The graduation reception was held at Yale's beautfiul Gilder Boat House in Derby.

Leadership Greater Valley recently graduated a class of 18 community leaders following an eight week training program. This marks the tenth graduating class in the program which was originally called the LEAD program, but was upgraded and renamed five years ago when the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce joined the Valley Council for Health & Human Services and Valley United Way in sponsoring the unique program.

Over the course of eight weeks, the participants had the opportunity to learn a lot more about themselves and the community at weekly sessions that included a wide range of topics including:

We would like to congratulate the following participants for the successful completion of the program:

• Steve Glowa, Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut

• Susan Agamy, Area Congregations Together Inc

• Bob Scodari, Better Packages

• Martha Dulla, Grassy Hill Lodge

• Sara Guastello, Griffin Health Services

• Sue Millican, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company

• Scott Ragaini, Litchfield Personal Lines

• Amanda Gorton, LNV Parent Child Resource Center

• Melissa Wall, Marketing with Distinction LLC

• Kevin G Ewing, Mutual Housing Assoc of S Central CT

• Betty Mackowski, Mutual Housing Assoc of S Central CT

• Jason Bashura, Naugatuck Valley Health District

• Rebecca Kayfus, Newtown Savings Bank

• Marva King, Newtown Savings Bank

• Denise Griffin, Sacred Heart University

• Christopher C Ehlert, United Illuminating

• Mark Kirschbaum, United Illuminating

• Joseph Stamler, Visual Transformations

The students are already putting their new knowledge and skills to work by planning a special meal for the residents of the Spooner House in Derby. They were so impressed by the need and the quality of the service when they visited the Spooner House, that they decided to undertake a special project to support the Spooner House.

Valley United Way Home Page