Members of the Board of Trustees and Bank of America will discuss their partnership, dive into Donations & Bequest’s long-term investment strategy, portfolio position for sustainability, and overview of the Investment Policy Statement.

One of the most challenging tasks for parishes of all sizes can be managing the investment assets of which they are stewards. This session will give you a better understanding of the investment approach, rate of return, and high-level overview of D&B’s portfolio. We also look forward to a meet-and-greet, where you can connect with Trustees, and a dedicated time for questions and answers.

FACILITATORS: Elizabeth Cahill is a Managing Director and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America Private Bank in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Liz advises individuals, families, CEOs, and private business owners with a focus on ultra-high-net-worth families. She also consults to institutional foundations and endowments, offering customized advice and guidance to help simplify the complexities that significant wealth can entail. A veteran advisor, Liz works in concert with a team of specialists to leverage the extensive resources of the Private Bank, including investment management, customized credit, and estate planning, serving clients throughout the country. Liz has more than 30 years of experience in corporate banking and wealth management. In her free time, Liz volunteers with many nonprofit organizations across Fairfield County.

Mark Hathaway is a managing director and senior portfolio strategist within the Institutional Investments Group at Bank of America Private Bank. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing the investment approaches that may best assist clients meet short and long-term goals by understanding the endowments, foundations, charitable trusts and pension plans needs and helping get clarity about the financial implications of clients’ missions and the areas of focus for investment strategies. This includes the planning and managing of customized solutions by leveraging Bank of America Private Bank broad range of investment management services and Bank of America affiliates; by identifying opportunities that may shape portfolios and long- term investments through our consulting and advisory services; by providing guidance to allocate assets to help meet unique objectives; and by researching market ideas and building investment portfolios by navigating in today’s evolving markets.

David Kalal has spent his career in banking and finance, principally in credit risk management, bankruptcy, and restructuring, at Bankers Trust Company, Credit Research & Trading, and UBS. He currently maintains an advisory practice focused on insolvency matters. A New Canaan resident, David attends St. Mark’s Church. He has served the parish on the Vestry, as Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer, as Chair of the Finance Committee, as a member of the Executive Committee, and as a member of the Investment and Endowment Committee. He also sits on the board of GetAbout of New Canaan, which provides transportation services to seniors, and works with the University of Arizona Foundation (Dianne Kalal Scholarship Endowment for Disabled Students). David earned a B.A. (English) from Yale College and an M.B.A. (Finance) from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He was elected a Trustee of Donations and Bequests in 2023.

Nina Surviladze is a Managing Director and Philanthropic Client Manager within Bank of America Private Bank Philanthropic Solutions group in New York, New York. With a focus on relationship management, she provides specialized advisory, asset management and administrative solutions to the firm’s nonprofit clients throughout the United States. In her role, Nina is also responsible for executing the Bank’s fiduciary duties in compliance with all laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Nina joined Bank of America Private Bank (formerly U.S. Trust) in 2009. Nina is a dedicated volunteer focused on ethnic/immigrant services and leadership development.

Theresa Dupont has been a member of the board of trustees of Donations and Bequests (D&B) since 2014 where she is the Secretary and Director of Operations servicing the D&B participants. Theresa has participated in Big Brothers and Sisters of America and volunteers in her community. Theresa graduated from Sacred Heart University with a B.S. in Accounting.

Not thinking about a merger? Join us for a conversation about imaging a new future for your parish…. honest conversations about moving forward listening to the Holy Spirit, telling the truth, and building connections in new and life-giving ways.

FACILITATORS: Bishop Laura Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, is passionate about exploring with congregations how parish leadership, lay and ordained, can engage God’s Mission in their local context through prayerful discernment and collaborative partnerships. With Bishop Jeff, she seeks to create vibrant and engaging spaces where Christians can deepen their understanding of God’s love and try on new ways of speaking about and sharing that love with others.

Joy Dorin was the junior warden at St. John’s, Vernon, and the prior senior warden at St. Mary’s, Manchester. In her role as senior warden, she was part of the team that guided the activities and discussions of possible options for St. Mary’s that led to the eventual union between St. Mary’s and St. John’s and created the new St. John’s in October 2023. It’s a privilege for Joy to share her experience with other parishes as they pray about their future.  

Renee Janes was Senior Warden at St. John’s, Yalesville, when that group began worshiping at Grace and St Peter’s in Hamden in 2021, leading up to their merger in 2022. She is currently serving as senior warden in the merged church, now known as Grace and St. John’s.  Renee is currently working with Bishop Ahrens on another merger in Connecticut.

The Reverend Robert Bergner is the Rector at Grace and St. John’s Hamden where he oversaw the merger of Grace and St. Peter’s with St. John’s in 2021. His perspective as a clergy person walking with these two parishes is an invaluable gift to all of us. A team player with a passion for raising up and empowering lay leaders, Bob will share some of his insights and wisdom about the merger process.

This workshop will explore the defining concepts and applications of digital archiving and how these electronic records might be used creatively to enhance your parish’s digital media communications and storytelling. Strategies for creating, curating, and repurposing archival content will be shared, along with techniques and resource materials to help quickly unlock new creative possibilities for utilizing your parish’s digital archives.

FACILITATOR: Greg Farr serves as the Director for Archives and Record Management for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Greg majored in Religious Studies at the University of Montana and has also received master’s degrees in theology (MTS) at Boston University and library information science (MLIS) at Drexel University. Since 2010, Greg has worked professionally as a corporate archivist and is both a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) and a certified Digital Archive Specialist through the Society of American Archivists (SAA).  Greg lives in the NW corner of CT (Colebrook) and is an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington.

Parishes with as few as one employee need to be familiar with human resources practices as well as their obligations under employment laws. Even the smallest employers are covered by laws governing matters such as minimum wages and overtime, meal breaks, reporting of new hires, timekeeping, personnel files, electronic monitoring, employee classification, family and medical leaves of absence, anti-discrimination, and sexual harassment prevention training. This workshop will cover the basics of human resources and compliance issues throughout the employment relationship, including hiring, wage and hour matters, personnel files and policies, documentation, leaves of absence/time off, and the end of the employment relationship. There will be time for Q&A; bring your questions!

FACILITATORS: Jean Tomasco is the Director for Human Resources for ECCT, providing support to ECCT management and staff on all human resources matters.  Her responsibilities include developing and updating policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws, and providing advice, assistance, and guidance on employee relations issues. Jean also is a resource for parish leaders on human resources and general employment questions.  Prior to joining ECCT, Jean was an employment attorney for over 20 years.

Carla Harris is the Senior Warden at Trinity Church, Portland, where she’s been an active and dedicated member for many years. She’s served in various roles, including on the vestry, teaching Sunday school, helping with fundraising, and supporting outreach efforts.

In her professional life, Carla has built a career in human resources, working in different roles to support teams and organizations. She has experience in HR operations, change management, culture transformation, and talent management. Currently, Carla is the AVP of Total Rewards and People Operations at American Eagle Financial Credit Union. She works to create rewarding experiences for team members, overseeing benefits, compensation, recognition, wellness programs, and tools like HR software and survey platforms. She also manages vital processes like leave of absence, payroll, and status changes. Carla is passionate about helping people thrive — whether by supporting her colleagues at work or contributing to the life of her church community.

Technology is the bridge that connects us to the future, and platforms like Zoom have transformed the way we communicate, collaborate, and create. They are not just tools for today—they are paving the way for a more connected and flexible tomorrow.

FACILITATORS: Charles Judware serves as the Parish Administrator at St. Paul’s Willimantic, where he has been managing the technology and hybrid services for over six years, consistently adapting to new challenges and leveraging technology to meet evolving needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed strong expertise in managing Zoom for virtual communication and services. He became skilled in hosting, screen sharing, optimizing audio and video settings, and managing participants. This proficiency has allowed him to successfully organize and run online meetings, services, and collaborative sessions for the church, ensuring smooth and productive remote experiences for all involved.

The Reverend Jaclyn Sheldon has served as the Priest-in-Charge at St Paul’s in Willimantic, a congregation embedded in the Covenant Soup Kitchen, which provides daily meals, food supplies to shut-ins, and so much more for the past 14 years.  At St. Paul’s, our calling is to build a loving community that unifies our economically secure worshippers with the guests of the Soup Kitchen, who often face economic insecurity and societal marginalization into one family. This calling has inspired us to create a hybrid worship service that fosters genuine connections among those in our worship space, Zoom attendees, and individuals in the Soup Kitchen dining room. It has been our most dedicated effort in the name of God’s love for years. We have a great deal of experience (through trial and error) that we would love to share with those who desire to build interactive and participatory hybrid worship services.

Stewardship Realty will unveil its mission-driven approach to real estate development tailored exclusively for faith-based organizations. As a dedicated real estate development firm, we bring decades of experience, merging expertise in real estate development, church leadership, and managing a diverse church portfolio. At the core of our services is a commitment to building financial sustainability for churches through innovative development and asset management. Discover how Stewardship Realty operates: not as property buyers, but as strategic partners, creating income streams that directly benefit ministry and church objectives. Our focus spans three key services:

1. Development Partnership: Navigate the intricate process of real estate development with Stewardship Realty as your joint-venture partner.
2. Asset Management: Benefit from our oversight in construction management, leasing, sales, inter-governmental relations, and comprehensive asset management services tailored for faith-based organizations.
3. Property Analysis: Gain insights into the missional and real estate potential of your church properties. Our unique blend of missional analysis and data-driven research empowers church leaders to make informed decisions.

ECCT Spring Training with Stewardship Realty promises to equip you with valuable real estate strategies for achieving financial sustainability while advancing your mission.

FACILITATORS: Dan Panitz, Principal, has over 20 years of experience with community and faith-based real estate related projects. These involve joint ventures, leasing transactions, and acquisitions between religious institutions, himself, and third-party real estate investors. As a Senior Asset Manager for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Dan gained vast experience working with clergy, trustees, Board members, and parishioners. Dan managed 20+ development projects in the Long Island Diocese encompassing over 130 churches and has been involved in the development of church properties of other dioceses around the country. He is the founder of Knight Properties, LLC, which specializes in real estate acquisitions, property development, and brokerage and has participated in over 1,000,000 gross square feet of property development transactions in the New York City metropolitan area. Dan has also donated his time as the Board of Director at the non-profit organization, Bricks & Mortals, helping empower houses-of-worship of various denominations to develop their real estate.

Haiko Cornelissen, Principal, has extensive experience developing spiritual and community-focused real estate. As a Director of Real Estate at the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Haiko headed the Asset Management and Construction Management divisions. At the Diocese, he oversaw dozens of renovations and 20+ church development projects. The developments included affordable and senior housing as well as schools, offices, new churches, and parish halls. He was also the Chief Operating Officer of Episcopal Real Estate Long Island, a corporation created for Episcopalian real estate developments. Haiko worships at St Mark’s Church in Jackson Heights where he has served on the Vestry for many years. Haiko has a long family tradition of building for communities. His great-grandfather, Henricus Teeuwisse, was the Chief Architect of the Dutch Kingdom, and responsible for designing civic buildings of national importance. His father, Hans Cornelissen, designed community housing and provided architectural services to his local church.

This presentation is designed to equip participants with essential knowledge and innovative ideas for managing church properties effectively. The session is divided into three key parts:

1. Being New to Church Property Management: This section will guide newcomers through the basics of church property management, including how to get started and what is expected of them in this role.
2. Navigating alienations & Encumbrances: We will delve into the process through ECCT (Episcopal Church in Connecticut) for handling Alienations & Encumbrances, along with an overview of other valuable resources and grant opportunities available through ECCT.
3. Thinking Outside the Box for Property Use: In this segment, we will explore innovative and creative ideas for utilizing church land and building assets. Attendees will be encouraged to think beyond traditional uses and consider unique ways to make the most of their property.

FACILITATORS: Jennifer Bassett has been a devoted member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in North Haven for over 35 years and currently serves as a Standing Committee member in her second year. She’s worn many hats within the church, not the least of which includes, one of the church’s unofficial mouse hunters, Warden, chair of the Archive Committee, and serving two terms on Vestry. Her past roles encompass a variety of responsibilities such as Choir, Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Christian Education, Ministry of Healing Prayer, Lay Preacher, and wherever else needed. Additionally, she proudly served as a Lay Delegate to the ECCT for five years.

Alongside her husband, she co-owns Bassett Property Management, managing 210 units across Connecticut, including rental properties for two churches, single-family homes, multifamily dwellings, and small apartment complexes. Her engagement extends beyond the church. She is an active member of the Society for the Companions of the Holy Cross and the Daughters of the American Revolution. As a friend of Rotary International, she had the privilege of traveling to Mombasa, Kenya in 2018 as a volunteer and goodwill ambassador with Rotary District 7980. In 2019, she embarked on a pilgrimage with ECCT to the Holy Land.

The Reverend Derek Stefanovsky has served as Priest-in-Charge of St. Peter’s Grace, Monroe, since 2022. A native of Michigan, he received his Master of Divinity and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale/Yale Divinity School. He was ordained deacon and priest in 2019. Prior to serving St. Peter’s Grace, Derek served for three years as associate rector of St. Luke’s in Darien, Connecticut. Before that, Derek served as interim chaplain of St. Thomas’s Day School in New Haven, Connecticut. Apart from his ministry at St. Peter’s Grace, Fr. Derek is active in diocesan leadership. He has served on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut since 2022, and as president of the Committee since 2023. Derek also serves on the board of directors of our diocesan camp and retreat center, Camp Washington. It is Derek’s joy and privilege to function in all aspects of priestly ministry in both parish and diocesan contexts. He believes in the importance of faith formation and development for all ages as they seek to grow as disciples of Jesus and is committed to walking with parishes of all sizes as they seek to flourish in their own contexts.

Jon Heflin is the ECCT Property Manager. Jon has a background in commercial and residential development for over 30 years. He is certified in solar electric systems and home energy assessments. When not working, Jon enjoys skiing, photography, cooking, being outdoors and above all, spending time with his wife.

Do you need marketing tools to get the word out about your church?  This workshop will cover audience identification, using social media, writing email newsletters, and ideas for creating a marketing plan. Presented by Baby Boomer Gail Lebert and Elder Millennial Canon Sarah Woodford, you will come away with examples, new ideas, and a list of resources for Sowing God’s seeds to engage your current community and build new members.   

FACILITATORS: For over 25 years, Gail Lebert has worked as a Consultant to ECCT. She has helped parishes in transition and vestry teams recognize their gifts and discern where God is calling them to be. Gail was formerly the Publisher of Hartford Business Journal and led the talented HBJ team to evolve from a weekly newspaper into a business information company.     

Canon Sarah Louise Woodford is ECCT’s Canon for Communications & Media. She has over ten years of experience in religious and non-profit communications. She particularly enjoys helping religious organizations find new and creative ways to make communications and technology work for them.

In the online world, websites are a church’s digital front door—it is the first thing online visitors notice about not only when your service is, but what the “spirit” of your worshipping community may be like. This workshop will look at website essentials for parishes and how to make them happen with little to no cost and minimal volunteer time. It will also connect attendees with TEC and ECCT website resources. Come learn how to develop and maintain your website with Baby Boomer Gail Lebert and Elder Millennial Canon Sarah Louise Woodford!

FACILITATORS: For over 25 years, Gail Lebert has worked as a Consultant to ECCT. She has helped parishes in transition and vestry teams recognize their gifts and discern where God is calling them to be. Gail was formerly the Publisher of Hartford Business Journal and led the talented HBJ team to evolve from a weekly newspaper into a business information company.     

Canon Sarah Louise Woodford is ECCT’s Canon for Communications & Media. She has over ten years of experience in religious and non-profit communications. She particularly enjoys helping religious organizations find new and creative ways to make communications and technology work for them.

Stewardship encompasses prudent preparation, judicious management, and sound decision-making of the resources entrusted to you. It ensures that we use our time, talents, and possessions wisely and dutifully for God’s glory and the benefit of others.  Position your parish in diversifying its income streams, tapping viable revenue streams, and monetizing its assets. This workshop will provide you with the tools to safeguard your parish’s financial health and long-term financial stability while preserving its legacy. Priests, Vestry Members, and Treasurers are invited to join the ECCT Staff and the Chief of External Strategy & Affairs in exploring how to augment the resources entrusted to us.

FACILITATORS: Diana DeJesus-Medina serves as Chief of External Strategy & Affairs at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a national nonprofit organization defending the civil rights of Latinxs in the U.S. In that role, Diana manages development and communications teams, serves on the executive team guiding strategic direction and informs program and board development. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, Diana specializes in organizational, leadership and fund development, as well as strategic planning.

Diana has led major gifts campaigns, facilitated nonprofit development and trained and coached boards to more successfully engage in resource development. Among her strengths is coaching staff and board members to strengthen program alignment to funding opportunities. Diana has a strong commitment to mentoring young professionals, launching a young professionals board and serving on the board of Somos El Poder, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and fostering Latinx fund development professionals and strengthening fundraising programs at Latinx-serving nonprofits. Diana currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), where she chairs the Development Committee. She previously served on the staff of Family Promise, the American Folk Art Museum, the NYC Department of Education and the YWCA of Brooklyn.

Gigi Leackfeldt is the Data Analyst Manager for The Episcopal Church in Connecticut. She has 12 years of experience in non-profit administration and data management with a background in technical writing. She holds a B.A. in Politics and Government from the University of Hartford, as well as a Certificate in Data Analytics from Cornell University. In her capacity as Data Analyst for Circle the City Medical Respite Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Gigi partnered with the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council and Brandeis University to collect and analyze data regarding medical respite care in Maricopa County, resulting in a 2018 study released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Gigi’s focus is on data integrity, process improvements, and trend analysis. She currently manages data and logistics for the Joining Jesus Fundraising Initiative at ECCT, Parish Transition Financial Analysis, Parochial Report Administration, as well as other projects in the finance department.

Rosanna Rosado serves as the Canon for Mission Finance and Operations and the Treasurer for Donations and Bequests (D&B) for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Finance and a Certificate in International Business from Iona. She is currently pursuing her credentials as a Certified Management Accountant.  She brings 20 years of leadership experience in non-profit finance and operations management and diverse work experience with numerous religious and not-for-profit organizations. Rosanna’s core strengths are in management and operations, finance for the maximum utilization of resources, strategic planning, identifying opportunities and building alliances, establishing sound financial footing, improving business structures, ensuring compliance, establishing systems and internal controls, reducing budget deficits, mitigating risks, and augmenting revenue streams.