Bipartisan advocates for smart, sustainable environmental policies in Connecticut
CTLCV was pleased to be in attendance at the swearing in ceremony of DEP Commissioner Dan Esty on Friday, March 18. The ceremony took place in the Phoenix Auditorium at the DEP headquarters in Hartford. Governor Dannel Malloy officiated, underscoring his commitment to the environment and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Watch both their remarks, and read more at Pomp, Circumstance and a New Era at the DEP (CT Mirror).
Governor Dannel Malloy is making good on his December 2010 declaration to environmental advocates when he said, “Your issues are my issues.” On the heels of appointing energy and environment expert Dan Esty as Commissioner of Environmental Protection, today Malloy appointed another commissioner with strong ties to the environmental field: Catherine Smith, now CEO of ING US Retirement Services, is on the Board of Directors for Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA.
Excerpts from the Governor’s press release:
(HARTFORD, CT) – In one of his highest profile appointments to date, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today named ING executive Catherine Smith to lead the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Smith, who lives in Northford, has worked for ING for the past 10 years; prior to that, she worked at Aetna for 17 years.
… Smith is currently the Chief Executive Officer of ING U.S. Retirement Services, a position she’s held since 2008. In this capacity, Smith helped ING weather the recession and retain customers, while helping them to navigate the economic storm. Smith managed 3,000 employees and had oversight of sales, marketing, operations, customer service, product development, risk management and finance.
… Smith graduated from Hampshire College and received her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. She is on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA. She has been recognized by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.
Governor Malloy is expected to announce his appointment for CT’s Commissioner of Economic & Community Development today at 2:30 at State Capitol Room 310.
Rumors abound as to whom it will be. Who’s next - maybe Michael Porter, of industry cluster fame? ;)
The Courant’s Jon Lender and the Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas report.
Governor Malloy is scheduled to make another major announcement today at 2:30 in the Old Judiciary Room, State Capitol.
Malloy has also announced his appointment of Dan DeSimone to be the director of Connecticut's state office in Washington D.C.
DeSimone will work with Connecticut's Congressional Delegation and coordinate Connecticut's federal legislative and policy work on behalf of Governor Malloy.
From the press release:
"Dan has a proven record of success in helping states implement their legislative agendas in Washington," said Governor Malloy. "I've made no secret about the fact I am going to be knocking on doors in Washington frequently to ensure that more federal tax dollars come back to Connecticut for transportation and other capital investment projects. Dan's experience in this arena will be critical. His expertise will help Connecticut aggressively re-position itself and ensure we are taking every opportunity to make Connecticut strong again."
"I'm honored that Governor Malloy has seen fit to hire me in this new and challenging capacity," said DeSimone. "Connecticut is a small state, but its Congressional delegation has always been strong. I look forward to working with them to help implement Governor Malloy's agenda in Connecticut."
For the past two years, DeSimone has been the Director of the State of Oregon's Washington Office, where he offered strategic advice to Governor Ted Kulongoski and other state officials to achieve policy goals for Oregon and the northwest region. He helped the state navigate major policy issues including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Dodd-Frank Financial Services reform. DeSimone worked closely with Oregon's Congressional Delegation to push state-specific priorities in Washington, including projects such as the pivotal West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health, and a major bi-state transportation project - the Columbia River Crossing.
Prior to his work for the State of Oregon, DeSimone was the Director of the Office of Federal Relations for the National Association of State Treasurers where he advised State Treasurers on developing federal policy goals.
From 2001-2003, DeSimone spent two years as the Assistant Director at the Government Finance Officers Association, helping to implement the Government Finance Officers national policy agenda and working with various committees to build best practices and stronger public policy. He was also a legislative aide to a midwestern Congresswoman. DeSimone graduated from James Madison University and lives in Washington D.C.
