Hartford. She first worked with Common Ground as a contributing author to the public interest architecture publica- tion, 'Design Like You Give A Damn.' She hails from Chappaqua, N.Y. Q&A What is the best thing someone would say about your career thus far? I have success- fully managed an unpredictable economy by merging my interest in the built environ- ment with my legal education to make a meaningful contribution to the affordable housing landscape in Connecticut. My suc- cess would not have been possible without the keen guidance and expert training provided by my mentors. They have helped me to hone my resourcefulness and to trust my instincts. From them I have received a technical and political education second to none. I prepare for the unexpected in life by… Ensuring a positive support network in my personal and professional life. If you could have four traveling companions (alive or dead, real or fictional) throughout your life's journey, who would you pick? My husband, my son, my sister and my brother, without whom the experiences would never be as rich. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about….My family What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Lanai, Hawaii Where was your best foreign meal? Aux Fines Herbes in Goult, France Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? The Pyramids in Egypt Favorite Connecticut destination: Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford Santiago overlooking the Houston skyline. Shafer during her trip to Venice, Italy. Age: 37 Title: Chief Operating Officer Company: COMPASS Youth Collaborative Inc. Location: Hartford Hometown: East Hartford College: Trinity College (undergraduate) Age: 32 Title: Policy Analyst Company: Partnership for Strong Communities Location: Hartford Hometown: West Hartford College: Cornell University Santiago provides leadership to the Hartford Community School initiative. Shafer is vice chairman of the West Hartford Housing Authority.

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