At its Annual Meeting on January 31, 2014 United Way of Southeastern Connecticut elected Beverly Goulet, Director of Norwich Human Services, to serve as Board Chair for a two-year term. Melodie Peters, President of the AFT Connecticut, was re-elected as Vice Chair of the Board.
Goulet has been with Norwich Human Services since 1985. She originally joined the United Way Board of Directors in 2002. In addition to her service with United Way, Goulet is a member of the Council of Governments Regional Human Services Coordinating Council, Co-chair of the Partnership to End Homelessness, President of the Board of Directors of St. Jude Commons Assisted Living Facility, and Corporator of Dime Bank.
“I am absolutely honored to be the next Board Chair of United Way,” says Goulet. “The services that are funded by United Way are those of hard working people who care so much our region. Our United Way is one of the best, most honest, and most caring organizations in our country.”
Goulet has received numerous honors in the community including the Palmer Davies Leadership Award from United Community & Family Services, City of Norwich Distinguished Service Award, Carol Croteau Humanitarian Award from Bethsaida Inc, Southeastern Connecticut Municipal Social Service Leadership Award, and United Way’s Community Hero Award.
Denise Stapienski, Assistant Vice President of Training & Development at Chelsea Groton Bank, and Ray Stanley, retired from Electric Boat, were also elected as Directors. Stapienski and Stanley will service as Co-chairs of the Allocations Cabinet, which oversees the annual fund distribution to local health and human service programs.
The Annual Meeting also marked the conclusion of Keith Fontaine’s service as United Way Board Chair. Fontaine, of Backus Hospital, noted in his outgoing remarks that 2013 was “a year of action and a year of making things happen…United Way is making a difference, sometimes behind the scenes, sometimes behind a big banner, always with a big heart."
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut’s Board of Directors comprises local volunteers and business leaders. The Board provides guidance, direction, and oversight to United Way activities including ensuring that the highest standards of financial accountability, responsibility, and transparency are upheld.
Click here to see a list of our entire volunteer Board of Directors.
