North Stonington Town Hall in Connecticut has recently hired Susan Cullen as the new town planner and Laura Brown as the new administration and finance director. Cullen, who previously served as the Stonington director of economic and community development, brings over 25 years of municipal experience to her new role. Brown, an experienced financial and human resources professional, most recently worked with the Mohegan Sun. The addition of Cullen and Brown will provide much-needed relief for a staff that has been wearing multiple hats in the absence of these positions. The town has a small, 12-employee team that has done an exceptional job filling in during the absence of these roles. Other employees have also offered invaluable services to the community. The added help comes at a time when other communities in the region are struggling to fill roles. North Stonington was able to attract qualified candidates by offering a small, family-style work environment that provides both close-knit social interaction and independent working conditions. Cullen and Brown, both local residents in their 50s, bring their own established records of municipal experience. Cullen recently aided in acquiring a $200,000 federal brownfield grant for the town. Brown has already sought materials to get up to speed and is expected to hit the ground running when she starts later this month. First Selectman Robert Carlson is pleased to have a fully staffed team with experienced employees at every position [66278e23].
The board of trustees of the Historical Society of Cheshire County has announced that Jennifer “Jenna” Carroll will succeed Alan F. Rumrill as executive director when he retires in October 2024. Carroll, who has been the director of education at the society for over 10 years, brings 28 years of experience in museum management to her new role. She has previously served as executive director at the American Clock and Watch Museum and the Laconia Historical and Museum Society. Carroll's appointment was made after a national search, but the organization ultimately decided to hire from within. Carroll has a master's degree in historical administration and has been involved with the Historical Society of Cheshire County for several years. She is also co-owner of the Keene International Market and has been recognized with the President's Outstanding Women of New Hampshire Award. Carroll expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her and stated her commitment to continuing the society's positive trend of remaining financially stable and a viable part of the culture of southwest New Hampshire [da808cea].
In other news, Connecticut Humanities is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The organization was formed in 1974 with Marianne Finnegan as its first executive director. Over the years, the organization has focused on funding humanities projects, deepening citizen understanding of public issues, and advocating for parity between arts and humanities funding. Bruce Fraser and Stuart Parnes led the organization in subsequent years, with Parnes expanding CT Humanities' commitment to literature programs. Dr. Jason R. Mancini, the current executive director, has focused on engaging communities of color. CT Humanities recently secured a $30.7 million investment from the state to support cultural organizations. The organization now focuses on demonstrating the value of humanities through various initiatives and partnerships. CT Humanities is also involved in the state's semiquincentennial commission, America 250 | CT, which aims to tell untold stories in Connecticut's historical narrative [a1364663].