Ted Carroll is president of Leadership Greater Hartford, a non-profit community leadership training group for people in business, government and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining LGH in 1986, Mr. Carroll served for five years as the executive director of Southend Community Services, a neighborhood social service agency in Hartford. Mr. Carroll has also served in a variety of volunteer roles. From 1989 to 1997, Mr. Carroll was an elected member of the Hartford Board of Education where he chaired the Board’s Strategic and Physical Planning Committee, Legislation and Policy Committee and the Board’s Operations, Management & Budget Committee during various periods. More recently, he has served as a Little League coach and a mentor to city youth. His community leadership training expertise is well recognized, having served as the chairman of the annual conference for the Community Leadership Association in 1999 and again in 2002, President of this international organization from 2004-2005 and host for its annual conference held in Hartford in 2006. He has been a trainer and mentor for community leadership programs throughout the United States and beyond, including Ottawa, Canada and Sao Paulo, Brazil. In addition to his community leadership activities, Mr. Carroll has conducted training in areas of diversity, organizational development, strategic planning, and team-building for groups throughout the northeast. His work has been recognized by such groups as the Junior League of Hartford, which presented him with the President’s Award in 1996, the Hartford chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, which presented him with its Merit Award in 1997, the Community Leadership Association, which gave him the Preceptor Award in 2003, and the Spiritual Life Center, which presented him with its Living Spirit Award in 2006. Mr. Carroll received his B.A. in Sociology in 1976 from the University of Connecticut and his M.S.W. from the UConn School of Social Work in 1980.

Eddie A. Perez is Hartford’s first strong mayor in more than 50 years winning his first election in 2001. Born in Corozal, Puerto Rico, Mr. Perez arrived in Hartford in 1969 at the age of 12 with his family. Mayor Perez is a graduate of Hartford Public High School Class of 1976. In 1978, Mr. Perez took a job as a VISTA volunteer to address tenant issues in the North End. That position led to his role as the founding member of the grassroots organization O.N.E./C.H.A.N.E. In 1986, he became the Director of MASH (Make Something Happen), an early welfare-to-work effort for families in public housing. Three years later, the President of Trinity College was looking for its first Director of Community Relations - and Eddie Perez fit the bill. By 1994, Mr. Perez had earned a degree in economics from Trinity (while working there full time), and was named Associate Vice President of Community and Government Relations for this world-class college. In June of 1999, he was tapped to be the President and Executive Director of the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA), which is an organization founded by Trinity College and Hartford Hospital. In that capacity, he spearheaded the completion of the $112 million Learning Corridor and launched SINA’s $220 million Neighborhood Initiative. Both are now recognized as national models for comprehensive community revitalization.

Andy F. Bessette is executive vice president and chief administrative officer of The Travelers Companies, Inc. He has responsibility for the functions of Corporate Real Estate, Administrative Services, Human Resources, Community Affairs, Aviation, Sports Sponsorships, Internal Investigations, Event Management, and Business Continuity. During his 26-year tenure with the company, Mr. Bessette has held a number of management positions across the enterprise. Mr. Bessette is active in professional organizations. He served as the 2000-2001 president of the International Development Research Corporation (IDRC), now CoreNet Global. He continues to serve on CoreNet Global’s board of directors and chairs the governance committee. He holds an IDRC professional certificate as Advanced Professional in Real Estate and the Workplace and the designation of Real Property Administrator with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). He consistently has been involved with civic activities, both in Hartford and in the Twin Cities. He is chairman of the board of the MetroHartford Alliance and serves on the board of directors for the University of Connecticut Foundation. He serves as chairman of the board of directors for The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, which is working in partnership with The Bushnell in Hartford. He serves on the executive committee and board of the Capital City Partnership in Saint Paul, as well as on the board of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). He was recently appointed to the board of trustees for Trinity College in Hartford. As a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team, he continues to support Olympic Committee activities. Mr. Bessette holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., and a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I.