William E. Louis of General Dynamics-Electric Boat and President of the MDA-UAW Local 571 was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut at the organization’s Annual Meeting on January 24, 2020. He takes over for Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, who served two years as Chairman and will remain on the Board as Immediate Past Chair.
Louis was first elected to United Way’s Board of Directors in 2013 and was serving as Vice Chairman of the board for two years prior to his election as Board Chairman. He previously served for two years as Co-chair of the annual United Way Campaign and is a member of the organization’s Governance Committee. Louis is deeply engaged in the United Way Campaign at General Dynamics-Electric Boat by helping with the fundraising effort and special events including food drives in support of the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank.
“I am proud and honored to be part of an organization that truly believes in helping those in our community and to see the difference in people’s lives from all that United Way supported programs do…it is amazing,” said Louis. “For me, Living United is being there for those who call for help and having the opportunity to offer that help whenever possible.”
Louis attended the Carpentry Vo-Tech program along with Architectural Design, graduating from Hall Institute in Pawtucket, earning a certificate in Architectural Design. He is an apprentice graduate from the Metal Trades Council Electric Boat program. He began his career at Electric Boat as a Shiplifter prior to transferring into design as a Structural Designer. Louis was elected into the Union office as Treasurer in 2008 and served in that position until 2012 when he was elected President of Local 571 where he is currently serving his third term.
In addition, three new Board members were elected at the Annual Meeting. Charles Corrado is president of General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences (GDAPS) and is one of the original founders of the company acquired by General Dynamics in 2012. He has a Ph.D. in Acoustics from MIT and a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute. United Way has been the focus of GDAPS charitable giving from its inception and it has long been a source of pride for the staff.
Marie-Claire Peakman is Executive Director of Primary Pharmacology Group at Pfizer. She has been at Pfizer for 22 years holding leadership positions in Exploratory Medicinal Sciences, the CVMED Research Unit, Pharmakokinetics Dynamics and Metabolism, and the Research Centers of Emphasis. She holds a B.Pharm. Hons. Degree in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Nottingham U.K. She conducted postdoctoral work at Yale University in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Peakman has served on United Way’s Community Impact Committee. She was recognized in 2018 as a ‘We Work for Health Champion’ by PhRMA and as a 2019 finalist for the CT Women in Innovation Awards.
Megan Roberts is Electric Boat’s director of naval architecture and structural design and engineering. She began her career at Electric Boat in 2003 in the Nuclear Test department before moving to the radiation analysis group. She was subsequently named engineering supervisor for the Columbia Class reactor plant structures and then acting manager of Columbia Class propulsion plant structures, shielding, and arrangements. Most recently she was manager of the radiological engineering department. Roberts earned her bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of the company’s Business Leader program.
