Hartford Business Journal

40 Hartford Business Journal • July 17, 2017 www.HartfordBusiness.com Jamie Bellenoit Q&A: What do you do in your current job? I am the executive director of the Community Child Guidance Clinic Inc. in Manchester. I oversee an outpatient behavioral health clinic, an intensive outpatient program, an intensive in-home child and adolescent psychiatric services (IICAPS) program, and a licensed, accredited special education school for children in grades K-8. What are your goals in your current job? To inspire and lead a team of highly skilled, passionate professionals working in the nonprofit sector to improve the lives of the chronically underserved children and families in Connecticut. To help end the stigma around mental illness and educate people about the benefit of mental health and special education services. What's your biggest passion? Fighting for those who have historically not had anyone to advocate for their needs regarding mental health and special education. Help legislators understand the dire need for atten- tion to these issues. Help members of the community understand what we do and why we need to continue to fight for these services. Teach my children, through example, that everyone needs an advocate and we all deserve the same access to these services. What are your future professional aspirations? To become more involved in advocacy for the clients and families we serve. To continue my lifelong journey of education, both of myself and of the communities in Connecticut. To inspire the dedicated people I work with to continue fighting for our clients. To make the passion contagious and reinforce the message that one person really can make a difference. How are you involved in the community? I am involved in the schools my sons attend, through committee and volunteer work. I am involved in my local parish, helping those less fortunate. I am involved by serving on professional taskforces and special committees related to various areas of interest. Our agency is a member of the chamber of commerce. If you were governor of Connecticut for a day what is one policy you'd push to improve the state's future? I would continue to advocate for the privatization of state social service programs such as secure facilities for juvenile offenders and nonsecure residential facili- ties for adolescents. This would make an immense positive impact on the state budget, because histori- cally, private nonprofits can run these programs at a fraction of the cost. It would also positively impact private nonprofits, which would receive more fund- ing and be able to expand the services they provide to their communities. List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: Only the third selected executive director and first female executive director in the history of the CCGC. As COO, in conjunction with the president and CEO, successfully transitioned another nonprofit in Connecticut from serving adjudicated youth to serving youth with spectrum diagnoses and their families. Been an invited presenter at multiple international confer- ences and have presented in Greece, Italy and several sites across the country related to my Ph.D. dissertation research. I am a published author in an academic text- book in the field of marriage and family therapy. I had three boys in under two-and-a-half years and none of them are multiples. Age: 37 Company: Community Child Guidance Clinic Inc. of Manchester Title: Executive Director Town where I live: West Hartford Town where I work: Manchester College: Providence College, Hofstra University, UConn FUN FACT Malik Champlain Q&A: What do you do in your current job? I'm an adult parole officer. I am responsible for the supervision of offend- ers in their return to society by providing a period of supervision in the community prior to the end of their sentence. Also I run Community Bridge Builders LLC. My business allows me to travel to various institutions as a motivational speaker. What are your goals in your current job? As a parole officer my goal is to assist offenders' successful transition back into the community with employment, external supports and more pro-active life skills. My business goal this year was to publish a book titled, "Passion Hunger Drive: Live Your Dreams, Not Your Fears," and it's now available on Amazon.com. What's your biggest passion? My passion is giving back and building up others. Growing up, my mother was the driving force behind my passion because she believed in me when I was labeled special ed and she pushed me to earn two college degrees. Nowadays, God, my wife Rosalyn, and my two daughters are my passion because daily they remind me that my life is not about me but how I can influence others. What are your future professional aspirations? I aspire to further my education and earn my Ph.D. I want to be a tenured professor at a well-respected university. I aspire to write several books that are New York Times Best Sellers. My biggest aspiration is to eventually run a successful international urban education consulting company. How are you involved in the community? I serve as an ordained deacon at the Manchester Church of Christ. I volunteer as a coach for the Hartford Lacrosse Clin- ics. I'm a college and career mentor for high school students at several Hartford public schools. I have co- sponsored various events for nonprofits that help the community such as "The Black Man Can Institute." If you had one wish to brighten Greater Hartford's eco- nomic future what would it be? I would wish for small businesses not to feel isolated but more supported by the Greater Hartford community. I believe that small businesses are the backbone to our regional economy and need to be at the forefront of the conversations dealing with future investments. I wish that we could lower taxes to allow these businesses and industries to grow and develop a vibrant and flourishing eco- nomic future for this area. Also, if I had a second wish I would bring back the Hartford Whalers. List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: Participated in one of the first cohorts selected in the state of Connecticut to complete a very aggres- sive training module in Forensic Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Forensic CBT is a nationally acclaimed train- ing technique used by clinicians to engage offenders in a cognitive process of change. Recipient of the 100 Men of Color Award and NAACP Roberstine Duncan Memorial Award for Community Service. Ordained deacon at the Manchester Church of Christ. Author of the inspirational book "Passion Hunger Drive: Live Your Dreams, Not Your Fears." I'm a federally recognized Native American (Narragansett Tribe). Age: 32 Title: Adult Parole Officer/ Motivational Speaker Town where I live: Greater Hartford Town where I work: Greater Hartford College: Western New England University, Sacred Heart University FUN FACT 40 Under Forty 2017 P H O T O | C O N T R I B U T E D P H O T O | C O N T R I B U T E D

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