Learning Center

Trainers	Biographies
Lourdes Ardel	Lourdes Ardel began her career for the State of CT, at the Department of Correction in Human Resources. She is currently the Director of Human Resources, Office of Human Resources, Eastern CT State University. She graduated in May 1984 from Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY) with a BA in Industrial Psychology, minor in Personnel Management. She is a graduate of the Connecticut Executive Management (CEM) Program in 1991 and a recent graduate of the CTDN, Train-the-Trainer (TtT) Certificate Program Graduate September 2010 – April 2011.
Susan Baillargeon	Susan Baillargeon is a Curriculum Manager for the Department of Transportation and is responsible for meeting the training needs for approximately 3,000 employees. She has 26 years of state service and 18 years of experience in training and development. Susan holds an Associates Degree in Environmental Engineering Technology and Bachelors in Occupational Safety and Health as well as a Master of Arts in Adult Learning. She has completed a 40-hour Mediation Certificate program at Quinnipiac Law School. Susan also holds leadership positions as a volunteer for the American Red Cross in Disaster Relief Services and has been an active volunteer since July 2001.
Michael Carey	Mike is a Rhode Island native, who graduated from Providence College in 1985. He became a public servant for the State of Connecticut in February of 1988. His entire state service has been spent in the area of human resources, and he has served in a variety of roles, including HR Generalist and Agency Labor Relations Coordinator for the Department of Social Services. Mike was appointed to his current post as Human Resources Administrator for the Department of Public Health in 2003. In 2007, Mike received a graduate certificate in Business Mastery for Health Related Professionals from the University of CT. He is a regular presenter on HR topics at training sessions sponsored by the Department of Administrative Services’ Learning Center. In 2010, Mike was appointed by Governor Rell to serve as a Management Trustee on the State Employees’ Retirement Commission.
CCADV CCADV	The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence CCADV is the recognized leading voice for victims and those who serve them in Connecticut. CCADV is a social change organization, working at the state and antional level to create and implement policy changes to strengthen CT's response to domestice violence. For more information please see the CCADV website: www.ctcadv.org.
Cheryl Cepelak	Beginning in 1988, Cheryl Cepelak's career with the State of Connecticut has seen her expertise utilized in a number of important assignments with several different agencies. She has served with the Department of Administrative Services, the University of Connecticut Health Center in Organization and Staff Development (OSD) and currently is the Deputy Commissioner of Administration at the Department of Correction. Director Cepelak oversees the following units: Human Resources; the Training Academy; Fiscal Services; Information Services; Correctional Enterprises; Maintenance and Engineering; Food Services, Affirmative Action, Internal Security, Best Practices and Legislative Affairs. Deputy Commissioner Cepelak earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1986 and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University in 2012. She has also completed the Quality Management Certificate and Project Management Programs at the Rensselaer Institute at Hartford. She has experience using the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and is certified by Career Systems International to facilitate career development, coaching skills and retention strategy workshops. She has also achieved the qualifications necessary to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Deputy Commissioner Cepelak has been a member of the International Public Management Association for Human Resource professionals (IPMA-HR) since 1999, serving in a variety of roles at the chapter, region and national levels. In 2007, she received the IPMA-HR designation, Certified Specialist, Organizational & Employee Development. She has also served as Co-Chairperson of the CT Training and Development Network from 2005 - 2007.
Erin Choquette	Erin O'Brien Choquette is an employment attorney who works in the Commissioner’s office in the Department of Administrative Services. Prior to coming to the state in June 2006, Erin practiced law for several years at Robinson & Cole, LLP, where she focused on employer counseling and the litigation of employment-related claims. Erin is also experienced in presenting management training and sexual harassment prevention workshops. Erin received her J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She received a B.A., in cursu honoris cum laude, from the College of the Holy Cross.
CTDN CT Training & Development Network	Individual Trainers are listed with each class in the class description. You can look up their biographies on the Learning Center home page.
DAS DAS	Representatives from the Department of Administrative Services
DAS DAS and Partners
DAS DAS Representative	Procurement Supplier Diversity Division ; Meg Yetishefky
Maureen Evelyn	Maureen Evelyn has worked in diverse areas of Adult Education for over 23 years. As a ten year veteran of the US Air Force Aerospace Physiology Division, she taught student pilots topics of survival and flight safety skills. She is a founding parent at the Southside Family House, where she taught various computer programs and worked closely with parents toward a better Hartford community, with a focus on children’s literacy. Other work experience includes ten years in Human Resources in CIGNA’s Pharmacy division, and at the State of CT Department of Children and Families. She also prepared survival curriculum for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Clinton flotilla, which was well received by its members. Currently at the Department of Developmental Services, Maureen heads the new employee training program and teaches a variety of on-going training topics, like Abuse & Neglect Prevention, Basic Life Support, Communication, CPR, Diversity, Mandated Reporter, Professionalism, and Stress Management. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Hartford, Hartford College for Women, majoring in Women’s Studies, and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Central CT State University. Her theories of holistic planning have been applied to women in prison to reduce recidivism, and translated to her curriculum on Abuse & Neglect Prevention and Stress Management. Maureen sits on the Psychotropic Medication Advisory Committee (PMAC) at DCF, and completed the CTDN Train the Trainer program in October, 2012. She has served as the chair of the organization since 2013.
Subject Matter Experts
Alison Fisher	Alison N. Fisher is the Program Director for LeanCT at Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Alison coordinates and manages Connecticut’s statewide effort to promote a culture of continuous improvement. In this capacity, she guides and supports state agencies in using process improvement tools such as Lean to become more efficient, improve services to state residents, and create a state government where everyone is involved in decision making. Alison joined Connecticut state service in 2010, and has previously served as an Analyst in the state budget office. Prior to her time in Connecticut, Alison held positions with the City of Springfield, MA and the state of New York. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Public Administration both from the University at Albany. For more information on Connecticut’s Lean journey, please visit www.ct.gov/leanct
Deana Giordano	Deana Giordano is a Programs and Services Coordinator at the CT Department of Labor. For the past 16 years, she has worked in the agency’s staff development and training unit (presently the Employee & Organizational Development unit). She serves as the lead for agency training projects and initiatives and is an internal performance consultant to all units and offices at DOL. Her experience includes assessing training needs, making recommendations for non-training and training solutions, designing and developing curriculum, conducting and evaluating training effectiveness, and developing individual performance and planning remediation. In addition, Deana’s expertise is in the area of career development counseling. She is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) and skilled in delivering career and job search-related instruction. She is also qualified to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). She is experienced in facilitating work groups, creating curriculum for job search-related customer workshops and focus group productivity processes. Deana is an active member of the Connecticut Training and Development Network (CTDN) and the former network co-chair who served a two-year term. Currently, through CTDN, she co-coordinates the State’s Train-the-Trainer Certificate Program and is an instructor for one of the program’s modules Adult Learning – MBTI. She is also a graduate of the first TtT Cohort. She is also member of the instructor team and program contributor for the Aspiring Leaders Executive Program. Deana holds an MS in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education, from Central CT State University, a BA in Psychology, from the University of Connecticut and earned a Certificate in Talent Development and Retention from the University of Hartford, Center for Professional Development.
Alan Hyla	Alan Hyla's career with the State of Connecticut began in 1985 with the Department of Mental Retardation now known as the Department of Developmental Disabilities. He has held a number of key positions with the state and not for profit agencies. He has been with the Judicial Branch for the past thirteen years, serving in the Quality Improvement Unit and currently is a Program Manager with the Court Support Service’s Program and Staff Development Unit. In his role as Program Manager, Alan oversees the implementation of the Leadership Development Program, new employee training and handles administrative initiatives for the Training Academy, including its Learning Management System. He has experience conducting division needs assessment surveys and conducting evaluations of training effectiveness. Alan teaches leadership courses for the CTDN Aspiring Leadership Program as well its train the trainer program. Alan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Cortland in 1982 and completed the Masters of Science Program in Management at the Rensselaer Institute at Hartford. Alan has been an Administrative and Program consultant surveyor for the CARF accreditation organization since 1992, conducting accreditation surveys throughout the United States and Canada at rehabilitation programs for children & families and Adults. He was a member of the East Haddam Board of Education serving as chair for the long range planning committee and is presently serving as a member of the Local Prevention Council. Alan volunteers in the community at a variety of local and statewide events.
State In-Service Training	State In-Service Training
Zarin Kapur	Zarin Kapur is currently the Program Manager for Training & Staff Development at Judicial Branch, Support Enforcement Services. She has a Masters Degree in Organizational Behavior from University of Hartford and has been employed with the State of CT for 27 years. She started as an Investigator with Dept. of Social Services and then moved to the Judicial Branch, Support Enforcement Services as a Support Enforcement Officer. Since Jan 2007, she has been involved in training of all new staff and for the continuing education program within Support Enforcement Services. She has designed, developed and delivered trainings on topics such as Cultural Competency, Culture of Poverty, Facilitation Skills, Public Speaking and Customer Service. She has presented a workshop on Measuring the Impact of Training, at the National Child Support -57th Annual Training Conference in CA. She currently manages the Exploring Professional Growth Program for Support Enforcement Services which addresses Succession Planning issues and is in charge of the SES Outreach program. She is a member of the SES Cultural Competency Advisory Board. She has also been involved in the Judicial Branch Mentoring Program. She is a Certified Practitioner of the MBTI Step I and Step II Instruments. She is a graduate of the DMHAS Multicultural Theory and Cultural Competency Training Program. She has been a member of CTDN since 2007 and is a graduate of the CTDN Train the Trainer Program 2009. She received the CTDN Outstanding Staff/Organizational Development Award-2010. She was the co-chair for CTDN and has chaired the CTDN Annual Conference in 2010 and 2011. She is currently the co-trainer for the Evaluation module and Presentation Skills module of the CTDN/DAS Train the Trainer Program.
Lynn Laperle	Lynn Laperle is currently employed as a Curriculum Manager for the Department of Correction. She has been involved with organizational and staff development for over 26 years and completed her Masters in Adult Learning at UConn’s nationally recognized Adult Learning program. She has a BS in Communications and is also a graduate of the Mediation Certificate program at Quinnipiac University Law School. Lynn is a published author and regularly conducts presentations at nearby colleges for victimization and child abuse courses. As past Chair Emeritus of the CT Training & Development Network (CTDN) and a previous graduate of the CTDN/DAS Train the Trainer program, Lynn continues to work with other state trainers as an instructor for the CTDN/DAS Train the Trainer program and assists with the annual CTDN Conference and meetings. Her experience includes the oversight of staff development programs which adhere to the rigorous criteria set forth by the American Correctional Association, assisting with the implementation of the Learning Management System, extensive curriculum development, and managing volunteer and internship programs. She was a past member of the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice SIG Group which was involved in developing a nationally recognized Parent Empowerment program and obtained several instructor certifications which included Mental Health & Juvenile Justice, Safe Crisis Management, Collaborative Safety Strategies, Mandated Reporter and Building Bright Futures in CT. Lynn is also a CPR/First Aid instructor for American Red Cross and an Instructor Trainer for American Health and Safety Institute.
LLC LEANOVATIONS	Headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut, USA and with an Office Annex in Milan, Italy; Leanovations is an internationally recognized consulting firm specializing in Lean Operational Excellence and Innovation. We focus on assisting our clients to realize their potential for profitable growth through the voice of their customer (VOC), the voice of the business (VOB), the voice of their employees (VOE) and the voice of the process (VOP). www.leanovations.com
Debra Mainville	Debra Mainville is a Human Resources Professional in the Department Of Administrative Services Statewide Human Resources Division.
Cheryl Malerba	Cheryl Malerba is the Director of Management & Technology Services at the Connecticut Department of Transportation. She oversees several areas including Information Technology, Staff & Organizational Development, Equal Employment Opportunities Office, Security, Internal Audits and the Office of Consultant Selection. She also serves as the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff. She has over 28 years in state government with an emphasis in organizational development. Her current focus is in the area of leaning state government. She serves on a statewide Lean Executive Steering Committee and is overseeing her agency’s lean efforts with the strong support of Commissioner James Redeker, Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry and her staff. Cheryl is Myer-Briggs qualified a certified trainer for Career Systems International, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Mass Media and a Masters in Educational Media.
MAC Management Advisory Council	Please see the MAC website for more details on the work of this exciting organization at www.ct.gov/mac
Robert McGarry	Robert McGarry is currently the Director of Organizational Development for the Department of Motor Vehicles. Robert holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education. Robert began his career as a Coast Guard officer, rising to the rank of Commander before retiring in 1996. He held a variety of operational and training positions and was the Coast Guard’s director of training when he retired. Following that he was employed in the Learning and Development division of Northeast Utilities and as an independent management consultant. He has been a state employee for eight years; seven at DMV and one at UCONN. Robert has provided a range of training programs and consulting services to federal, state and local government agencies and private businesses. Contact: Robert.mcgarry@ct.gov
New Haven Consulting Group New Haven Consulting Group	The New Haven Consulting Group is a Full-Service Training Company Specializing In Sales, Service, Management, and Compliance Training. Programs Offered Include Diversity, Sexual Harassment, Ethics and Employment Law. Over the past 20+ years, NHCG Inc. has developed a comprehensive set of field proven, model tested, highly effective training programs. All of their solutions fall into 3 main Practice Areas: Leadership, Management, & Supervisory Training Sales & Customer Service Training Diversity, Inclusion, & Compliance Training For more information check their website at www.nhcg.com
Nancy Nicolescu	Nancy Nicolescu is the Director of Education and Communications for the Connecticut Office of State Ethics. The Office of State Ethics is charged with enforcement of ethics provisions for state-wide elected officials, legislators, appointed public officials, state employees and lobbyists, issuing opinions to guide ethical conduct of the regulated community, and administering both the lobbyist disclosure system and the financial disclosure system for public officials and state employees. Prior to joining the Connecticut Office of State Ethics, Ms. Nicolescu was employed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission as a member of senior management. She was responsible for the administration of the Commission’s public campaign financing program, and for all communication functions including media relations, written publications, web site and educational programs. In addition, she worked on that agency’s legislative team and served as liaison to professional organizations. She began her career in government as a legislative and regulations specialist for the Department of Public Health. Ms. Nicolescu is the Vice Chair of the Management Advisory Council and serves as a judge for the School for Ethical Education, Laws of Life Essay Program.
P3Partners Consulting	Combining their diverse backgrounds and professional experiences with their complementary training skills and expertise, Carl Franzoni and Barbara King created p3partners, LLC, to provide consulting and training solutions to improve organizational effectiveness. Their philosophy is that people are the key to getting an organization’s work done, through processes in which they work together to achieve goals, with the overall aim of progress for the organization and themselves. As p3partners and as individuals, they developed their training expertise in work settings including financial services and manufacturing corporations, non-profit organizations, state government agencies, the military, and academia. They have designed, developed, delivered, and evaluated workplace training programs on topics such as Diversity, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Leadership, Communications, Project Management, New Employee Orientation, Customer Service, Team Building, Management/Supervision, and Quality Business Process Improvement. Carl graduated from the US Naval Academy and received the US Navy's Master Training Specialist certification. Barbara received a Bachelor's degree from Ithaca College and a Master's degree from University of Oklahoma, both in History. She is certified as a trainer by FEMA for Emergency Preparedness (NIMS-ICS) and by CDC for Crisis and Emergency Risk Management. Both Carl and Barbara have certifications from the American Society for Quality - ASQ -and have been members of the Connecticut Chapter of American Society of Training and Development.
Christine Palm	Christine Palm is the Communications Director for the CT Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. She is the agency’s media liaison and writes, designs and produces all communications materials. She also gives PCSW’s Sexual Harassment Awareness & Prevention trainings to State agencies and educational institutions. A writer and editor all her professional life, she has served as media and communications director for the Office of the State Treasurer, and in a similar capacity for both Hartford Seminary and Hartford College for Women. She has applied her editorial skills to materials as diverse as the journals of playwright Arthur Miller, the Manhattan Public Schools Chess Initiative, The CBIA News, and The Harriet Beecher Stowe Journal. Christine has been a columnist for The Hartford Courant, taught journalism at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and grammar at a camp for young writers at Kent School. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her essay writing.
Paula Piccirillo	Paula Piccirillo is a 1984 graduate of Providence College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. She began her professional career, first as Vocational Evaluator, and then as Supervisor for Training Thru Placement, Inc., a Providence based, private, non-profit organization that specializes in the administration of sheltered workshop training programs for mentally/physically challenged adults. From 1989 to the present, Paula has worked for the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. She first served the public as a Support Enforcement Officer in the Support Enforcement Services Division until becoming a Supervisor in 2004. During her 26+-year tenure, Paula participated in a number of projects within SES and the Judicial Branch. She was a member of the SES Speaker’s (Outreach) Bureau, delivering presentations to community organizations on Connecticut’s Child Support Enforcement Program, and of the Self-Assessment Team, charged with assessing the performance of the Child Support Enforcement Program based upon federal requirements. Pursuant to the team’s findings and recommendations, she developed training curriculum and administered training sessions statewide. Paula also served as a member of the Public Service Excellence Steering Committee, charged with designing a new Public Service Excellence program for the Superior Court Operations Division, and was a former Public Service Excellence trainer. In 2013 Paula joined the Judicial Branch’s Staff Development Unit, where she currently designs and develops meaningful and effective curriculum for professional workshops under the Branch’s Pillars of Service Excellence Initiative, a service-oriented training initiative based on the core values of the Judicial Branch's Strategic Plan: integrity, fairness, respect, and professionalism. Paula also oversees the New Supervisor Skill Assessment and Development Plan which is designed to help employees new to supervision become proficient in certain management areas within the first six months of their new role. Paula is a Certified Practitioner of the MBTI Step I and Step II instruments. She is a 2014 graduate of the Connecticut Training and Development Network (CTDN), Train the Trainer Certificate Program and an active member of the CTDN. Paula recently joined the CTDN instructor team.
DAS Procurement Division
Richwood Consulting Group Richwood Consulting Group	Richwood Consulting Group: Our purpose is to train both managers and non-managers to recognize employment law landmines so they can avoid the fallout that comes from stepping on them. Trainers from Richwood Consulting Group have years of Employment Law and/or Human Resources experience which is used to increase awareness of the types of situations that can give rise to legal exposure and provide strategies for handling them. Elaine Blackwood, President of Richwood Consulting Group, LLC, is an accomplished Employment Attorney and Human Resources Manager.
Rosario/Shapiro Consulting Group	Rosaida Morales Rosario and Deanne Shapiro, working as lead consultants and project managers, head Rosario/Shapiro Consulting Group. Both Deanne Shapiro and Rosaida Rosario have twenty five plus years experience in diversity training, including many state agencies as their clients. They offer a standard three-hour course, a 1-½ hour update on discrimination and hate crime laws, a train-the-trainer model and a number of courses focused on specific diversity issues.
Joshua Scollins	Joshua Scollins is the Staff Legal Counsel for the Office of the Commissioner of Administrative Services.
HR Staff	Members of the HR Staff will conduct the training.
The Statewide Process Improvement Steering Committee	Process Improvement Steering Committee members for CT state government
Barbara Viadella	Barbara Viadella is the EEO Manager with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Peggy Zabawar	Peggy Zabawar is an Organizational Development Specialist with Department of Administrative Services Strategic Services Unit. She is the director of the DAS Learning Center. Prior to that she served for 17 years at the Department of Social Services. Peggy has 17 years experience in training and organizational development in State Government. She is trained as a Facilitator for the Career Power (TM) program and has presented career workshops at 2 national conferences. She is a member of the CT Training and Development Network, and the Association of Contingency Planners. Peggy won the 2011 Distinguished Managerial Service Award from the CT Management Advisory Council (MAC). Peggy has trained on such diverse topics as Workplace Violence, Threat Assessment Teams, ADA, Professional Goal Setting, Interviewing Skills, Diversity, and Leading Through Change. She is a graduate of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Managers, The Center for Conflict Transformation Mediation Training, and The People’s Institute Community Organizing National Advanced Training. Peggy has a BA in Communications from Central CT State University.

Connecticut StateDepartment of Administrative Services