June 1, 2023

 A message from our Board Chair welcoming Wendy Vincent as our new Executive Director!

On behalf of our entire organization, I am pleased to announce Wendy Vincent will be joining our team as our new Executive Director. Since the announcement of her departure in February, our founding Executive Director, Wendy Bury, has continued to support the Cultural Coalition and is assisting in onboarding our incoming Executive Director to ensure a smooth change of leadership.

As our organization faces the opportunities ahead, our new Executive Director, Wendy Vincent, will bring her collaborative leadership style, her commitment to the economy and quality of life of eastern Connecticut, and her passion for advocating and supporting the arts, heritage, cultural, and business activities of the region.

Wendy Vincent brings to the table a diverse background in entrepreneurship, business development, communications, marketing and fundraising, and non-profit leadership.  Prior to working in marketing and project management in the corporate sector, Wendy worked her way up from usher to box office manager to house manager to associate director of audience services at Lincoln Theater at the Hartt School of Music while she was working on her undergraduate degree.

Vincent most recently served as the eastern Connecticut program director for the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) where she managed and delivered WBDC’s programs and services throughout eastern Connecticut to entrepreneurs at all stages of business development. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations, regional staff, and volunteers, Vincent supported and managed grant programs, and was responsible for establishing and strengthening relationships with community partners, funders, local and state leaders. She also helped establish a more prominent anchor location in downtown New London for WBDC’s eastern regional office.

She is a past president of the board of directors of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, a former board member of the East Haddam Historical Society and Museum, and a former journalist. She is the author of three published books, founding editor of the East Haddam News, a grant writer, and the owner of a publishing company and a bookstore.

“It has been rewarding to be a part of what was built by the Cultural Coalition over the years- from participating in the first Make Music Day at Gillette Castle to being a part of THRIVE and, most recently, partnering with the Coalition on entrepreneurial training for ARPA grant awardees,” said Wendy Vincent.

“I am honored to take on the role of Executive Director and look forward to working with the team to continue to provide quality programs and ensure the Cultural Coalition’s impact and long-term sustainability.”

Wendy has a B.A. in Communications from the University of Hartford, where she minored in international languages and cultures; an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Albertus Magnus, where her thesis was on the Trobairitz, 12^th and 13^th century female troubadours; and is nearing the completion of an MPhil degree in the humanities and writing at Wesleyan University where her final thesis is in the form of a magazine of travel essays that focus on how travel experiences (food, art, music) shape and broaden cultural understanding.

We’d like to also acknowledge our former Executive Director Wendy Bury who helped form the Coalition into the organization it is today. Wendy Bury’s work touched the lives of countless people in our region. Her ability to advocate, connect and energize arts and culture will be remembered for decades to come. We wish Wendy Bury the best in her next venture and thank her for the almost 10 years of dedicated service to our partners.

In addition, I would like to thank Assistant Director Deb Mathiasen and the rest of our amazing team, Kia Baird, Sarbani Hazra and Jessica Morozowich, for their continued dedication and work during this transition. Finally, thank you to our Board of Directors, Advisory Council and community members who helped us through the search process.

We look forward to the next chapter of the Cultural Coalition and thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Nishant Sahoo, Board Chair