Elizabeth Walden is the Regional Director of Public Relations for Comcast. She is responsible for helping shape the company’s image with external audiences in Connecticut, Vermont, Western Massachusetts, Western New Hampshire and Carmel, N.Y. Prior to joining Comcast, Walden was Vice President at Quinn, a lifestyle public relations firm with offices in LA, Miami and New York City, where she oversaw a team of public relations executives who carried out day-to-day media and operations for a portfolio of 20 business, real estate and technology clients, in addition to being responsible for building the firm’s client base and developing strategic public relations campaigns. She graduated from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and currently resides in Hamden, Connecticut.

Alison Skratt is Head of Corporate Communications at Berkshire Bank, a regional bank with branches in New England and New York. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President, Strategic Communications and Vice President, Corporate Communications at Connecticut-based Webster Bank. 

A former award-winning journalist, Alison began her career in the newspaper industry in New York, California, and Connecticut. As Business Editor, she led her staff at the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, Connecticut, to earn national recognition with the prestigious Society of American Business Editors and Writers' Best in Business Award. She also spent several years as an independent public relations consultant, specializing in financial services, higher education, and health care. 

A native Californian, Alison earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo is vice president of admissions and marketing at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, an award-winning nonprofit devoted to helping adults with disabilities live independent and self-determined lives. Catherine oversees the admissions process for Chapel Haven’s core programs and coordinates Chapel Haven’s communications and marketing. Previously, Catherine served for 10 years as director of communications for New Haven Public Schools and previously as press secretary to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master of Science in communications management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. Catherine is an adjunct professor of journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.

Joan Huwiler has over 15 years of experience in communication and outreach roles with high profile, public-facing organizations. She has worked for state government, utilities and nonprofits, including a national legal advocacy organization in New York. She has served as a spokesperson for organizations; explained policies and legal issues as well as worked with coalitions on legislative and grassroots matters. She joined Post University in 2108 as the Director of Communications.

Philanthropy and nonprofits are her passion projects. She loves to tell well-crafted stories that bring life to issues. Joan earned her MBA from University of New Haven, a Master’s in Journalism from Boston University and Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Southern Connecticut State University. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Lelia Day Nursery, Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, the New Haven Road Race and the United Way of Greater New Haven.

Derek Beere is the Vice President, Director of Public Relations at Mason, an integrated communications firm located in Bethany, Connecticut. He has more than 20 years of public relations experience that includes media relations, crisis communications, message development, product launches and brand strategy. Combining the right balance of strategy and creativity, Beere’s approach to integrated-marketing communications helps organizations make a positive impact and achieve their goals.

Beere’s experience includes a mix of consumer and B2B, including Resorts Casino Hotel, Bruegger’s Bagels, Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, Yale New Haven Health, Black & Decker, Odyssey Logistics & Technology, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, AVANGRID, The United Illuminating Company and more. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Central Connecticut State University.

As Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Management at Albertus Magnus College, Andrea Kovacs

provides strategic leadership for Communications and Marketing, including branding, community relations,

and legislative affairs; Undergraduate Admissions; Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS) Admissions;

Enrollment Operations; Financial Aid; and Inter-collegiate Athletics. She guided the College’s recruitment

efforts in the midst of – and emerging from the pandemic, yielding both the second, third, and fourth largest

incoming classes in the history of Albertus.
 

Under her leadership, Albertus has continued to diversify its student population significantly and is now a

minority-majority institution (almost 58% of all students), and on the cusp of becoming a Hispanic Serving

Institution, an institutional goal outlined in the College’s strategic plan.
 

Andrea brings a diverse creative background in communications, brand management, marketing, and

fundraising to her work. Prior to Albertus, Andrea directed the Annual Fund at Fairfield University; she was

Sr. Vice President for Marketing and Community Relations for United Way of Eastern Fairfield County,

also responsible for individual gift fundraising; she lived a previous life in the fashion industry.

Andrea earned her B.S. in Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) and her

M.A. in Leadership from Albertus Magnus College. She and her family reside in Bridgeport, CT.

As CEO of Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations, Inc., Paddi LeShane has expertise in local and state

government relations, strategic media relations, reputation management, crisis communications,

market entry strategies, and finding solutions to client problems and needs. Paddi cofounder and CEO of

Sullivan & LeShane, Inc., a widely recognized government and lobbing firm in Connecticut. A member

and, Secretary of the Board of Trustees at University of Saint Joseph, she serves on the Executive

Committee, and as past chair of the Women’s Leadership Center.
 

Paddi is active in the Greater Harford area serving in a number of leadership positions in organizations

that focus on women and leadership, as well as serving as former chair of the Hartford Parking Authority

and currently serves as a Commissioner of the Hartford Housing Authority.
 

She is a former Vice Chair and an Executive Committee member of the Washington-based Public Affairs

Council, a professional association of corporate and national organizations. Paddi was honored as PRSA

CT Practitioner of the Year by the Greater CT Chapter in 2017.
 

Paddi holds a Master’s in Healthcare Finance from The Rensselaer Lally School of Business in Troy, NY

and a BS in Community Leadership and Development from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. She

has also been selected for programs at Stanford University and McGill University, focusing on strategic

planning, disruptive innovation and the value of big data in public relations.

Katie R. Place, Ph.D., APR is a Professor of Strategic Communication at Quinnipiac University. Her research explores the intersections of ethics, diversity, and power in public relations contexts. She is a senior research fellow at the Arthur W. Page Center, a Page Society member, and past head of Association for Education in Journalism and Public Relation’s Public Relations Division. Her work has been published in such journals as Journal of Public Relations Research, Journal of Media Ethics, Journal of Communication Management, Public Relations Review, and Social Media +Society. Prior to returning to academia, she was a public affairs account manager and a nonprofit communications manager in the Washington, D.C. area. She resides in the Hartford area with her family.