United Way of Southeastern Connecticut has elected three new members to its Board of Directors.
Ken Ewell first joined the Board in 2013, following his retirement from Zachry Nuclear Engineering, and served for two consecutive terms. Soon after joining the Board, he was asked to join on the Finance Committee and he continues to serve on the Finance Committee, as a non-Board member. In 2014, Ken was elected Treasurer and served as the Treasurer until January 2020. He has resumed the role of Treasurer after his recent re-election to the Board.
Prior to his retirement in 2013, Ken was the Senior Vice President of Zachry Nuclear, responsible for directing Zachry Group’s commercial nuclear power engineering and construction business sectors. Ken was also President of Proto-Power Corporation for 11 years, before Proto-Power was acquired by Zachry Group. He began his career at General Dynamics Electric Boat, where he designed new nuclear submarine propulsion plants.
Ken has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut.
Christopher LaRose is General Manager for Norwich Public Utilities (NPU), overseeing and directing operations, human resources, customer service, administration, and finance.
Chris began his career at NPU 1997 after working for 12 years as a Mechanical Engineer at Pratt & Whitney. He began as a Utility Engineer at NPU and managed a variety of projects and was promoted to more senior roles.
He is a member of the New England Public Power and American Public Power Associations, the American Public Gas, American Gas, and the Northeast Gas Associations, and he served as the Former Chairman of the Connecticut Gas Advisory Committee.
Chris has been actively engaged in the community throughout his career, including serving as United Way Campaign Co-Chair, Board Treasurer for the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, Board Member of the Norwich Community Development Corporation, and is a past President and currently the Secretary for the Norwich Sunrise Rotary Club.
Chris graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Materials and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. He has also earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1990.
Michele Scott is a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council. Councilwoman Scott chairs the Tribe's Economic Development and Health & Human Services Committees.
Prior to Tribal Council, Councilor Scott served as the Executive Director of the Health Education Center, Inc. (HEC) of Connecticut. Prior to her role at HEC, she served as the Community Development Strategist for two Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilors where she secured resources to address mental health service gaps and substance abuse in southern New England tribal communities. Councilor Scott has also served as a member of the Tribe's Education Committee, chaired the Mashantucket Pequot Health Care Advisory Board, and served as an inaugural board member and treasurer of the Mashantucket Pequot Business Development Company (Command Holdings, LLC.).
Outside of her Tribal Council responsibilities, Councilor Scott serves as President of the Board of Directors for Health Equity Solutions and is a member of The Arc of Eastern Connecticut Board of Directors. She also serves as an Executive Board Member of Rotary Club of Norwich, is an active member of Columbia's Alumni Representative Committee, is Chairwoman of Connecticut's Community Health Worker Advisory Board, and serves as a member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Tribal Advisory Board.
Michele is a proud citizen of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation and is equally proud of her Eastern Pequot, Narragansett, Shinnecock, and Black ancestry.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, American Studies, and Political Science from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. She also received a Certification in Genealogical Research from Boston University.
