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Biographies of Commission Members
ROBERT S. BELLO, ESQ. - CHAIRPERSON
Robert S. Bello has been a principal in the Stamford law firm of Bello, Lapine & Cassone, LLP, since 1972. The firm is a general practice with an emphasis on civil and criminal litigation, including personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, commercial and construction disputes as well as family law. It also handles business and real estate transactions. Attorney Bello concentrates in criminal litigation where he has garnered extensive trial experience, including numerous jury trials of serious felonies, winning acquittal in many. He has also briefed and argued several criminal appeals before the Appellate and Supreme Courts. Mr. Bello is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School, Fairfield University, and St. John's Law School where he graduated in 1961. He has been admitted to practice in Connecticut State and Federal Courts for 50 years and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, The Fairfield County Bar Association, The Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, The American Association for Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He is a past recipient of numerous pro bono awards and citations, including a 1999 C.B.A. Pro Bono Award. He has been a panel member and contributor to several CLE seminars on criminal law.
Mr. Bello was appointed by former Chief Justice Sullivan to the Client Security Fund Committee, where he continues to serve, having been reappointed by Chief Justice Rogers. Previously, he has served as Chairman of the Committee on Training and Employment as Chairman, which was the original designated community action agency in Stamford.
Attorney Bello has been married for 50 years to his wife Frances, with whom he has a son Christopher. Attorney Bello enjoys spending his free time with his five grandchildren.
DAVID J. CAPPIELLO
David J. Cappiello is Vice President of Development and Communications at Abiity Beyond Disability, a non-profit organization based out of Bethel, Connecticut, serving people with disabilities in over ninety communities throughout Connecticut and New York.
Prior to joining his above position, Mr. Cappiello served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Connecticut Senate Republicans in 2009 and as Campaign Manager for U.S.Senate Candidate Linda McMahon in 2010. He also served five terms as Connecticut State Senator representing the 24th District towns of Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield, and Sherman. First elected in 1994 to the Connecticut House of Representatives from Danbury's 138th District, Senator Cappiello served two terms before being elected to the State Senate in 1998. Prior to his service in the state legislature, Mr. Cappiello was elected to the Danbury Common Coiuncil in 1993. In 2008, he ran unsuccessfully for Connecticut's 5th Congressional District.
For several years, Mr. Cappiello served as Senate Deputy Minority Leader, served as the Ranking Member of the legislature's budget-writing Apropriations Committee, as well as Ranking Member of the General Law Committee, Chairman of the Internship Committee, and member of the Judiciary, Program Review and Investigations, Human Services, Insurance and Real Estate and Legislative Management Committees. As a legislator, Mr. Cappiello has been recognized by a number of organizations for his legislative and community accomplishments and remains an active member of many local civic and community organizations.
STEPHEN J. CONOVER, ESQ.
Mr. Conover was admitted to practice in Connecticut in 1982 and is a partner in Sandak, Hennessey & Greco, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and St John’s University School of Law. Since his admission, he has maintained an active trial practice representing clients in Connecticut’s State and Federal Courts and in arbitration, mediation, and administrative hearings before Boards, Committees, and Commissions throughout the State.
In 2007, Mr. Conover completed 11 years of service as a Court-appointed Grievance Counsel involved with the State's lawyer disciplinary/grievance process in administrative and judicial proceedings. Since 2007, Mr. Conover regularly defends lawyers facing sanctions from Grievance Complaints filed with Connecticut’s Statewide Grievance Committee. In addition, Mr Conover provides guidance to lawyers and law firms in their management of partnership agreements, compensation, staff departures, lateral hiring, dissolutions, licensing, and professional ethics compliance.
Mr. Conover is an experienced neutral arbitrator regularly selected to decide complex commercial and construction disputes. Mr. Conover is also a neutral mediator and was trained (40 hours) at the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University Law School Center for Dispute Resolution and has a long history of leadership in the state and local bar, as well as being an active member of the National Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.
Mr. Conover is a frequent speaker for the Fairfield County Bar Association, the Bridgeport Bar Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association on the topics of professionalism, ethics, grievance defense and lawyer discipline.
ROBERT F. FRANKEL, ESQ.
Robert F. Frankel is Chief Legal Counsel to the Majority Leader’s Office of the Connecticut House of Representatives. In addition, he maintains a private law practice in the Town of Stratford.
Mr. Frankel was born in Bridgeport and received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut and his Law Degree from Temple University.
Mr. Frankel began his public service at the municipal level where he served as a member of the Stratford Town Council from1974 to 1977 and as Stratford Town Attorney from 1979 to 1981. First elected to the Connecticut House of Representative in 1976, he served for eight terms, retiring in 1993. During his years in the General Assembly, he earned a reputation as one of Connecticut’s foremost consumer advocates. Mr. Frankel served as Deputy Speaker of the House, Deputy Minority Leader and House Majority leader from 1986 to 1993. In addition to his service on numerous Legislative Committees, he served as house chairman of the Committee on Executive and Legislative Nominations (1979-1980), chairman of the House Democratic Screening Committee (1980-1986) and co-chairman of the 1983 House Impeachment Committee.
Upon retirement from the House of Representatives, Mr. Frankel became a partner in the government relations firm of Rome, Frankel and Kennelly until 2003 when he began employment with the House Majority Offices as Chief Legal Counsel to Majority Leader James Amann. In 2005 he was appointed Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the House where he served until 2009 at which time he resumed his role as Chief Legal Counsel to Majority Leader Denise Merrill.
Active in Democratic politics since 1973, Mr. Frankel has served as legal counsel to the Democratic State Central Committee, and has served as parliamentarian for the State Democratic Conventions since 1986. Active in the Connecticut community, he is currently a member of the State Judicial Selection Commission.
The former lawmaker and his wife, Judge Deborah Kochiss Frankel, reside in Monroe. Mr. Frankel has two daughters, Lauren and Jane.
MATTHEW R. FRITZ
Matt Fritz is the Chief of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Bureau of Outdoor Recreation where he oversees the operation of more than 100 state parks and the enforcement of Connecticut’s fish and game laws. He rejoins the DEP after serving for nearly three years as Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Special Assistant. As Governor Rell’s Special Assistant, he coordinated the state’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and assisted in policy development. In his previous career at the DEP, Matt served in many capacities including the department’s Chief of Staff overseeing communications, legislative affairs, environmental justice programs, environmental education and internal and external policy development.
In addition to his responsibilities at the DEP, Matt serves at Connecticut representative to the New England Governors’ Conference Commission on Land Conservation and is the chair of the state’s Job Corps Task Force.
Matt is also active locally, coaching a number of local youth athletic teams. He resides with his wife and three children in Meriden.
ERIC J. GEORGE, ESQ.
Eric J. George is an attorney and the principal of Eric George Group, LLC, a lobbying firm based in Glastonbury, CT. Mr. George provides lobbying and legal services to his clients. These lobbying services include traditional legislative lobbying, drafting and presenting testimony, administrative lobbying, development of public policy positions, strategic planning on legislative and administrative matters, public speaking and presentation, media relations and municipal lobbying and relations.
Prior to this endeavor, Mr. George was Associate Counsel to The Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Inc. (CBIA), where he served as the organization's in-house counsel and chief lobbyist on healthcare-related issues. Mr. George also served as CBIA's chief lobbyist on campaign finance, ethics and transportation issues. He also lobbied on the business community's behalf in the areas of taxes and labor matters as well.
Before joining CBIA, Mr. George was an associate at the law firm of Pullman & Comley, where he provided legal services and consultation to companies on general corporate and transactional matters, taxation as well as municipal financing. Prior to his tenure with Pullman & Comley, Mr. George held several positions within the Connecticut General Assembly.
Mr. George is a former member of the Connecticut Bar Association's House of Delegates and he received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Connecticut.
ULYSSES B. HAMMOND
Ulysses B. Hammond was appointed Vice President for Administration in February 2000 and coordinates the community and legal affairs of the College. Previously he served 22 years as a judicial administrator. For ten years prior to his appointment at Connecticut College, Ulysses served as the Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Courts where he was the chief operations and administrative officer for the Court of Appeals and Superior Court. He served 12 years in the Michigan courts as the Associate State Court Administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court and Court Executive for the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. Prior to joining the College, he served on the Kenyon College Board of Trustees and currently serves on several community boards and commissions, including, the Connecticut Legal Services Board, Board Chair of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, and President of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Trust Fund. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his achievements in administration and community service, including the 2010 Liberty Bank Willard McRae Community Diversity Award, 2010 Paul Harris Rotary International Award, 2008 Strong Men & Strong Women Excellence in Leadership Award, 2008 OIC Community Champion Award, 2008 Boy Scouts of America Outstanding Leadership Award, and the 2006 Connecticut Man of the Year Award. Ulysses received his B.A. in political science, M.P.A. from Wayne State University, J.D. from Wayne State University Law School, and Honorary Doctor of Laws from Kenyon College.
ANDREA JACKSON-BROOKS - VICE CHAIRPERSON
Andrea Jackson-Brooks, formerly of Newport, Rhode Island, has been a resident of New Haven for twenty-four years. Professionally trained as a Registered Nurse and a Certified Public Manager, Ms. Jackson-Brooks is currently an Executive Assistant to Nancy Wyman, State Comptroller.
Ms. Jackson-Brooks is extremely involved in a variety of organizations and activities in New Haven, which focus primarily upon the betterment of lives of the City’s residents, as well as the improvement of the overall image of New Haven. Ms. Jackson-Brooks serves as President of the Hill Health Center, which provides low-cost health care services to the impoverished, and Secretary to the Hill Development Corporation, which seeks to provide homes for the needy in the Hill section of New Haven. She serves on the boards of Columbus House and on the Development Committee of the Christian Community Action Agency.
Ms. Jackson-Brooks, a resident of the neighborhood, has made great strides through her continued service and dedication in stabilizing the economy of the Hill. Currently, she represents Ward 4 on the Board of Aldermen in New Haven.
Ms. Jackson-Brooks has been involved in politics for many years: As a former State Representative from the 95th District, through service on her Ward Committee, and as a member of the Democratic Town Committee for many years. Ms. Jackson-Brooks was also elected to the Democratic State Central Committee from the 10th Senatorial District.
In addition to her dedication to these organizations and their respective causes, Ms. Jackson-Brooks is extremely active in achieving her personal goal of involving many more people in the political process through her efforts to encourage citizens to vote. The following organizations of which Ms. Jackson-Brooks is a contributing member are a small example of her untiring efforts to reach the residents of New Haven and to help these groups achieve their goals: Gateway College Advisory Commission, National Conference of Negro Women, CT Association of Native Americans, the NAACP and a former member of Latino Youth Development. In addition, Ms. Jackson-Brooks attends the Saint Matthew’s Unison Free Will Baptist Church and an active member of its Trustee Board.
JAY K. JAYANTHAN
Jay K. Jayanthan is the President of United International Corporation, a Wallingford based company that provides civil engineering and surveying services to towns, cities and state agencies in Connecticut. The company has branch offices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Additionally, over the past 25 years, Mr. Jayanthan co-founded a number of companies in the accounting, engineering and telecommunications industries and remains an active member of their executive teams. These companies were established and are operated in five States. His experience included representing these companies in Federal and State court on many occasions.
Mr. Jayanthan is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. He brings a unique perspective to the Commission as an entrepreneur and immigrant. Mr. Jayanthan was a member of the advisory board to the Auditor General of Ohio, and is an active participant in non-governmental organizations that promote international human rights. Mr. Jayanthan co-founded an organization that seeks prosecution and conviction of those who commit war crimes around the world.
Mr. Jayanthan has two sons, both of whom are in college, and resides with his wife in Wallingford.
MAUREEN MAGNAN
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NDIDI N. MOSES, ESQ.
Attorney Ndidi N. Moses is an Assistant United States Attorney, and the Civil Rights Coordinator for the Civil Division at the United States Attorney's Office in New Haven, CT. Attorney Moses is the Co-Chair of the Connecticut Bar Association's Diversity Committee, the past Treasurer of the Connecticut Bar Association, and past President of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association. Attorney Moses sits as a board member of the Connecticut Appleseed Foundation, where she is the Chair of the Homeless Experience Legal Protection Project. She is the 2005 recipient of the Joseph F. Noonan Award for Outstanding Legal Scholarship and Commitment to Public Service, and received a 2005 Proclamation from Governor M. Jodi Rell, recognizing her dedication to public service and naming May 22, 2005, Ndidi Moses Day in the State of Connecticut. In 2009, the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP recognized Attorney Moses as among 100 of the Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut.
Attorney Moses holds a juris doctorate from the University Of Connecticut School of Law, where she was a John C. Brittan Scholar. She holds a Masters of Arts and Bachelors of Arts from Pennsylvania State University, where she was a Bunton-Waller and McNair Scholar. She is licensed to practice law in New York and Connecticut.
JOSEPH QUINN, ESQ.
Joe Quinn has been Chief Legal Counsel to the Senate Democrats since January, 2004, providing legal and policy advice to the Senate President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader, and the other members of the Democratic Caucus. His duties include supervision of the Legal Department and oversight of the parliamentary procedures and floor operations during Senate sessions. Joe coordinates the Screening Committee, made up of the Majority Leader, five other Senators and six attorneys, who determines which bills will be debated and whether amendments are needed. He represents the Senate leadership in meetings and negotiations with advocates, other Caucuses, non-partisan staff, and the Executive Branch. He is the primary liaison between the Caucus and the State Elections Enforcement Commission, the Office of State Ethics, and the Freedom of Information Commission.
Prior to assuming his current position, Joe was a partner in the Hartford law firm of Quinn & Quinn, LLC (formerly Furniss and Quinn, P.C.) where he practiced with his brothers John and Jim since 1981. He maintained a varied practice, including personal injury, general litigation, representation of injured persons before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, Social Security disability claims, criminal law, family law, and probate and real estate matters. He has tried several civil cases to verdict, argued before the Appellate Court, prosecuted numerous Formal Workers’ Compensation Hearings and several appeals before the Compensation Review Board. He remains Of Counsel to Quinn & Quinn, LLC.
While practicing law at Furniss and Quinn LLC, Joe also worked part time from 1987 through 2003 as a co-counsel to the Senate Democrats. He is a former member of the Law Revision Commission and has been a member of the State Marshal Commission since 2000.
Joe is a 1971 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and a 1981 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law. Joe resides in West Hartford with his wife, Lucille, where they raised three children. He is a member of the Democratic Town Committee.
Content Last Modified on 5/3/2013 9:48:09 AM
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